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16 Top Creative Writing Workshops in London

By Katrina Kwan

Different types of writing classes in London are aplenty.

And if it’s a creative writing class you’re looking for, continue reading.

Below you’ll find 16 top creative writing workshops in London.

1. Half-Day Writing Workshops with Creative Writing Workshops London

Hosted by Diane Chandler, the winner of the 2016 People’s Book Prize for Fiction , Creative Writing Workshops London is currently offering half-day writing workshops through the months of March, May, and June of 2020. These writing workshops are available for a flat fee of £40.00, and includes provided coffee and baked goods. Based out of Chiswick, London, classes primarily take place in the morning.

These classes will help you create better characters, develop page-turning plot, help to create engaging dialogue, and assist you with writing captivating description. Each workshop takes roughly three hours and accepts up to eight people per class, so be sure to reserve your place as soon as possible. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact Diane via email .

2. Space to Write Wednesdays with Creative Writes

Creative Writes is a creative writing and poetry reading workshop that was founded by Nichola Charalambou. Based out of Muswell Hill, London, Creative Writes offers Space to Write Wednesdays , a creative writing workshop hosted between the months of April to June of 2019. Each class takes place between 7:30PM to 9:30PM.

This creative writing workshop in London is designed to help you with free flow writing, as well as to help develop your work in progress. The fee for this course is £25.00 per class, with included refreshments. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Creative Writes through their website’s online contact form .

3. Write Better Short Stories with Jane Rogers

Led by award-winning novelist and short story writer Jane Rogers, Write Better Short Stories is a creative writing course offered through London’s very own Faber Academy. This course takes place between May 2 nd , 2019 to July 18 th , 2019, and costs a flat fee of £995.00. Classes take place between 7:00PM to 9:00PM every Thursday evening. Tea and coffee will be provided!

This 12-week course will help you develop your writing skills, increase your knowledge about the short story genre, provide you with individual feedback, and will even help to take three of your stories and prepare them for submission. There are only two places left, so it’s imperative that you register for the course as soon as possible to reserve your spot. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Faber Academy either through their website’s online contact form or call 0207 927 3868.

4. Folk Tales in New Fiction with London Lit Lab

The London Lit Lab is a creative writing group that offers a wide range of writing resources and workshops for both professional and aspiring authors. They are currently offering Folk Tales in New Fiction led by Zoe Gilbert, who is a published author through Bloomsbury and a PhD candidate for Creative Writing. The course itself will look at symbolism, how to develop recognizable characters, use preexisting tales as jumping off points for your own fiction, and examine what makes successful re-imaginings.

The course takes place on May 11 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 4:00PM and costs a flat fee of £115 for early bird registration, or £139 for regular registration. The class will take place at the Keynes Library, Birbeck School of Arts located at 43 Gordon Square, London. Class size is limited to fifteen students, so be sure to register right away . For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team via email or visit their Facebook page .

5. How to Write A Poem with Richard Scott & Maurice Riordan

How to Write a Poem is a creative writing workshop currently offered by Faber Academy, led by poets Richard Scott and Maurice Riordan. This is a three-month poetry course designed for beginners looking to develop their poetic skills. The course takes place between April 30 th , 2019 to July 16 th , 2019 and costs a flat rate of £480.00.

All classes take place between 7:00PM to 9:00PM on Tuesday evenings and will explore topics like voice, self-portraiture and objects, drafting, line breaks, genre mixing, and more. There are only seven spot left, so it’s imperative you register right away.

6. Write & Shine with Gunnersbury Park & Museum

The Gunnersbury Park & Museum offers a program known as Write & Shine, an early morning writing workshop that offers several classes in London and online. Led by Gemma Seltzer, a talented writer who’s worked with organizations like Age UK, BBC Radio 3, Tate Modern, and the Venice Biennale, Write & Shine offers 90-minute writing workshops based out of central London.

The next session is schedule to take place on April 14 th , 2019 between 10:15AM to 12:00PM. A light breakfast will be provided for those who attend. If you’re interested in this writing workshop, you can apply for a spring membership for a flat rate of £129. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at Write and Shine through their website’s online contact form .

7. Fiction Skills: Plot with Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley is currently hosting Fiction Skills: Plot through Faber Academy. He is an author, editor, and ghostwriter with a ton of experience writing both fiction and nonfiction books. The course itself takes place between June 3 rd to 30 th , 2019 and actually takes place online for the convenience of his students.

The course will go over tips and strategies on how to plot, provide a creative and supportive writing group to help you nurture your writing skills, as will provide you with the opportunity of writing a 2k word piece to be critiqued and worked on over the duration of the course. There is a flat fee of £120.00 and there are currently twenty-eight places left to register!

8. One to One MasterClass with Creative Writes

Creative Writes offers one to one masterclasses to assist you in your writing career. They offer one-hour masterclasses for a flat rate of £60.00 and two-hour masterclass for £110.00. All classes are located at their Muswell Hill location, and you can book the course based on your schedule availability. In this workshop, you will be guided through how to adapt your work structure and truly organize your thoughts to help give your writing clarity and a unique voice. You will work closely with Nichola Charalambou, the founder of Creative Writes, who will guide you through the writing process. For more information, you can call 079 4109 1313.

9. Getting Started: Beginner’s Fiction with Helen Shipman

Getting started on a brand-new project can sometimes be tricky, but with a guiding hand, you may be surprised at just how quickly your words find a blank page. Helen Shipman is a writing coach with over 30 years of experience. She is currently offering Getting Started; Beginner’s Fiction , a creative writing course offered through Faber Academy. This 8-week course takes place between June 3 rd , 2019 to July 28 th , 2019 and costs £300.00. There are currently seventeen places left, so it’s important to register as soon as possible if you’re interested.

