The Novel Studio 2025-26: Now Available In-Person and Online

April 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

 

 Applications are now open for our acclaimed year-long novel development programme

For over two decades, The Novel Studio has guided aspiring novelists through the journey from initial concept to professional submission package. We’re delighted to announce that for the 2025-26 academic year, The Novel Studio will be available in two formats: our fully online option and a return to in-person at our central London campus.

Same Expert Guidance, Two Ways to Experience It

Whether you choose to join us in London or connect from anywhere in the world, you’ll receive the same comprehensive curriculum, expert instruction, and professional development opportunities that have helped our alumni secure major publishing deals and literary recognition.

‘We’ve designed both delivery options to provide choice for our prospective students,’ says Emily Pedder, Course Director of The Novel Studio. ‘Our commitment to nurturing each writer’s unique voice and providing personalised feedback remains at the heart of everything we do.’

The Novel Studio Experience

Over 30 intensive weeks (two evening sessions per week), you’ll progress through a carefully structured programme:

Term One: Foundations

  • Develop your novel concept through guided research and exploration
  • Study novel structures across genres
  • Position your work within the current literary market

Term Two: Craft Development

  • Participate in structured workshop sessions with detailed feedback
  • Master essential craft elements including character, voice, and dialogue
  • Develop pacing and narrative drive

Term Three: Industry Focus

  • Connect with agents, authors, and editors
  • Prepare a professional submission package
  • Participate in our industry showcase

Both delivery options include one-to-one tutorials with each tutor every term, ensuring personalised guidance throughout your journey.

Two Pathways, One Community

London Studio Experience

  • Face-to-face workshops in our central London location
  • Direct networking opportunities with peers and industry professionals
  • Immersive writing community experience
  • Access to London literary events

Online Studio Experience

  • Live virtual workshops with the same expert tutors
  • Digital resource access
  • Vibrant online writing community
  • Virtual networking events
  • Identical feedback structure and professional development opportunities

‘I benefited enormously from being able to develop my novel in an environment that was both demanding and supportive, and my writing improved considerably over the course. The tutorial guidance is excellent and sensitively applied. The standard of students is very high, and one of the best benefits was forming a long-term relationship (and friendship) with such talented fellow-writers,” says Penny Rudge whose debut novel Foolish Lessons in Life and Love was published by Little Brown.

Expert Tuition from Published Authors

All Novel Studio workshops are taught by either Dr Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone or Dr Kiare Ladner – both published authors and industry professionals who bring decades of writing and teaching experience to the programme. The same tutors teach both our in-person and online sessions, ensuring consistent quality across both delivery options.

Dr Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

Dr Kiare Ladner

Our tutors provide not only craft expertise and encouragement but also current industry insights, helping you navigate the publishing landscape with confidence.

Industry Connections

All Novel Studio participants benefit from our established industry connections:

  • Industry Showcase: Present your work to agents at our end-of-year event
  • Anthology Publication: Your work will be professionally edited in an anthology sent to all UK-based literary agents
  • Agent Access: All applications are automatically considered for the Novel Studio Competition, with the top three manuscripts reviewed by Lucy Luck, literary agent at C&W Agency

Join Our Community of Published Writers

The Novel Studio has an impressive track record of alumni success across all genres – from literary fiction to crime, historical to fantasy, and everything in between. Our graduates have secured major publishing deals, been shortlisted for prestigious awards, and established successful writing careers.

Will your novel be next?

Applications Now Open

How to Apply: Email shortcourses@city.ac.uk with a 2000-word sample of your original fiction and a CV which details any writing experience you may have.

Application Deadline: 30 May 2025

Scholarship Opportunity: The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship provides full funding for a talented writer from a low-income household. Please indicate on your application if you wish to be considered.

Open Information Session

We will be running a virtual information session on 30 April from 5.30-6.15pm. Sign up HERE.

 

We look forward to receiving your applications!

 

City Writes Soars in Spring

March 31, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Guest alumna Han Smith in conversation with Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

 

The 26th March marked nine years of the creative writing showcase event, City Writes. In person for the first time since the pandemic, this celebration of the writing coming from City St George’s short courses was a bumper edition with readings from competition winners, tutors and the Goldsmiths Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith. It really was a creative writing extravaganza of a night with drinks, nibbles, book signing, course discounts and lots of networking. Students and alumni met tutors, writers and agents on a balmy Spring night and it was, quite simply, a delight.

