THE LIFE WRITING PROGRAMME

Online 2025-2027.

Two-years. One morning a week for 25 weeks per year.

The Life Writing Programme has been designed to develop your understanding of the craft of turning personal or researched experience into narrative. It has a particular emphasis on the different forms of creative non-fiction: life writing, autobiography, biography, historically-researched fiction, travel writing, diaries, journals, comic writing and blogs and teaches writing techniques that can be used in both non-fiction and creative fiction.

Overview

In your first year you will reflect on the sources and themes of your own writing

  • develop a deeper understanding of your own creativity and enhance your story-telling ability

  • learn the writing techniques that will bring the world of your imagination to life on the page

  • explore the relationship between memory and imagination in non-fiction narratives

 

In the second year the focus will shift from shorter scenes to longer narratives. You will:

  • learn how to create compelling characters and a strong, distinctive narratorial voice

  • discover ways of enhancing the dramatic impact of your writing and explore the different ways in which life stories can be told

  • gain further insights into language and technique and examine the related concepts of authenticity and integrity in life writing

 

Throughout the course you will continue to explore aspects of character and setting, learning to negotiate memory and constructs of time in relation to life writing.

 

You will hone your critical and editing skills and develop your eye for good life writing. In the writing workshops, you will share, discuss and evaluate your work with the other writers in your writing group.

 

By the end the programme you will have developed a substantial body of work and have either finished your writing project or be in a position to bring it to completion.

What this creative writing course will do for you

This programme will help you:

  • develop your confidence and ability as a writer

  • organise and manage your work

  • evolve a strong individual style.

It is an ideal programme for writers who want to write a memoir, biography or other piece of long-form creative non-fiction and are looking for structure, encouragement and feedback to help them achieve this.

All you will need to bring to the programme is your imagination, a love of reading, a passion to write and the determination to succeed.

Through the course, I found a community of writers who remained a huge source of support for several years after the course, and received a foundation of knowledge and tools in creative writing.’

Louise Kenward, author of Moving Mountains

What is required of me?

  • Over the two years you will need to organise a minimum of twelve hours per week for classes and additional writing and reading time.

  • You will need to have access to a computer with email and an internet connection as the programme uses an online learning site to allow students to keep in touch outside of the taught sessions. Your computer must have a built-in camera as the workshops are held on Zoom.

How our creative writing courses work

The programme follows a structure of four creative writing courses over two years. Weekly seminars of 2.5 hours include a mix of practical writing exercises, discussions, group work, tutor-led feedback and taught sessions.

 

You will work closely with two of our experienced tutors, who will meet you for one-to-one tutorials. You can also take additional one-day masterclasses with visiting writers if you choose. You’ll have the opportunity to read your work – and hear from your peers – at termly student and alumni reading evenings held both online and at Kemptown Bookshop, Brighton.

 

Once you have enrolled you will be taken to your course page on our website. When your course starts your tutor will add course outlines, supporting seminar notes, writing exercises and a Writers’ Forum where you can chat with other writers in your group.

Key Information

Programme Length: Two years

Maximum group size 15

 

Seminar times:

Fridays 10-12.30pm (the online session starts and ends 15 minutes before and ends these times to allow for informal chats and for any questions to be answered by your tutor.)

 

Term dates:

Autumn term: Monday 6th October – Friday 19th December (Half term 27th October to 31st October)

Spring term: Monday 5th January – Friday 20th March (Half term 16th-20th February)

Summer term: Monday 20th April – Friday 22nd May

2026-7 term dates will be provided later in spring 2026.

 

Entry requirements:

No formal qualifications required. All you need to bring to the programme is your imagination, a love of reading, a passion to write, a commitment to your writing group and the determination to succeed.

We’re running taster sessions from April to September so you can see if the programme is for you. Find out more and book your place here.

Enrolment

Fee:

£1,249+VAT per annum (total £1,499)

 

The fees include:

  • Two-year programme. 25 weeks of taught classes per year. Pitched at graduate degree level

  • Three one-to-one sessions with an experienced tutor over the two years

  • Four one-day weekend masterclasses over the two years

  • Publishing Day and meeting with an agent at the end of the course

  • Five student and alumni readings/ social events across the year (small fee applies for refreshments for the in-person events)

 

A 10% deposit (£149.99) is paid at the start of the first year by way of deposit for the second year. This is then taken off the second year’s fees. Students can also pay in instalments: £949.49 (half the course fees plus the second year deposit plus £50 admin fee) at the start of the autumn term and then £749.50 at the start of the spring term. The second year course fees will then be £1,350 including VAT.

Life Writing Programme

Pay in Full

Life Writing Programme

Pay in Two Instalments

To discuss your payment options, email Cathy Hayward