The course will go over how to develop your creativity and discipline, point of view, character development, setting establishment, dealing with time, structure, and how to organize your writing time. This is actually an online course, which means that students can participate regardless of location!

10. Creative Writing Through Art with Gina DeCagna (Studio 73)

Studio 73 present Creative Writing Through Art , lead by writer, editor, and visual artist Gina DeCagna. The workshop will take place April 23 rd , 2019 between 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Studio 73 Gallery in London. This workshop is intended for novice and expert writers alike, and will go over development of writing techniques in the genres of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and more. The workshop itself costs a flat fee of £16.58 and will be located at 73 Brixton Village, London. You can register for the course here . For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the organizers via email or call 020 7274 7773.

11. Start Your Novel in Five Days with Kathryn Heyman & Mark Haddon

If you’re an aspiring author looking for guidance on how to start your very first novel, consider checking out the Star Your Novel In Five Days workshop led by authors Kathryn Heyman and Mark Haddon. This course will take place between June 17 th to June 21 st , 2019 and costs a flat rate of £550. There are only eleven spots left, so be sure to register right away. This workshop was designed to guide you step by step to help get your novel from idea to reality. This intensive course will take place at Faber Academy located at 74-77 Great Russell Street, London. For more information, you can call 207 927 3827 or email the organizers for general inquiries.

12. Film and Creative Writing Workshop with Amir Darwish & Adam Skup (Hikayetna)

In collaboration with Hikayetna and Near Neighbours, Film and Creative Writing Workshop is a free workshop lead by Amir Darwish and Adam Skup. This course is intended to help creative individuals develop their ideas through visual, oral, and written forms of art. Refreshments will be offered. The course will take place on April 6 th , 2019 between 12:00PM to 4:00PM at Noel Rd, London. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the event organizers via email .

13. Free Your Creativity and Get Started on Your Book with Guardian Masterclasses

The Guardian is a renowned newspaper that also offers writing courses at their London location. They are currently hosting the Free Your Creativity and Gest Started On Your Book masterclass, which will take place between May 18 th , 2019 to May 19 th , 2019 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Led by Philippa Pride, who has been running the course since 2006, the workshop will go over how to set up a consistent writing schedule, how to practice your creativity, how to develop your narrative, create compelling plots, characters, and dialogue, and more. The course costs £499.00 plus a £7.80 registration fee. For more information, you can contact Guardian Masterclasses via email .

14. Introduction to Creative Writing (Goldsmiths, University of London)

Goldsmiths University of London offers several creative writing programs that can help you develop your skills and put you on the right track to starting your writing career. They are currently offering Introduction to Creative Writing May 1 st , 2019 between 6:30PM to 8:30PM (10-week duration), and November 9 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 3:00PM (5-week duration). The flat fee for the course is £295. The course is led by Dr. Catherine Humble, a writer, lecturer, and journalist with experience as a creative writing teacher. For general inquiries, you can contact the organizers at Goldsmiths via email .

15. Write Here with Emma Filtness (Cultural Connections Christ Church)

Cultural Connections Christ Church is currently hosting Write Here led by author Emma Filtness. The workshop will take place on May 18 th , 2019 between 2:00PM to 4:00PM at the Clapham Library, located at 91 Clapham High Street, London. No previous writing experience is necessary.

The workshop is designed to help writers develop their short story, poetry, life writing, and flash fiction writing techniques. It is a free event, but space is limited. If you’re interested in participating, be sure to sign up as soon as possible! For more information, you can contact the Cultural Connections Christ Church via email or call 020 7498 4625.

16. How to Write Compelling Memoir with London Lit Lab

The London Lit Lab is currently offering How to Write Compelling Memoir led by novelist and creative nonfiction writer Lily Dunn. This class will take place on October 5 th , 2019 between 10:00AM to 4:00PM at the Keynes Library, Birkbeck, University of London, at 43 Gordon Square, London. Early bird registration starts at £115, and regular registration starts at a rate of £139.

This workshop will help budding memoirists in their pursuit of recounting personal experiences, discuss confidentiality and ethical issues, as well as explore the use of creativity in memoir. Space is limited to fifteen members, so be sure to register if you’re interested! For more information, you can contact the organizers via email .

Do you know of any other creative writing workshops in London, England? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!

K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.

London Writers' Club

Lwc live event, london writers’ club live with an agent .

“Informative, insightful and fun. I would recommend any aspiring writer to pop along.” Speechwriter for NATO Secretary General

Join us at our LWC LIVE MONTHLY ONLINE EVENT. The live Zoom events are a friendly chat with a leading literary agent and Jacq Burns.

APRIL 24  at 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Jack Fogg, DunnFogg

Jack Fogg and Ben Dunn have over 50 years of combined experience in publishing, working their way up from editorial assistants to publishers and managing directors of their own lists at major publishing houses. They have worked with many bestselling authors who have won and been shortlisted for literary awards across fiction and non-fiction. They formed their own agency in 2021, having worked together for nearly two decades.

In 2018 he was nominated as editor of the year at the British Book Awards and in 2019 he set up the multiple award-winning Mudlark imprint at HarperCollins, which concentrates on quality non-fiction of all varieties. Jack would love to find books with a speculative edge, which introduce an element of the unknown into real-world settings, or throw forward into imaginable versions of our future. In non-fiction, his tastes are broad, and he reads widely in the areas of memoir, current affairs, politics, biography, sport, history, psychology, pop science, food and nature writing.