 

Hattie Nash

We began the evening with three of our competition winners. Approach to Creative Writing alumna, Hatty Nash made us all laugh (a little nervously) with her story ‘Brainrot’ in which an unsuspecting office worker literally moulders in her ergonomic chair. Aaron Payne, a Short Story Writing alumnus, gave us an extract from his longer short story, ‘Scoop’ next. He dropped us into a graveyard in the drizzle and dazzled with metaphoric and symbolic connections as his character prepared for a funeral. Aaron was then swiftly followed by another Approach to Creative Writing alumna, Mya Shakur, whose story ‘Sandwich Bag’ made us witness to a painful punishment. A mother cuts off her daughter’s hair and puts it in a sandwich bag on a shelf in her daughter’s bedroom. The humiliation of a bad haircut hung over the audience.

Mya Shakur

Aaron Payne

Two of City St George’s short courses tutors took to the stage next. First up was Novel Writing and Longer Works tutor, Martin Ouvry. We were treated to an extract from the opening of his Arts Council funded novel, The Cost of Living. A casual but flashy meeting with an old school friend quivered with a sense of unease. The London of cocktails and globetrotters was quickly changed for the closer quarters of a less-fashionable London bedroom as Crime and Thriller Writing tutor Caroline Green read from her novel, Sleep Tight. The first in a series of DC Rose Gifford thrillers, the audience was very relieved not to be going home after this terrifying invader of rest unfolded.

Jonathan Gibbs of the Creative Writing MA and MFA at City St George’s encouraged us to investigate the higher education on offer here at City St George’s. He’s running a taster session later in April for those keen to find out more.

After a short interval to top up drinks and chat, we were back with two further competition winners. Narrative Non-Fiction alumna, Ellen Bassam, started us off with her story of ghosting in the age of dating apps and mobile phones, ‘Two y’s and no smiley face’.

Judging by the audience’s laughs and groans this was a story that really struck a chord. Ellen was followed by fourth time winner of City Writes, Tunde Oyebode. A Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop alumnus, Tunde read his story, ‘Immaculate Education’. An extract from a longer piece, we listened to a dark and uncomfortable tale of sexual and physical abuse in a boarding school in Lagos. There was audible silence as the story ended.

Tunde Oyebode

Ellen Bassam

Following this was Tunde’s former Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop tutor, Katy Darby. A writer of historical fiction, Katy gave us a steamy encounter from a work-in-progress set in the closet of a large house in the Victorian era. There were some flushed faces as moved from fiction to fact with our final tutor reading of the evening from Fact-based Storytelling tutor, Jem Batholomew. Jem has just signed a contract with Faber to publish his non-fiction book, Threading the Needle, about poverty in the UK. We were treated to an extract from this work, challenging the comforts of warm seats and free drinks and nibbles. Jem suggested a night of readings to get tutors and students together and his reading lingered as we prepared to hear from Short Story Writing alumna and guest, Han Smith.

Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking is Han Smith’s debut novel and was shortlisted for the 2024 Goldsmiths Prize. We were very lucky to hear two extracts from this fragmentary series of portraits that ask us how the past is remembered when the system is forcibly trying to make us forget. It’s a thought-provoking novel written in precise and tender language that speaks directly to our modern ‘post-truth’ age. There’s desire, activism, exploitation and fear. Han read beautifully and answered questions from Novel Studio tutor, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone and audience before all the tutors were invited to join Han for a brief, broader Q&A.

This marked the end of the night, with book signing from Han Smith and thanks yous to Emily Pedder, Robert Lastman and Patsy Collison. Do buy Han Smith’s fantastic novel, Portrait at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking here. And look out for details of City Writes next term, which will be back online, but we will be joined by Writers’ Workshop alumna and debut novelist, Fiona Keating, whose novel Smoke and Silk (Mountain Leopard Press, 2025) comes out on March 27th. We’ll see you in the summer term!

Writing in the age of AI: Transforming Copywriting and Content Marketing

March 31, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, artificial intelligence is revolutionising how we approach copywriting and content marketing. For students entering this field, understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations is no longer optional—it’s essential professional knowledge that could define your competitive edge in the industry.

How AI is Changing Content Creation

The emergence of sophisticated AI writing tools has fundamentally altered the content creation process. These tools can now:

  • Generate first drafts of marketing copy in seconds
  • Adapt messaging to different audience segments
  • Create variations of headlines and calls-to-action for A/B testing
  • Optimise content for search engines
  • Identify trending topics and content gaps

For copywriters and marketers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The mechanical aspects of content production — once time-consuming barriers to creativity — can now be delegated to AI assistants.

