Lunchtime Workshop: Character Arcs with Jeremy Sheldon

12.30-1.30pm, Thur 9 Oct, £20, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

This is the first of six storycraft sessions in our series 'A Moment for the Fundamentals' with novelist and screenwriter Jeremy Sheldon. What do we mean by 'character arc', and how we can we make it come alive for our protagonists? Through writing prompts and discussions you'll see your characters' journeys from a new perspective, taking away much to put into practice in your current project or story idea.

Long Lunch Workshop: Writing Difference with Hannah Lowe

12.00-1.30pm, Thur 6 Nov, £24, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

How do we write characters whose lives differ markedly from our own - in race, class, gender, culture, or lived experience - without causing harm or reinforcing stereotypes? And should we even try? We'll explore the ethical and creative challenges of writing across difference. Through exercises and discussion, we’ll consider how curiosity, research, humility, and imagination can help us write with care and integrity.

Lunchtime Workshop: Inciting Incidents with Jeremy Sheldon

12.30-1.30pm, Thur 27 Nov, £20, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

The second of six storycraft sessions in our series 'A Moment for the Fundamentals' with novelist and screenwriter Jeremy Sheldon. What do we mean by 'inciting incident', and how does this bring our characters and plots together to form narrative? Expect to see from new angles through writing prompts and discussions, and to come away with a check list to apply to your writing.

Winter Showcase: extracts of work in progress

7.30-9.30pm, Thurs 11 Dec, live on ZOOM, for our writing students only, free to attend

A celebration of our writing students and their writing from this term via extracts of poetry, fiction and life writing from our courses. There are 18 reading slots of 4 mins each. Lots of people come to listen and support their peers at this inspiring and friendly event - an evening which tutors and students always love, term after term. Writing students are encouraged to invite friends, family and fans!

Fireside Chat with novelist and playwright James Woolf

7.30-8.30pm, Thur 18 Dec, live on ZOOM, free to attend with encouragement to buy a book!

All are welcome at this cosy, midwinter chat, where fiction writer and playwright James Woolf will be in conversation with Writing Room Co-Director Alison Chandler. You'll get to hear James reading an extract from his crime thriller Indefensible, and we'll find out all about his writing and publishing journeys thus far. Do bring your questions for an audience Q&A!

Lunchtime Workshop: Point of View with Jeremy Sheldon

12.30-1.30pm, Thur 29 Jan, £20, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

The third of six storycraft sessions in our series 'A Moment for the Fundamentals' with novelist and screenwriter Jeremy Sheldon. What do we mean by 'point of view' in storytelling, and why does the choice of whose perspective narrates a scene, and in what tense, matter? Through writing prompts and discussions, you'll explore these all-important narrative choices to shed new light on your story ideas or work in progress.

Meet the Literary Agent with Sara Langham of David Higham Associates

10.30-11.45am, Thurs 12 Feb, £20, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

Come along and learn what an agent does for an author, and how to secure an agent for your book. You'll have the opportunity to share a 100-word blurb about your book, and Sara will talk about her day-to-day working life, what she's looking for as she reads through her submissions, and how she helps writers find their market. She loves answering your questions so do come ready to ask away!

Lunchtime Workshop: Dialogue with Jeremy Sheldon

12.30-1.30pm, Thur 19 March, £20, live on ZOOM, free to our bursary students

The fourth of six storycraft sessions in our series 'A Moment for the Fundamentals' with novelist and screenwriter Jeremy Sheldon. What do we mean by 'on the nose' dialogue and how might we avoid it? Through writing prompts and discussions, you'll look at what is said, and what is not said, between people to create nuanced dialogue that drives your story and characters forward without overtly signposting the audience.