As a publisher and agent, Jack has worked on books by investigative journalists, chefs, war veterans and reporters, carpenters, composers, comedians, heart surgeons, rock stars, car designers, neuroscientists, submariners, shoemakers and street artists, and the great lesson he took from his time working with them is that any subject, person, field, niche or subculture can be made interesting by powerful storytelling, passion and knowledge. He is always on the lookout for people who want to marry their love and expertise of a subject with great writing.

Members   will automatically receive an invitation to reserve their seat for the Live with an Agent event. Please remember to register in advance following the info on the email link you are sent. Recording will be sent after event to all members and paid ticket holders. 

Book now to get a ticket for the next events

Free entry for members.

(if you  join the club  your Live with an agent ticket is free and you will also receive the recording of each event. Check out our  LWC Membership offer)

2024 Events

24th April – LWC LIVE with Jack Fogg – DunnFogg and Jacq Burns

21st May – LWC LIVE with guest Agent and Jacq Burns

We run a weekly creative writing session advertised on MeetUp . Open to all writers based in South East London.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram .

Spectrum Writers

London science fiction & fantasy writers’ group.

Spectrum: London Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Group is a hybrid online/in-person critique group for writers of speculative fiction, ranging from high fantasy to hard science fiction—and everything in between. We welcome aspiring and published writers working in short story, novel and similar formats.

Come and workshop your story with us! Improve your craft and build confidence in your work. Meet friendly, diverse writers who cheer each other on with every written word.

Critique Meetings

We meet for short story or chapter critiques through Meetup and Discord, (usually) once or twice a month. Any Spectrum member can attend, full members can submit. Find out more »

Novel Track Groups

Full Spectrum members can work together in small, curated groups that meet regularly to workshop each others’ novels and help each other improve our craft. Find out more »

Annual Contest

Every year, eligible Spectrum members can take part in our short story contest . Half the fun is guessing who wrote which story! (The other half is the actual writing, of course.) Find out more »

Discord Community

On a day-to-day basis, we chat about writing, events and publishing opportunities on our Discord server —or simply to nerd out. This is also where our online activities like critiques and other meetings take place.

Write Togethers

Currently, we have an ad-hoc online channel on Discord where we hang out while we work on our writing projects. Occasionally, writers will arrange in-person Write Togethers in cafés or pubs in London.

Events & Opportunities

We organise special speaker events with authors, editors, and agents, both in person and online. Spectrum members also regularly share links to publishing and networking events as well as calls for anthologies and other fiction markets.

Spectrum London News

2023 short story contest – submissions now open.

With just two weeks to go till the deadline for the 2023 short story contest, we have opened the submissions form so folks can send us their entries. The final stretch is here! To access this page, you must be logged in as a member, so do sign up for an account if you haven’t…

Continue reading

Join Spectrum Writers

Does all of this sound of interest? Come along to a first critique session and see if we’re the right fit for you!

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Championing Debut and Emerging Black Women & Women of Colour writers.

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REWRITE – The Leading Platform for Black Women & Women of Colour Writers Around the World.

OUR MISSION

Founded in 2018, REWRITE is a community organisation formed to support and champion Black Women and Women of Colour writers; providing the tools, space and confidence they need to achieve their writing goals.  

In the current climate, REWRITE’s services are needed now more than ever. In 2015,  Writing the Future – a report commissioned by Spread The Word – revealed that out of 203 UK-based  novelists polled, 30% came from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. Only 47% said that their debut was agented compared to the 64% of the White novelists. Once into their publishing career, 53% of BAME authors remained without an agent against 37% of White authors.

Moreover, in 2016, The Bookseller Magazine published analysis finding a ‘shockingly low’ number of BAME authors in the UK Top 500. They found one book by an author of colour in the Top 50 – African American author Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, which had just won the Man Booker Prize. The first title by a British author of colour was in 368th place.

REWRITE exists to REWRITE this narrative. We aim to encourage and enable Black women and Women of Colour to develop their full potential through dynamic writing courses, masterclasses, and workshops that are tailor-made to suit their specific needs and requirements.

Our series of creative writing courses, workshops, and masterclasses are designed specifically for Black women and Women of Colour. From the selected texts to the recommended reading, all of our modules and resources are centered around the works of Black women and Women of Colour writers. Each course offers a relaxing and encouraging environment for women to explore their creativity, nurture their writing skills, and network with key people in the industry. To see what we have on offer, click here .

EDITORIAL SERVICES

Our editorial services help writers with their books, manuscripts, and works-in-progress. We aim to offer high-quality services at competitive prices. Our rates are driven by our passion to help Black women & WoC get published. Request a manuscript assessment here .

BOOK REVIEWS

Along with our courses, we also write reviews for books of all genres solely written by Black women and Women of Colour. For us, it is important to highlight their work, and to give fair and nuanced reviews, as mainstream book critics are known to give harsher critiques to Black women and Women of Colour authors. Request a book review here .

REWRITE READS

Our online literary magazine, REWRITE READS, features outstanding writing by Black Women & Women of Colour writers from across the globe. We publish short stories, photo essays, and thought-challenging pieces from established and emerging voices. Visit the site.  

REWRITE LIVE! 

Our literary events showcase and celebrate authors and their works. We host intimate conversations with seasoned and debut writers. Sign up to our newsletter to find out about the next event. To subscribe, click here .

The REWRITE Team

Book reviews editor.

Jenn is an avid reader and writer who believes in decolonizing the canon. Jenn lives in New York, USA.

Christina Fonthes

Christina is a Congolese-British writer and facilitator. She is an LGTBQ advocate and currently lives in London, UK.

Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed

Literary mag editor.

Zahrah is an Independent Consultant working on gender & social inclusion. She is the founder of Bookshybooks. Zahrah lives in Florence, Italy.