From Volume to Strategy: The New Human Advantage

With AI handling production volume, human copywriters are being elevated to more strategic roles. The competitive advantage now lies in areas where humans still decisively outperform machines:

Strategic Thinking

Understanding brand positioning, audience psychology, and market differentiation remains a distinctly human strength. AI can execute, but humans define the “why” behind content strategies.

Brand Voice Development

Creating authentic, distinctive brand voices that resonate with specific audiences requires cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and creative intuition that AI tools still struggle to replicate.

Emotional Resonance

The most effective marketing copy connects emotionally with readers. Human copywriters understand emotional nuance in ways that AI, for all its pattern recognition capabilities, cannot yet match.

Cultural Context

Understanding cultural references, sensitivities, and zeitgeist moments requires living in and experiencing culture — something AI systems, trained on past data, inherently cannot do.

Practical Applications for Modern Copywriters

For students learning copywriting and content marketing, here are some practical ways to leverage AI while developing essential human skills:

  1. Use AI for Research and Ideation AI tools can analyse vast amounts of content to identify patterns, topics, and gaps in existing content landscapes, providing valuable starting points for original content creation.
  2. Employ AI as a First-Draft Generator Use AI to generate initial content drafts that you then refine, enhance, and infuse with brand voice and emotional resonance.
  3. Leverage AI for Content Optimisation AI excels at identifying SEO opportunities, readability issues, and potential audience responses — use these insights to strengthen your content.
  4. Focus Your Expertise on Strategy As AI handles more production aspects, develop your strategic thinking, audience understanding, and creative direction skills— areas where human input remains irreplaceable.

Preparing for the Future

The UK content marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with AI integration. For students preparing to enter this field, focusing on these key areas will help you thrive:

  1. Learn to collaborate with AI tools rather than compete with them
  2. Develop your unique creative perspective that AI cannot replicate
  3. Hone your strategic thinking and audience understanding
  4. Stay informed about AI capabilities and limitations
  5. Experiment with AI tools to understand where they add value

AI is not replacing copywriters and content marketers — it’s transforming their roles. By automating routine aspects of content creation, AI frees us to focus on strategy, creativity, and emotional connection. This shift represents an evolution of the profession rather than its replacement.

For anyone interested in using AI alongside their content and copywriting, take a look at our short courses in Introduction to Copywriting (next course starts April 12), Introduction to Branding (next course starts 17 May) and Content Writing (next course starts 13 June).

Or if you’re interested in our other writing short courses at City St Georges, visit our home page HERE.

For more on all our short courses, why not come along to our virtual open evening on Wednesday 2 April? Sign up here. As a bonus for attending, you’ll receive 10% off your short course if you book by midnight on Thursday 3 April.

 

Announcing City Writes Spring 2025 Competition Winners

March 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

We’re delighted to announce the winners of the City Writes Spring Competition, all of whom will be reading at our bumper in person City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square alongside Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith and four of City St George’s Short Course tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry. Register for this wonderful free event now and sit back as we introduce you to our competition winners.

Ellen Bassam is a London-based writer whose work explores the intersections of everyday life, politics, popular culture, and nature. With a background in political campaigning, she brings a sharp, insightful perspective to her writing. Currently, she runs Alternative Route, a zine about walking, with a focus on the experiences and stories of women and girls. Ellen is a Narrative Non-Fiction alumna and will be reading her story, ‘Two y’s and no smiley face’.

Approach to Creative Writing alumna Hatty Nash is a radio producer who writes and reads fiction in her spare time. She joined the BBC on the prestigious Production Trainee Scheme and has since produced programmes for Radio 4, Radio 1, and the World Service, including Woman’s Hour and the Today programme. She grew up in Devon and now lives in East London. Hatty will be reading her story ‘Brainrot’.

Tunde Oyebode is a Nigerian-British architect and writer in London. His fiction, inspired by everyday life, explores themes of relationships, society, and urban environments, reflecting the experiences of the African diaspora. His work has appeared in Stylist Magazine, Obsidian, and Solstice Literary Magazine. Tunde was a finalist for the 2023 London Independent Story Prize and the 2024 Solstice Literary Magazine Prize. He is currently seeking to publish a collection of interconnected short stories and enjoys cycling and photographing architecture. A Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop alumnus, Tunde will be reading his story, ‘Immaculate Education’.

