Creative Writing Workshops

Become the writer you want to be

National Centre for Writing believes that we can all become the writer we want to be with the right knowledge, skills and confidence. That’s why we created a suite of activities and assets including workshops.

• Explore new techniques, approaches and genres
• Take your writing to the next level
• Build on your existing skills.

About our workshops

What

Our workshops are typically a 2.5-hour in-person session with a writer focusing on a particular aspect of writing. Most are led by a writer who will guide participants through a combination of writing exercises, discussion and other activities such as Q&A.

Most of our workshops last 2.5 hours and run from 10am until 12:30pm – though timings and lengths vary.

Tea, coffee and water is always available at in-person workshops, and you are also welcome to bring your own refreshments. Prices range from £45 to £60 depending on the length of the session and there are discounted prices for concessions (£35-£50).

We also offer a free bursary space on every workshop, which is assigned on a first-come-first-served basis to writers facing financial barriers.

Where

Some of our workshops happen in-person here at Dragon Hall in Norwich.

Others are delivered online using Zoom video conferencing. If you’re new to video conferencing, don’t worry, we’ll send you information about joining our workshops using your computer.

When

Workshops are organised into three ‘terms’ each year and each term sees new and different workshops, so you’ll rarely see the same workshop twice. 

• Autumn term: September to December
• Spring term: January to April.
• Summer term: May to August

Timings vary, but most take place on Saturday mornings until lunch.

Who

Writing and writers take on many forms, so we seek to create an appropriately diverse mix of workshop hosts, including award-winning writers to experienced educators – and many who are both.

How

For our in-person workshops, you can arrive 15 minutes early for a prompt start, here at Dragon Hall.

When preparing for your workshop, we recommend bringing a notepad and pen or laptop to write with during the exercises, and to jot down any ideas that strike during the discussions.

Unlike self-paced courses, our workshops happen in real-time with participation happening live and, because we don’t record our workshops, you’ll miss out if you’re not there.

How do I know if a workshop is right for me?

Many people worry that they’re ‘not ready’ for a certain activity. Most of the time this worry is needless and people are more than capable of taking on the task in front of them.

Most of our workshops have been designed for all levels so that all writers will benefit from the exercises and discussions. Some workshops may indicate a particular level, and if you’re not sure, just send us an email or give us a call.

Our current workshops