Creative writing events in London, United Kingdom

Approaches to Creative Writing, a 7-week course

Monday at 5:00 PM

Forest Hill Library

Creative Writing

Wed, May 1, 5:00 PM

Shoe Lane Library

Pen to Print: Creative Writing Classes (In-person)

Saturday at 10:00 AM

Barking Learning Centre

Sat, May 11, 10:00 AM

Creative Writing Workshops in Pimlico

Sun, May 19, 10:00 AM + 7 more

Creative Writing Workshop

Tomorrow at 10:00 AM

Southwark Wellbeing Hub

Collapsing Time - Creative Writing Workshop

Tomorrow at 7:00 PM

Stone Mini Market

Thu, May 16, 10:00 AM + 5 more

Sat, Jun 1, 10:00 AM

Sat, Jul 13, 10:00 AM

Let's Write: Creative Writing Workshop - FREE EVENT

Sun, May 19, 11:00 AM

Southern Maltings

#Dalloway Day of creative writing and inspiration

Wed, Jun 19, 11:00 AM

Books on the Rise

The Writer's Notebook: Creative Writing Workshops - 5 Week Series

Tomorrow at 10:00 AM + 3 more

Chequer Mead Theatre

Thu, Jun 13, 10:00 AM + 4 more

Sun, May 19, 12:00 PM

Monthly Creative Writing Group for beginners | Tuesday eves | E. Grinstead

Tue, May 14, 7:00 PM + 2 more

Creative Writing for adults - Woolley Firs, Tuesday 9 July

Tue, Jul 9, 9:30 AM

Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre

Fulham Library Creative Writing Group

Saturday at 11:00 AM

Fulham Library

Nature Writing Workshop series~ Going, Going, Gone

Wed, May 22, 10:30 AM

1 Holywell Hill

LGBT+ Creative writing workshops - new series

Tue, May 7, 7:00 PM + 3 more

Old Diorama Arts Centre

Things to do around London

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The Home of Creative Writing

Festival of writing.

Arvon is a charity that runs creative writing courses, events and retreats both in-person and online. Our courses are tutored by leading authors and include a powerful mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Grants and concessions are available to help with course fees.

ARVON COURSES & RETREATS

• Non-Fiction

Online Writing Day: Non-Fiction

Bringing your narrative to life

Apr 29-May 3

Online Writing Week: Poetry

Poetry and its Hinterland

Apr 29-May 4

• Totleigh Barton

Fiction , Poetry , Starting to Write

Residential Writing Week: Starting to Write

Begin the journey

How I Write: Emma Must

Q&A and Reading

Masterclass: Nature Writing

Writing the wild

Fiction , Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Vital natures

Online Writing Week: Finishing Your Novel

Moving on with your work-in-progress

Fiction , Starting to Write

Residential Writing Week: Starting To Write Fiction

A way into writing

“Every time I’ve taught at Arvon - going back over fifteen years now - I’ve seen how much difference just a handful of days can make in the life of writers. There’s a perfect mix of tutorials, writing time, socializing, and discussion - all those elements come together to create an atmosphere in which writing projects move in that longed-for but often unattainable direction: forward.”

— Kamila Shamsie

ARVON AT HOME

Our online programme of courses, events and writing support

Virtual versions of our famous Writing Weeks, plus Masterclasses, free How I Write events, Online Writing Weekends, Writing Days and more . . . all accessible from the comfort of your sofa.

SUPPORT ARVON NORTH

Arvon North is an ambitious capital project to adapt Lumb Bank into a beacon of creativity for the North

Help us transform Lumb Bank into an engine-house for creative writing development in the North of England, connecting the rich literary collateral of the region with a community of writers locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

CLOCKHOUSE WRITERS' RETREAT

Give your writing the time and space it deserves with Arvon’s dedicated Writers Retreat at The Clockhouse

The Clockhouse is specifically designed for writers on retreat. It has four apartments for writers, each with bedroom, study-lounge and bathroom. All food is provided for you, so you can spend your time as you please.

DONATE TO ARVON

Do you believe that everyone should have the opportunity to unlock their creative potential?

Arvon is a charity that believes everyone deserves the freedom to imagine, write and explore ideas regardless of their age or financial background.

OUR SCHOOLS & GROUPS WORK

We offer residential weeks for schools, young people and adult groups.

Our weeks for schools and groups follow the same pattern as our adult course programme – led by two professional writers, with tutorials, group workshops, and time and space to write.

ARVON BLOGS

My Arvon Week: Jessica Eve Watkins

15 Apr 2024 / My Arvon Week

A preview of Jessica Eve Watkin’s experience on a week-long writing retreat at Arvon’s writing house, The Hurst. “ ‘The…

SI Leeds Literary Prize 2024

07 Mar 2024 / General

A writing prize that helps discover exciting new talent from underrepresented groups will be accepting entries again next month. The SI…

Arvon and Creative Minds Calderdale to Develop Writing for Change Project

28 Feb 2024 / News

Arvon and Creative Minds Charity, hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, are embarking on an exciting project aimed…

My Arvon Journey: Gráinne O’Hare

27 Feb 2024 / My Arvon Journey

When I logged on to my first online Arvon workshop, it was autumn 2022 and already chilly at my writing desk;…

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Quick links on this page:

• add your writing group to this directory
• list of writing groups
• other writing group list providers
• a history of closed writing groups

Below are comprehensive lists of creative writing groups, writing circles, writing clubs and writing peer/help groups. Some of these are local, face-to-face writers' groups, requiring physical attendance. Some are online writing groups, allowing you to live anywhere in the world and be a member.