Aaron Payne is a Short Story Writing alumnus and unpublished writer who lives in South London. He is working on a story inspired by suburban landmarks: graveyards, allotments, libraries and schools. His reading, ‘Scoop’ is extracted from this story. He is a civil servant.

Mya Shakur is a novice fiction writer with a love for character-driven storytelling. She’s currently working on a collection of memory-inspired pieces, including her winning story ‘Sandwich Bag’, as part of a fictional memoir. After briefly studying Politics and American Studies at university, she took a different path with storytelling remaining a consistent passion throughout. She now writes in her spare time, trying to make sense of it all and has just completed the Approach to Creative Writing course.

For your chance to hear all of these wonderful stories alongside the work of Han Smith and four of our fantastic tutors here at City St George’s register for the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square here. We can’t wait to see you there.

City Writes Spring Event 2025: Behind the scenes with our featured tutors series; Introducing Jem Bartholomew

March 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Author and Lecturer Jem Bartholomew

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

This is the last in our series of blog posts exploring the writing and teaching of City St George’s short course tutors reading at The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square. It’s going to be an unprecedented night of storytelling from tutors, students and alumni followed by a Q&A with Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith, and four of our wonderful writing tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry.

This week we are introducing the fantastic narrative nonfiction writer, Jem Bartholomew. Jem teaches Fact-based Storytelling here at City St George’s and as an award-winning freelance reporter has a wealth of experience to share with students and readers alike.

When asked to introduce his work, Jem launched into a description of his current project. ‘I’m currently writing a narrative nonfiction book about UK poverty, called Threading The Needle. The book follows a year in the life of four communities — a food bank in southern England, courier drivers in London, a former coal-mining village in South Yorkshire, and a young MP’s journey to Westminster — as they battle against the rocketing cost of living, push for change, and strive for meaning in an insecure world. The book is nonfiction, but through immersive reporting in these communities it adopts a novelistic lens to capture where our country is, and where it’s going, following in the footsteps of George Orwell’s The Road To Wigan Pier and Down and Out in Paris and London. My shorter-form freelance reporting can be found in the Guardian.’

With such an impressive resume I wanted to find out what Jem found exciting about teaching at City St George’s. He said it was ‘the capacity to be constantly surprised by the writers who take my class. Short courses attract people at all different stages of their lives and writing journeys — I’ve had cohorts in which retired people and teenagers are swapping notes, reading each other’s work. It’s this multiplicity in class that fuels surprise, innovation and freshness on the page. When teaching, as well as outlining some of the techniques I feel are worth knowing, I strive for my classes to resemble a seminar rather than a lecture. Participants have just as much to teach me, and teach each other, than vice versa, and active, constructive discussion is central.’ No wonder former students speak of Jem’s ability to facilitate discussions and grow writers.

So, what one piece of advice would Jem give to aspiring writers? His answer is wonderfully practical: ‘Details are important. The small details are what brings a scene to life, what tells the reader who a character is, what sticks in the audience’s mind after they’ve put your story down. Don’t forget to capture the particulars: What’s the dog’s name? What kind of shoes was that man wearing? Did that person thank the waiter? And people love to read dialogue. Getting your characters talking to each other is a surefire way to inject some energy into your scenes. But above all, don’t wait for someone to ask you to write, or wait until you’re in the right job to start telling stories — you don’t need permission, just make writing a part of your life, start producing quality work, and people will want to read it.’

To hear more of Jem’s advice and listen to a passage of his work-in-progress, don’t forget to register for the The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square. There will be refreshments, a chance to hear more about the short creative writing courses at City St George’s and a special 10% discount for all attendees who sign up for a creative writing course.

We can’t wait to see you on the 26th of March, in person, with refreshments in hand and mind sparking with new ideas.

 

Advancing Your Professional Journey: Five Career Strategies for 2025

February 28, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, standing still is moving backwards. As we navigate the complexities of 2025’s job market, the most successful professionals are those who actively invest in their growth. Whether you’re looking to climb the corporate ladder or pivot into a new field entirely, here are five strategies to help elevate your career this year.

1. Embrace Micro-Credentials and Specialised Learning

While traditional degrees clearly still hold value, 2025 has solidified the rise of micro-credentials as career accelerators. Focused learning experiences—such as our Leadership and Management and Project Management short courses—allow you to develop specific, in-demand skills without committing to years of study. Upon completion, you’ll receive LinkedIn digital badges that you can display on your professional profile, instantly signalling your expertise to employers, clients, and your professional network.

