Creative Writing

It is a truth, not universally acknowledged, that most of us are natural born storytellers, even though we may not realise it. Consider children with their almost endless creation of people, places and events during their play. Why can’t we as adults do the same? The reality is that we can. We don’;t lose those skills as we grow, we just use them in different ways. For example, when passing on information about a mundane matter such as a shopping trip we will often embellish our tale adding detail which is not strictly necessary simply because we know that it will engage our listener better.

This 20-week part-time course will give you the opportunity to learn the basics of creative writing through the teaching of a few rules, the application of some techniques and plenty of practice. Each week we will either address a different topic or explore some of the more popular genres such as crime and poetry. Everything you learn will be supported by examples from some of the world’;s finest authors. During each lesson you will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions as well as complete some simple exercises to cement your newfound knowledge. Between sessions you will be encouraged to practice your skills by writing a short piece which you may choose to share with your fellow students in a safe and supportive environment. If this seems a little daunting at the moment, don’t worry, it is not compulsory.

Even if you have had little experience of writing since leaving school or your spelling and grammar leave something to be desired, don’t worry. All you need to succeed is a pen, notebook and the desire to fill the page. If you are already writing, great, this course will help you get even better. If not, this is a good place to start.

This is a 20 week course which runs on a Thursday evening. The next course will start as follows:

Thursday 18 September 2025 (19:00 -; 21:00)