Add Your Writing Group To This List

If you run a writing group, writers' circle, writing club, help group or writing organisation that you'd like included in this directory, please contact me providing ALL of the following information:

• The name of your writing group
• A link to your website (or Facebook / Twitter / page, or whatever platform you use for your group)
• Your group's location
• Whether it is online or a face-to-face meet-up group
• How often you have meetings
• Any other details (please keep this concise - 50 words max)

I try and keep these lists accurate with current information and correct details. If you do spot any errors, please feel free to get in touch and let me know - any help in keeping this directory up to date is very much appreciated :-)

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Below is a table with details of writing groups, clubs, circles and other organisations.

Other Writing Group Directories and Lists

Below are links to other websites that provide lists of writers' groups.

• A list of online writing communities that offer free story critiques
• National Association of Writers' Groups Directory
• Society of Authors
• Writers Online
• Writing East Midlands

A History of Closed Writer Groups

For reference, a record of writing groups that have closed or ceased to operate.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy .

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Richard AC I am looking for a club that is driven by writing - either novice or other - because I am interested in writing projects and am open to ideas that could help inspire all involved.

I suffer from acute anxiety and recently had counselling that suggested I joined a club such as this as it may pay me dividends and teach me how to mix with others. As I love writing, I thought of this.

Chris Fielden Hi Richard. Thank you for your message. Sorry to hear about your anxiety, but glad you're taking steps to improve the situation - that's great.

Well, you can either try joining a local face-to-face writing group (like the ones listed on this page), or look at online options. Personally, I find in person groups work better, but online can work too, depending on your needs / personal preference.

If you'd prefer online, I list quite a few platforms you can look at here .

I hope that helps and wish you the best of luck finding a group that suits your needs :-)

Richard AC Dear Mr. Fielden. Thank you for responding to my queries in the matter of a writing group. I do appreciate the feed back you sent and will consider one or two avenues. Maybe something will become of it.

Chris Fielden No problem, Richard. Good luck with finding a group :-)

Kevin A Hi, I'm looking to challenge myself with some collective creative writing. I've been in a group before which inspired me to approach my local library and asked for permission to hold a group in there. To my surprise the local council backed me and it was a thing for several months. Unfortunately it had to stop and I've been looking for something to let me express myself lyrically, metaphorically, even humorously too. I hope someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I have a lot of works that I'm actually proud of and am holding aspirations to be an author. I have a few individual poems published in various books but that was a long time ago. I think I've evolved as a writer with age. Hope to hear from someone. Thanks.

Chris Fielden Hi Kevin, thanks for your message.

Firstly, I'd recommend researching groups in your local area. If there aren't any and you don't want to start up another one, you can look for online platforms. I list many on my site - you can find details here .

Also, consider looking at other lists of writing groups, like the ones featured here .

I hope that helps and wish you the very best with finding the right group for you.

Kevin A Thanks for getting back to me Chris. I'll take a look at the links you sent me. Cheers mate.

Chris Fielden No problem, thanks Kevin :-)

Caroline B Hi, I am working on my second book which is about somatic awareness,  movement and creative expression. I would love to find a writers group who are focusing on simlar themes, such as creative expression through the body. I should add that the central theme of my book is a creative response to the concept of symptom as messenger.

I live in South Devon and would like to meet face to face occaisionally, though I realise my request may be too big an ask!! But then you can always ask.

Best wishes, Caroline

Chris Fielden Thanks for your message, Caroline.

I'm afraid I don't know of any groups like that in your area. What you're looking for sounds fairly niche, to be honest. You may have to try searching for online groups instead.

I hope that helps and wish you the best of luck in finding the right writing group for you :)

The copyright of the stories and content published on this website remain with the author.

Christopher Fielden and all the other contributing authors published via this website have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the authors of these works.

The stories and articles on this site are provided for you to read free of charge subject to the condition that they are not, by way of trade or otherwise, copied, lent, sold, hired out, printed or otherwise circulated in any format without the author’s prior consent.

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Home > Kingston School of Art > Research groups and resources > Writing Cultures Group

Writing Cultures Group

About the group.

The Writing Cultures Group brings together those engaged in writing practice from across Kingston School of Art. Combining research activity and knowledge exchange, the group includes poets, literary critics, film scholars, designers, artists, architects, journalists and cultural critics. They are brought together by practice that engages with the cultural and artistic significance of the written word.

Each year, the Writing Cultures Group runs a series of research seminars and networking events designed to create interdisciplinary and collaborative research possibilities. Aiming to redefine the dialogue around writing and explore its creative potential, these events engage with writing in its broadest definition: as text, as symbol, as artwork, and as communication. With a particular focus on issues of diversity and inclusion, the group recognises, as an explicit part of its mission, the political power of writing, both as a tool of repression and of liberation.

For 2021/22, the theme of the group is para-ability. This includes (but is not limited to) disability, neurodiversity, mental health and chronic illness.

• Chair: Professor Sara Upstone
• Research Director: Kate Scott

Writers' Kingston

The Writing Cultures Group is the home of Writers' Kingston, a literary cultural centre dedicated to the practice research and knowledge exchange of creative writing in all its forms, with an annual programme of events, talks, workshops and festivals. Each of the dozen special events that make up the annual programme are themed, from Living to Dying, Loving to Hating. WCK utilises many of Kingston's beautiful and unique venues, such as The Rose Theatre and Dorich House Museum.

The programme brings together some of the finest writers from across the UK and the world, in conversation with the exceptional staff of Kingston University. The understanding of writing is inclusive and innovative, and it is fundamental to WCK's mission that audiences and participants are a mix of students alongside the considerable local community of writers and literary devotees.