The most forward-thinking professionals are stacking these credentials strategically, building expertise in complementary areas that make them even more valuable. For instance, combining our Starting up in Business course with Project Management would create a powerful skill set for entrepreneurial ventures within larger organisations—with each achievement visibly showcased through your growing collection of digital badges.

2. Cultivate Cross-Functional Literacy

In 2025, the most promotable staff members are those who can understand and communicate effectively across different professional disciplines and departments. This doesn’t mean becoming an expert in everything, but rather developing sufficient literacy in adjacent areas to collaborate effectively.

Our Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills course addresses this need directly, helping you bridge gaps between departments and specialisations. When technical experts can speak the language of marketing, or when HR professionals understand financial considerations, they become much more valuable to their organisations—able to translate complex concepts into business outcomes that leadership can understand and support.

3. Leverage AI as Your Career Multiplier

The AI revolution has moved beyond hype to practical implementation. In 2025, career advancement belongs to those who effectively harness AI tools as force multipliers for their expertise.

Our Introduction to Conversational and Generative AI course will give you a solid foundation from which to  navigate this technological shift. While our Introduction to Copywriting and Content Writing short courses both include how to work effectively with AI tools to enhance your content creation capabilities.

Rather than fearing automation, successful professionals are identifying repetitive aspects of their work that AI can enhance, freeing their time for higher-value contributions. Whether it’s using AI for research synthesis, data analysis, content creation, or workflow optimisation, becoming proficient with these tools demonstrates both adaptability and efficiency—qualities employers increasingly prioritise when making promotion decisions.

4. Master Impactful Presentation Skills

In an era of information overload, the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively sets career-focused professionals apart. Our Presentation Skills course develops your capacity to influence decisions, secure buy-in for your initiatives, and establish yourself as a thought leader.

Whether you’re pitching to clients, presenting to executives, or leading team meetings, these skills create visibility and demonstrate your value across the organisation.

5. Cultivate Strategic Relationships Through Genuine Value Exchange

Networking in 2025 has evolved beyond transactional connections. One of the most effective career accelerators is meaningful professional relationships—a skill set developed through our Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills course.

The course emphasises authentic relationship-building strategies based on genuine value exchange rather than extraction. You’ll learn to identify key relationships that could support your growth journey, and consider what unique perspective, skill, or opportunity you can offer in return.

As we navigate 2025’s dynamic workplace, remember that career advancement is rarely accidental. By deliberately implementing these strategies and investing in targeted skills development through continuous education and lifelong learning, you position yourself for sustainable growth rather than hoping to be noticed.

The most successful professionals don’t wait for opportunities to find them—they systematically build the skills, relationships and evidence that make them the obvious choice when doors open. Explore our full range of short courses today to discover how we can support your career journey. Or book a spot at our free online open evening on 2 April and try one of our taster sessions. As a bonus, we are offering a 10% discount on all our short courses for anyone who attends the open evening and enrols with us on the night. We look forward to seeing you there!

City Writes Spring Event 2025: 3rd in the ‘Behind the scenes with our featured tutors series’; Introducing Katy Darby

February 27, 2025 / / 0 Comments
by Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm in Northampton Square is going to be a bumper evening of storytelling and creative writing insights. Alongside Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith, there will be readings from four of City St. George’s Short Course tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry. Joining them on stage will be this term’s competition winners, taken from students and alumni of City St. George’s short courses. You can find out more about the competition here.

In this blog, we are very excited about introducing Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop tutor, Katy Darby. As with the other tutors, I had three questions to ask Katy who, alongside her writing, is co-founder and Director of the brilliant live fiction event, Liars’ League. It will be a treat when Katy steps up to the microphone on the 26th March! She is also a much loved tutor, whose students have gone on to write some truly magical things—Han Smith is one of her former students, as is Imogen Hermes-Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock.

Author and Lecturer Katy Darby

I began by asking Katy to introduce us to her work: ‘I mostly write historical fiction, and my novel The Unpierced Heart, a Victorian Gothic tale of love and betrayal, is available in Penguin paperback. Some of my contemporary short stories appear in the anthology Five by Five from Arachne Press, or are linked from my website katydarby.co.uk. Most recently, I’ve had several new Sherlock Holmes stories published in anthologies from Belanger Books, mostly in the Year of Mystery series (covering the years 1881-1888 so far): there are three more forthcoming this year, including Into the Fire, edited by Margie Deck.’

