Want to write regularly?
Sign up for a 30-day writing experience with The Writing Life challenge.
National Centre for Writing’s online self-paced challenge introduces you to a wide range of inspiring techniques to kickstart your creativity — from freewriting to audio prompts — all practiced in manageable, bite-sized chunks throughout the month.
As you progress, you’ll also receive supplementary resources, including expert tips and interviews with industry masters, to deepen your skills and enrich your writing journey.
Over 1,350 writers have signed up to The Writing Life since March 2025!
Start your writing journey
We’re very excited to have launched The Writing Life: Reflect (formerly Vol. 2), returning 1 October! Don’t worry, you don’t need to have participated in the original 30-day challenge to try the new one. You can try them in any order!
The Writing Life (September 2026)
Focus on your creativity this back to school season with The Writing Life 30-day challenge: unique daily writing exercises throughout September. Starts 1 September 2026.
The Writing Life: Reflect (October 2026)
Try a new way of looking at your writing in this 30-day writing challenge, featuring fresh prompts and unique lessons. Starts 1 October 2026.
I found the whole experience very stimulating and having had writer’s block for a novel I’ve been trying to write for years (and still only 25,000 words in) – this was just the push I needed – thank you!
What’s the difference?
Each of our The Writing Life courses are unique and can be done in any order.
Each course has 30 unique lessons and prompts to keep you writing and inspired. Prompts include written, visual, audio and video. You can work on each prompt at your own speed, skip ones you don’t enjoy and return to ones you do. There’s no expectation and no pressure, just 30 days of inspiration.
The Writing Life is our original writing challenge, centred around basic techniques for writing fiction.
The Writing Life: Reflect is a similar challenge with all new prompts, and includes the opportunity to read and develop on your work as you progress through the course.
The Writing Life FAQs
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When you sign up for The Writing Life or The Writing Life: Reflect, you will gain access to a new writing prompt every day of the month you choose. A new lesson and task will unlock each day, and you will receive a reminder email to keep you on track.
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No problem! While this course is designed to help you write every day, you can always dip in and out as you need to. We all have busy lives and different ways of working, so there’s no pressure to work on each prompt the day it releases. Once you purchase The Writing Life, it’s yours to continue and revisit forever.
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Absolutely! The Writing Life is yours to keep, so you’re welcome to revisit any prompt as often as you like. You can even use the same prompt to spark ideas for entirely different projects.
Take breaks, skip around (once prompts are unlocked), and return to tasks whenever inspiration strikes. This challenge is designed to fit your creative journey, however you choose to approach it.
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No, The Writing Life is AI-free. Every prompt has been developed by a writer or practitioner and our team to ensure top quality and consistent content.
Is The Writing Life for beginners?
Both The Writing Life and The Writing Life: Reflect are perfect for anyone wanting to build a regular writing practice.
The Writing Life courses welcome complete beginners and anyone who wants to make writing a natural, enjoyable part of their day. The prompts are both simple and expansive, designed to help you build a steady writing habit.
If you’re hoping to write regularly, and enjoy sitting down to write each day, this course gives you the gentle structure and encouragement to get there. With daily exercises designed to spark curiosity rather than perfectionism, you will start to enjoy the act of sitting down to write, even on busy or uninspired days.
Giving The Writing Life as a gift?
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Gift the course in advance and let your recipient know they’ll receive the purchase receipt, as well as the daily reminder emails at launch
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Buy the course using your email and forward the daily emails to your recipient
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Ask your recipient to create their own account and purchase the course themselves, using your payment details or arranging reimbursement
I have participated all through March and found it to be a brilliant step-by-step framework for writing. Well-paced, clear instructions, helpful back-up material and all at an amazing price.
The benefits of writing regularly
Routine: Finding inspiration and sustaining motivation
We asked novelist, short story and non-fiction writer Sarah Bower about building a writing routine and the power of habit.
3 February 2025
10 signposts on the way to a successful writing life
In this article, writer and NCW Academy tutor Emmanuel Iduma shares ten key indicators that you’re on the right track for a successful writing life, and the questions you should ask yourself along the way.
15 January 2024
The power of habits for creativity and writing success
Explore how and why routine is so important to writing. From well-known writers who thrive on habit, to how to build a writing habit of your own, read now!
23 December 2024
What do you need?
It’s super easy to join The Writing Life 30-day challenge!
It’s all online, and you’ll get daily reminder emails to keep your routine on track. If you miss a day, don’t worry! It’s a no stress, no deadline course which you can return to whenever you need inspiration.
All you need for The Writing Life is:
- 15 minutes a day
- A smartphone, laptop or tablet
- An internet connection
- An email address
- Your preferred method of writing
The challenge is hosted on our learning platform Teachable.
New year, new writing goals: Julia Crouch on getting started, finding inspiration, and writing what excites
In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Julia Crouch shares her advice and encouragement for the writing year ahead.
29 December 2025
Five creative writing tips for any writer
Forward Prize-winning writer Anthony Capildeo shares their best advice for aspiring writers
19 February 2021
How to achieve your writing goals in 2025
In this article, we’re sharing practical tools and techniques to help you overcome barriers and create your best work yet.
23 December 2024
Got a question?
If you have any questions about The Writing Life 30-day challenge, NCW Academy products, or need help with your order, please get in touch with the team by email academy@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk or phone (+44) 01603 877177 between our working hours of 9am–5pm GMT, Monday to Friday.