• Writers' Kingston director: Steven Fowler

Life Narratives Research

Writing Cultures also supports the activity of Life Narratives Research, whose work shares best practice across all genres of life narrative work through impactful research and applied research projects in partnership with academic, governmental, humanitarian and industry stakeholders and produce publications centred on the experience, methodology and formats of life narratives across written, visual, and virtual cultures.

• Life Narratives lead: Meg Jensen

Events in 2023/2024

Tré ventour-griffiths – honey, i shrunk racism: whiteness and the subatomic dimension in the marvel cinematic universe, 14 march 2024, 12-1pm.

"Forty years ago, I created a formula that altered atomic relative distance. I learned how to change the distance between atoms" — Hank Pym.

Fictional characters and imaginary worlds "…have long been on a quest to articulate an alternative vision of life, love, and labor and to put such a vision into practice" (Halberstam, 2011: 2). Last summer, I thought how Marvel's ‘fictional' quantum theories in their story-arcs of Ant-Man and The Wasp may offer other ways of thinking about racism (Ventour-Griffiths, 2023). The subatomic particles that make these characters possible (Pym Particles) – tinier than atoms – shrink the distance between atoms, while increasing density and strength. What if we thought about the impact of everyday racism in this way?

However, papers that use seemingly ‘childish' endeavours, like comic book media, in serious ways risk being ridiculed. Yet, ‘seriousness' in academia tends to be double talk for ‘academic rigour' – also observable through what bell hooks described in, imperialist, capitalist, white supremacist patriarchal culture. Being seen as silly is also what allows trendsetters to think against the grain of normative knowledge production. And though I engage with fields like Critical Race and Whiteness Studies, it was not they who encouraged me to seriously engage with comic media – the eccentric creative world did!

Through the fictional language of ‘quantum' from the Marvel lore, we may use Ant-Man and Wasp to think about the impact of ‘racial microaggressions' on human bodies. What psychiatrist Chester Pierce (1970) coined as ‘microaggression', moves beyond surface worlds. Fictional quantum realties (not quantum physics) may offer real implications in contemporary anti-racism work and the language used to articulate our pain. This paper works to develop Pierce's language via racism / whiteness as subatomic – where make-believe worlds, not just ‘pure facts', are also vital to the human experience.

Events in 2022/23

Recordings of online events can be viewed via the Writing Cultures Research Group's YouTube channel .

Charlie Wilson (Kingston): From protest to party, the development of the reporting of London Pride and Pride events in the UK

23 november 2022, 1pm.

Recording available

Tré Griffiths (Kingston): Why are period dramas so white?

6 december 2022, 1pm (online).

'Why do you like period dramas?' is the question Tré receives as a Black viewer of British historical programmes. Growing up, living, and working in the Home Counties, he ponders the number of contemporary-set dramas about Black British life that predominantly centre British cities, while period dramas more strangely represent his experiences of provincial Britain in the Town and Country.

Speaking from this positionality, Tré takes us on a journey showing how British history is more "melaninated" than our cinema and television screens might suggest. There is a further story of Black people in provincial Britain (Carby, 2019; Robinson and Pitts, 2022) showing that Black creatives should not only be auditioning for roles in these dramas, but have every right to make them as well, as Black people were part of some of the most pivotal moments in British history.

Positioned outside of Britain's major cities, Tré shows the stories we tell matter – since the term "historical accuracy" in period drama discourse has often been used euphemistically to mean those racialised as white, at the racist and historically inaccurate expense of those racialised not white.

Crystal Sam (Kingston): Places, Metaphors, Memories

10 january 2023, 1pm (online), julien clin (kingston): walking with martin, thinking with heidegger, 26 january 2023, 1pm (online).

Join the event via this Teams link

Julien's doctoral project explores the untranslatable German notion of Heimat (loosely: home) in the context of gentrification and the dynamic, multicultural urban environment of London. In his piece of creative nonfiction, Julien reflects on writers' and thinkers' engagement with home as well as on his own 'home-making'.

In this session, Julien will present some work in progress. Going on a walk with Martin Heidegger in the Black Forest, he reflects on Heidegger's 'Dasein' or 'being-in-the-world', and attempts to separate Martin (the specific person and context) from Heidegger (the concepts and ideas).

Matt Hams (Kingston): Text-to-image: Considering language and the rapid development of AI image generation

7 february 2023, 1pm (online).

Join the event via this Team link

Para-ability: An Exhibition

March 28th to april 14th 2023. the dean's space, knights park.

A dynamic exhibition of new visual art and poetry made by staff, students, those local to the University and artists from around the UK. On the theme of Para-ability, the exhibition explores (but is not limited to) disability, neurodiversity, mental health and chronic illness. In all the complexity of those issues, it celebrates the ambiguous, quixotic and expansive in reflecting the necessity of the theme. Curated by Steven Fowler.

More details are available on the Writers' Kingston website.

Events in 2021/22

Adam baron (kingston): elements of narrative, 13 january 2022.

Adam Baron is a multi-award winning, best-selling author. His crime novels have been dramatised by BBC Radio 4 and were followed by his highly praised literary novel, Blackheath . Now writing for children, his novels have been translated across Europe. Boy Underwater was Waterstones Book of the Month, The Sunday Times Book of the Month, and one of the Guardian's Books of the Year. In 2022, he will publish two novels, both with HarperCollins ( Some Sunny Day  and Oscar's Weekend ).

In this first talk, you will be treated to a viewing of a brilliant short film, the identity of which will be revealed on the day. Adam will analyse it, unpacking the numerous narrative elements that make it work. He will talk about the ways in which he uses these narrative elements in his own work. The session will be informative, creative, and fun.

Anna Johnson (Kingston): A mother/child intersection of chronic illness, surgery and neurodiversity

21 january 2022.

