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Write Here! Write Now!

Whether writing from life or imagination, a first timer or an old hand, carve yourself a couple of hours’ writing time each week - no homework, no assignments, just supportive workshops which are designed to crack open the brand new writing in you.
  • Who is it for?

    Do you struggle to find the time to write, but love it when you do?
    Do you enjoy being given writing challenges?
    For two hours each week, this class will be all about putting words on the page, drafting new writing, sharing snippets hot off the press, and taking those fresh words away to develop at your leisure.
    This new course has been designed for writers of all levels. Excellent for those who are feeling blocked, or need to be prodded to put pen to paper, or who have always wanted to write but never found the time, or whose writing feels stuck in a rut.
    Whilst those for whom English is not a first language are welcome, a good grasp of written and spoken English is essential.

  • What does it cover?

    The emphasis is on workshopping - you will be encouraged to try out ideas, to make mistakes, and not be too precious.
    Each week you will be given prompts to set you on your creative journey. Each week's prompts will be different. You will look at a range of themes, and be given the opportunity to try out different writing styles. Where relevant, handouts will be provided, along with suggestions for follow-up reading. You will be encouraged and supported to develop your own writing style.
    Writing produced in class will be shared the same day, and feedback will be offered in a healthy and supportive way - this is all about encouragement of early drafts, not nit picking!
    By the end of the course you should have
    - a very full notebook!
    - an appreciation of craft elements and a range of writing styles.
    - developed strategies for writing independently, and conquered the dread of the blank page.
    - developed confidence in sharing your own work, and in responding constructively to the work of others.
    - reflected on how you can take this work further after the course.

  • What will it be like?


    The course is designed to allow individual learning paths and to provide participants with takeaway tools for generating their own material.
    Please Note - As the emphasis will be on workshopping new writing in-class, this course is not suitable for those wishing to receive critiques on writing produced outside the class, or for those requiring homework assignments to be shared in the following class.
    At the start: Through discussion, and your responses to tutor's questionnaire.
    On the course: By sharing the material produced, and by observation and discussion. Guided peer feedback is encouraged alongside tutor feedback.
    At the end: The tutor will provide verbal feedback, and peer discussion will be supported and encouraged.

  • What else do I need to buy or do?

    Bring pens, paper, enthusiasm, a generous spirit, and a willingness to play.
    Handouts and additional materials if required will be provided where necessary.

  • What could it lead to?

    After this course students can continue on the range of creative writing courses, or try one of the other courses, the tutor can advise on appropriate options.

Available Courses

Write Here! Write Now!

Whether writing from life or imagination, a first timer or an old hand, carve yourself a couple of hours’ writing time each week - no homework, no assignments, just supportive workshops which are designed to crack open the brand new writing in you.

22 April 2024 – 08 July 2024
Monday, 14:00 to 16:30
Course Code:727
£156 / £55
10 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
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02 October 2023 – 04 December 2023
Monday, 14:00 to 16:30
Course Code:725
£156 / £55
10 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
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08 January 2024 – 11 March 2024
Monday, 14:00 to 16:30
Course Code:726
£156 / £55
10 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
Enquire

Can't see what you want?

L1 BEGINNERS CREATIVE WRITING

Practical sessions with an emphasis on building skills, sharing work in a supportive environment.

23 April 2024 – 09 July 2024
Tuesday, 18:00 to 20:15
Course Code:708
£176 / £62
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course
23 April 2024 – 09 July 2024
Tuesday, 12:30 to 14:45
Course Code:703
£168 / £59
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course
26 September 2023 – 12 December 2023
Tuesday, 12:30 to 14:45
Course Code:701
£168 / £59
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course
09 January 2024 – 26 March 2024
Tuesday, 18:00 to 20:15
Course Code:707
£176 / £62
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course
09 January 2024 – 26 March 2024
Tuesday, 12:30 to 14:45
Course Code:702
£168 / £59
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course

Level 2: Improvers Creative Writing

For those who have done at least one year of work in a writing group at Level 1 and who are working on their own projects. Looking for more direction and commitment in your writing? These courses address questions of self-discipline and risk-taking and are designed to develop and hone your skills.

24 April 2024 – 10 July 2024
Wednesday, 18:00 to 20:15
Course Code:712
£176 / £62
12 Meetings
High Street, Stratford
View Course

Level 2 Improvers Creative Writing - Online

For those who have done at least one year of work in a writing group at Level 1 and who are working on their own projects. Looking for more direction and commitment in your writing? These courses address questions of self-discipline and risk-taking and are designed to develop and hone your skills.

24 April 2024 – 10 July 2024
Wednesday, 14:00 to 16:15
Course Code:715
£168 / £59
12 Meetings
Online Course
View Course

Meet The Tutor

Course Detail

Andrea Watts has been teaching creative and life writing at Mary Ward Centre since 2014. She has an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths University (where she was shortlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize), and a BA in Fine Art & Critical Art Practise from Chelsea School of Art. Her stories have been published in anthologies and placed in competitions, most recently Visual Verse 2022, shortlisted for Bridport Prize 2022, and published in Brick Lane Bookshop Anthology 2020. She has an informal and supportive approach to teaching. You will be encouraged to use warm-ups and prompts to come up with new ideas and follow your own projects and interests. The emphasis will be on lots of in-class writing, group feedback, recommended reading and lively discussions.

Previous students have grown bodies of work in fiction, memoir, and fictionalised biography, some of which have been published. For those who want to take their writing further there is also the opportunity to form your own writing groups with fellow writing students in addition to the classes. Each term is stand-alone and unique so can be taken as a one-off or repeated as often as is useful to your progress. Each writer is supported to go at their own pace and develop their critical and listening skills. In this way the classes are suitable for beginners to more confident writers who want to reset their practise.

Andrea Watts teaches Life Writing and Write Here! Write Now!

 

 

For more information contact The Departmental Administrator at admin@marywardcentre.ac.uk

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