With her clear passion for teaching, I was intrigued to find out what excited Katy most about teaching. ‘It’s the sheer variety and originality of the stories people tell: whether they are drawing on their own personal experience or just on pure imagination, I am always amazed by how you can give the same prompt to a class of 15 writers and get 15 completely unique and totally different responses to it. I also love introducing short stories I love (for example, Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain”) to students who’ve never read them before and hearing their fresh takes on the characters, the writing and the meaning of the piece. Watching people encountering new possibilities in fiction, whether reading it or writing it, is a thrill that never gets old.’

Finally I asked Katy for that all important ‘one piece of advice’ she would offer to aspiring writers and her answer was an inspiring one. ‘OK, everyone will say “read widely” and of course that’s true—but I’d also say “write widely”. Don’t restrict the genres, styles or stories you explore in your writing any more than you do when it comes to reading books. If you’ve never read sci-fi before, pick it up—equally, if you have an idea for a sci-fi story, write it down! It may not be perfect (spoiler: no first draft is) but if the idea excites you and you have fun writing it, that’s an immense reward. Having fun and experimenting with voice, structure, subject, anything, should be the whole of the law when it comes to writers just setting out, especially short story writers.’

If that’s not encouragement enough to pick up your pen and give it a go, I don’t know what is. For more of this great advice and to hear Katy read from her work in person alongside the other tutors, Han Smith and the competition winners, don’t forget to book your seat for the The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square. There will be refreshments, a chance to hear more about the short creative writing courses at City St George’s and a special 10% discount for all attendees who sign up for a creative writing course.

Keep an eye on this space for the fourth and final post in the ‘Behind the scenes’ series with our final tutor, Jem Bartholomew. Looking forward to seeing you at the The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square.

 

 

City Writes Spring Event 2025: 2nd in the ‘Behind the scenes with our featured tutors series’; Introducing Caroline Green

February 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments
By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

As the days tick by towards the deadline for submitting to the City Writes Competition (the deadline is Friday 28th February!), we’re delighted to introduce you to another of our tutors reading at the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. Alongside, Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith, there will be readings from four of City St. George’s Short Course tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry. Joining them on stage will be the competition winners. Find out more about the competition here.

Having started this series looking at the work and advice of Martin Ouvry, we’re now turning to Crime and Thriller Writing tutor, Caroline Green. Caroline is a wonderfully prolific writer, charming and unnerving readers from children to adults, and teaching with a care and consideration that has nurtured a number of publications from her students. When I asked her to introduce her work, her enthusiasm was catching.

‘I’ve been lucky enough to write thirteen books (so far!) for both young people and adults. My latest book for 7-9 year olds is called There’s A Dog in My Brain, which is about a boy and a dog who swap bodies for the day. But I mainly write dark, gothic thrillers for adults under the names Cass Green and CS Green. My latest series as CS Green is about a branch of the Met Police that solves supernatural crime. I’ve loved writing them and you should be able to find them via the usual booksellers and libraries.’

Writing with such a range of readers in mind, and with a broad knowledge of thriller, crime and comedy, Caroline offers a wealth of experience to students. I asked her what excited her most about her teaching and her answer began with a love of the broad range of students taking her courses at City St. George’s. ‘I really love teaching writing to a broad range of experiences and ages too. It connects me with the aspects of the writing process that I find exciting, such as plotting and crafting a story, but also helps me “up my game” in the parts I find harder, like writing description. Seeing students have a breakthrough moment in their own work is always such a wonderful moment for me. I’ve now had quite a few students from various courses who have gone onto publication (two in the recent Observer Debuts of the Year list) and to have even played a tiny role in that is an absolute privilege.’

Finally I asked Caroline to offer one piece of advice to aspiring writers and her answer was a very delightful one for the bibliophiles among us. ‘My one piece of advice is one you hear a lot, but I think people tell themselves sometimes that it isn’t as important as it really is. You have to find time to read widely within the genre you are trying to write. I think some sort of osmosis can take place, where you absorb some of that good stuff along the way.’

For your chance to absorb some good stuff through listening to readings from Caroline Green, fellow tutors, alumna Han Smith and competition winners, don’t forget to book your tickets for the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. If you’d like to join these wonderful authors on stage, all current students and alumni of City St. George’s Short Creative Writing Courses can enter the City Writes Competition for which the submission details are here. Don’t forget to enter before the deadline of midnight on the 28th February!