In this session, I will read an extract from a creative-non-fiction/essay hybrid I wrote for the book From Band-Aids to Scalpels: Motherhood Experiences in/of Medicine , published earlier this year. My piece looks at a complex intersection between multiple, simultaneous and out-of-step experiences of para-ability across two interconnected people, myself and my son.

Through a combination of creative life-writing and more traditional essay structure, my piece is performative of the complex dynamics of a specific parent-child relationship. It is structured around anecdotes that draw out particularly heightened moments of awareness around the effects of para-ability on my experience of motherhood. These include my son's minor surgery and one tiny step in the lengthy process towards his autism diagnosis. Both these moments are, for me, deeply affected by my own experience of living with chronic illness and its impact on temporality, trust, and care.

Around these anecdotes I discuss the limits of medical narratives to reflect, or even acknowledge, the unwieldy intricacy of such experiences and I call for a reflection on the alternatives that might serve us better. I argue for life-writing as one possible, powerful, alternative.

John Miers (Kingston): 'I preferred it when this stuff was just theoretical'

28 january 2022.

A lecturer in illustration and animation, John used his recent research in the Archives residency at London College of Communication to produce an autobiographical comic book in which he adopted the styles of other artists to express and process aspects of living with multiple sclerosis.

The publication is now held in the Wellcome Collection, the UK's leading institution exploring the connections between art and health, and was named as "Best One-Shot" in the 2020 Broken Frontier awards.

John has continued to publish new autobiographical comics drawing on the archival research conducted during the residency, as well as broadening the scope of his work in comics that explore the contribution graphic medicine can make to disability studies and public health discourse.

Joanne Limburg in Conversation with Professor Meg Jensen

2 february 2022.

Joanne Limburg has published two collections of poetry with Bloodaxe Books: Feminismo , which was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, and Paraphernalia , a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. She has written one collection for children, Bookside Down , which was shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Prize and Highly Commended.

Her latest poetry collection is the pamphlet The Autistic Alice , also published by Bloodaxe. Her non-poetry book The Woman Who Thought Too Much , a memoir about OCD, anxiety and poetry, is published by Atlantic Books and her debut novel,  A Want of Kindness, was published in July 2015. A second memoir, Small Pieces: A Book of Lamentations , appeared in July 2017.

Joanne recently completed a PhD in Creative Writing at Kingston University. She lectures at De Montfort University in Leicester.

Sara Upstone (Kingston): Radical Sensitivity in Richard Powers' Bewilderment

4 march 2022.

Theories of the transglossic (Shaw and Upstone 2021) identify a planetary consciousness at work in contemporary literature that is centred upon a concerted aim to advance models of empathy simultaneously both between human subjects and between humans and non-humans.

In this paper, I take an auto-theoretical approach in order to consider how this unfolds in creative practice. Situating my own sensitivity as a neurodivergence in relation to Richard Powers's Bewilderment, I consider how the concept serves as provocation for radical connection.

Through its highly sensitive child protagonist, I suggest, Powers shows that our aims to create a planetary community can only be met through a revisioning of questions of feeling, sensory stimulation, and autonomy.

The ultimate consequences of such thinking deeply question the contemporary emphasis on rights and individualism, not only as a critique of neoliberalism but also as a challenge to what emerges as a disconcertingly similar discourse from those who position themselves as progressive.

Sian Loxston (Kingston): Fatigue, pain, and sex: a new materialist exploration of the sisters in Helen Dunmore's Talking to the Dead

18 march 2022.

How is the ‘I' of the individual materialised through fatigue, pain, sex, and the interactions with others? This presentation will consider the ways in which shared emotional pasts manifest differently in the two sisters in Dunmore's novel.

The orientation of the reader to the unreliable narrator, and the clandestine sexual acts taking place in the garden of her sister's house in the days after her nephew's traumatic birth serve to destabilise any sense of certainty about illness and its relationship to the body in the novel.

I argue that the inherent sexuality of the sisters is materialised by the link between their mental wellness and their pain. I am interested in a new materialist interpretation of the way pain looks in the novel – especially in terms of the ‘invisibility' of chronic and traumatic pain.

• Kingston Charity Research Network Project

Led by Meg Jensen, Kate Scott, and Brian Brivati, this project uses research, knowledge and best practice in professional writing to develop skills and capacity within a network of charities, local industries and KU staff.

The project arose from the Creative and Professional Writing Academic Excellence project, funded by the Vice Chancellor, which aimed at increasing the access of our diverse student cohort to the creative industries by developing unique and sought-after employability skills. It became clear, however, that the resources and teaching materials developed as part of this project would be of benefit not only to students and university staff but also to industry professionals and third sector groups.

With the help of Peter Ely in 2022 and of Daniel Read in 2023, the project has created an adaptable, transferable bid writing, professional writing and community of practice toolkit and tested it with a small number of students and KSA staff as well as a collection of local charities and SMEs.

Activities to date include:

• A series of bid writing sessions for KSA staff on bid writing
• A series of networking events including knowledge exchange sessions with members of Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA)
• Workshops for local SMEs as part of the South London Partnership BIG Innovation Networks initiative.
• Project Story

Project Story is an interdisciplinary group of researchers, educators, and practitioners with an interest in narrative and storytelling.

Professor Sara Upstone

Faculty director of postgraduate research and professor of contemporary literature.

Dr Kate Scott

School director research & enterprise.

Mr Steven J. Fowler

Dr Meg Jensen

Professor in english literature and creative writing.

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Kingston University , Holmwood House, Grove Crescent, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE . Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000

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Creative Writing in Literary London

Program at Capacity | Contact CIEE to be Waitlisted

Jun 16 - Jul 6, 2024

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Request Information

Jul 7 - 27, 2024

Spark your literary inspiration in London, home to countless authors and stories that have shaped the world. 

Take a captivating trip through London, turning it into a central character in your writing. Through expert-led workshops, develop the tools and techniques needed to write in different genres. Take cues from renowned works of prose, poetry, and drama and analyze how these forms are reimagined in contemporary mediums—films, web-based media, and graphic fiction. As you refine your literary taste, you'll craft your own creative writing portfolio! 

Connect with writers and storytellers. Roam the real sites that served as backdrops for the works of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Woolf, and more. Examine the contrasting facets of London, exploring both its Gothic shadows and its aspirational allure that has enticed migrants from across the globe to call it home.

Discover the places and people that make London buzz with creativity. Meet local teens and indulge in local flavors, like fish and chips. Experience life outside of London, too, on an excursion to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. In the end, you’ll realize your literary ideas and add your unique contributions to London’s literature.

The Take-Aways

Real-world experience.

Experience London through the eyes and pen of a writer. Try out literary techniques and structures to develop your own writing process in different genres. Come home with the skills to create original works.

Credentials for Your Future

Topics for your college essays, experience to inform your future career, and a Creative Writing Portfolio to showcase your own writing.

Life Skills and New Friendships

Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and improved communication skills. Enjoy a broader worldview and diverse friendships from across the U.S. 

Hours of Expert Instruction

Weeks Pursuing Your Passion

Life-Changing Experience

The Destination

Welcome to london, the backdrop for innumerable works of fiction. .

Walking through the streets, squares, and alleys of London, you’ll transport yourself to the literary works they’ve inspired! From Oliver Twist to Sherlock Holmes, the city’s iconic characters have resonated with audiences all over the world. Represented in fiction as both charming and menacing, London is the most multicultural city in Europe and a cradle of creativity. With a population of over 9 million, hundreds of ethnic groups mingle at every turn. It’s hard to not feel a bolt of inspiration when out for a stroll. 

Famous landmarks—like the London Eye, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace—stand royally across the city. Cruising along the River Thames, take in the lovely views of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Its thriving markets, like the medieval Leadenhall Market, one of your excursions, and pleasant green areas like Kew Gardens lead you into the day-to-day life of Londoners. From its vast number of bookshops, theatres, museums, and art galleries to its innovative street artists and performers, you’ll be amazed by all there is to do! 

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in London.

Monday–Friday

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

• Breakfast at the hostel/hotel
• Hands-on classes with expert instructors and professional writers   
• Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators  
• Out and about for a cultural activity or workshop
• Dinner at the hostel/hotel or out in the community   

Weekends   

• Overnight or day excursions to top sites  
• Quality time with friends  

Hostel/hotel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

24/7 Support

1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Weekly Learning Goals

Settle into your new community and begin understanding how London has inspired the works of literary masters. Start your creative writing portfolio.

Explore how classic works have been adapted for the contemporary reader. Continue working on your stories, inspired by a trip to Shakespeare's hometown.

Attend presentations on culture, society and identity and engage with British authors disrupting the London literary scene. Finalize your portfolio drawing from the literary and social themes learned and experiences lived on program.

Program Blogs

Twist Museum - 25 July 2023

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”--Albert Einstein Today, the Creative Writing students made their way to the Twist Museum, London’s “playground of perceptions”... keep reading

The Cursed Child

A trip to London isn’t complete without a visit to the West End! The Creative Writing Program had the amazing opportunity to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a... keep reading

Weekend Getaway - 22 July 2023

Though rainy, Bath was beautiful. Upon our arrival, we were able to drop our overnight bags off at the YMCA Bath Hostel where we stayed before getting a few hours... keep reading

Sample Activities

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

• Explore London and Victorian Gothic tracing the footsteps of Charles Dickens on a walking tour. 
• Hunt for location settings for your own stories visiting the British Museum, Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, the Museum of London Dockland’s Windrush stories, and the Twist Museum.
• Meet for street food at the Borough Market and walk along the South Bank to the Globe Theatre.
• Explore London’s maritime history with a visit to Greenwich, arriving by river boat. Find the Prime Meridian that divides the western and eastern hemispheres at longitude 0° and visit its atmospheric market.  
• Enjoy afternoon tea in Oxford. Take overnight trips to Bath, a World Heritage site known for its Roman spa, and to Lacock, an unspoiled medieval village and film site. 

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience. 

What Students Are Saying

“I met so many friends and extraordinary people that I can’t imagine life without them now. I’ve discovered new things about London and myself. It’s an experience everyone deserves.” 

Lizzie R., Global Navigator Alum

“It’s allowed me to see how big our world is. There is so much culture, so many people, and things to try. It’s a time to explore the world as it is.” 

Kayla J., Global Navigator Alum

“You make a lot of close friends, go through the thick, the thin, and the fun. Very memorable experiences are made!”  

Matthew M., Global Navigator Alum

“It was fun and I learned a lot. I’ll never forget our Oxford trip!”

Isabella R., Global Navigator Alum

Eligibility

• Participants must be 14 years old and above.
• Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.   
• For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our  scholarship page .

For more information, refer to the detailed  Program Essential Eligibility Criteria .

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about  what’s included  with your tuition.    

More questions? Find  answers , get  application support , sign up for  virtual presentations  or  contact us . 

What's Included

Interactive classes, 3 meals/day.

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to local phone and wifi, all cultural activities and excursions, comprehensive medical and travel protection, 24/7 emergency on-site support.

Mark Simmons

Center director.

Mark Simmons has an M.A. in History from the University of Aberdeen and a postgraduate degree in Administrative and Information Management from Napier University Edinburgh. 

Ready to change your life?

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