 

Looking forward to seeing you at the event and reading your submissions and keep an eye out for the next in the series of posts about the tutors featured at the City Writes Spring Event in March.

City Writes Spring Event 2025: Behind the scenes with our featured tutors

February 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

This is the first in a series of blog posts looking into the writing and teaching lives of the tutors reading at the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. I’ll be asking each featured tutor the same three questions about their work and their teaching, hoping to entice you to sign up for the event and submit your own work to the City Writes Competition and be able to join them, Han Smith, and the other competition winners, on stage in March.

What a joy to start off this series promoting City Writes Spring Event 2025 by introducing Visiting Lecturer and writer, Martin Ouvry who teaches the Novel Writing and Longer Works course here at City St George’s. Not only do the course reviews rave about Martin’s teaching as ‘first rate’ and ‘excellent’, his answers to my questions reveal a teacher and practitioner firmly grounded in his practice as well as diligent and generous in his approach to his own and others’ work.

I began by asking Martin where readers could find his work and what they might expect to read. ‘Expect the unexpected,’ he replied. ‘My novels and short stories are psychological dramas with mysteries at their heart and, often, a touch of the surreal. I’m proud to have been published in a range of anthologies – e.g. New Writing (Picador) and A Little Nest of Pedagogues (British Council) – and magazines including the globally-renowned Esquire and the world’s oldest literary journal, The London Magazine. My article ‘How creative writing courses benefit a writer’ first appeared in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2023 and has been reprinted in the 2024 and 2025 editions. My novel The Cost of Loving was completed with the support of a grant from those lovely, lovely people at Arts Council England. More information, and audio extracts, can be found on the Writing page of my website.’

City Novel Writing tutor and author, Martin Ouvry

I went on to ask Martin what excited him most about teaching. ‘I love the sheer diversity of both new and practising writers who beat a path to my door at City St George’s, and the range of their projects, whether already begun when they come to me or existing – at that stage – purely in the realm of ideas. I love witnessing twelve individuals coming together as a group. I’m also excited by the ever growing number of success stories – with agents and publishers, or in writing competitions – from those who have come to Novel Writing and Longer Works – although I’m equally moved by the successes of those who have simply made strong progress and feel proud of the work they have produced.’

Having gleaned Martin’s inclusive approach to the rigours of the writing life, my final question sought one piece of advice he thought most important for aspiring writers. His response was invaluable: ‘Learn from others but be yourself. Individual talent is a precious and often delicate thing. Every writer, whatever their level of experience, has the opportunity to bring something different and valuable into the world.’

For your chance to hear Martin read a passage of his work and engage in debate about writing with the other tutors and Han Smith, do sign up for City Writes Spring Event, 6.30pm on Wednesday 26th March, 2025. This term the event will be in person for the first time in many years and promises to be a bumper celebration of City St George’s literary talent. Book your tickets here.

You can also enter the competition to share the stage with Martin and others. The competition is open to all current students and alumni of City St George’s short creative writing courses. You need only send your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.1@city.ac.uk with details of your name and the short course you took, or are taking, by Friday 28th February. Full details and submission guidelines are here. Whilst we accept YA, we don’t currently accept children’s fiction, poetry or scripts. There will be five competition winning slots available and we can’t wait to read your submissions.

Book tickets here, check out the City Writes Competition submission guidelines here, and watch this space for the next in the series of ‘City Writes Spring Event 2025: Behind the scenes with our featured tutors’.

 

Take Your Professional Development to the Next Level with Digital Badges

February 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We’re excited to introduce LinkedIn digital badges for all City St George’s short course participants. These badges are available to anyone who completed a course with us in the past year, as well as future course participants.

Digital badges serve as powerful credentials on your professional profile, signalling to employers your commitment to continuous learning and skills development. They provide instant verification of your course completion and showcase your expertise in our five subject areas: Business, Computing, Creative Industries, Creative Writing, and Languages.

In the coming weeks, we will be sending out badges to anyone who took a short course and gained their certificate with us in the past year, as well as to future short course participants. When you get your badge, why not share it with us on our Linkedin page. We’d love to champion your learning journey!

For more information about our upcoming courses and badge eligibility, visit our learning hub or contact our team directly on shortcourses@city.ac.uk.

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