Tag: fiction (page 1 of 9)

Tangled Tales Bloom in City Writes Autumn Event 2025 

December 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments
By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

‘Tis the season of sneezes and Christmas parties so, in response to the harried cheer, what everyone really needs is a night of wonderful storytelling. The City Writes Autumn 2025 event was just such a night. Battling against the forces of over-consumption were six wonderful competition winners and the brilliant debut author, Lauren du Plessis whose novel, Tender (Influx, Sept 2025) we had the joy of hearing two extracts from.

Tackling winter blues, we began with some Californian sunshine as our first competition winner, Approach to Creative Writing and Crime and Thriller Writing alumnus, Jon Pierce read an extract from his novel, Guru Dave. Despite describing a very bloody murder, there was a huge amount of humour and we were left with the image of a naked woman in the corner of the crime scene, meditating with a shotgun across her lap.

Following Jon, Novel Studio (On Campus) student, Natasha Ali read from her short story, ‘Gene Drive’, taking us into the heart of a biology research lab. As her character hoovered up mosquitoes, preparing them for DNA sequencing, we began to wonder who she wanted to pulp and why.

Our Narrative Non-Fiction alumna, Lexie Harrison-Cripps was next, bringing a vital but confronting story to our attention. Lexie’s non-fiction piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’ brought us the story of Vicki, unfairly imprisoned and in the first 13 years of a 27-year sentence. Her story is one of many and we very much hope that Lexie will find places to share these stories of injustice more broadly. This is a story that needs to be heard.

Amaya Jeyarajah Dent, another Novel Studio (Online) student, took us to Tokyo, Japan next with her story, ‘Yokohama Night Tail’. A tiny kitten found itself embroiled in a story examining the night life of love hotels and their laundry. Once again we were given an image that lingered.

Following Amaya was Novel Writing and Longer Works alumnus, Majed Akhter reading an extract from his novel, Departure and Departure. We were quickly absorbed by the life of Ravi, working the diary round in a communal living venture in America and receiving the first letter he’s received from his sister in over ten years. As with all our competition winners, you’ll have to hope they are signed up soon in order to find out what happens next.

Our minds struggling to leave Ravi with his wheelbarrow of milk, we came to our final competition winner of the evening, Short Story Writing alumna, Judith English. Judith read her short story ‘ The Flash of a Bird’ that took us down to the river and explored not only the possibility of watery transformation but also the unlikely friendship between two people divided by age but not spirit.

With such captivating stories burgeoning in our minds, we stepped into the thrilling world of Tender by Lauren du Plessis published in September of 2025. A literary botanical body horror, the curated life of archaeobotanist, Nell, soon begins to unravel as her emotions force her into contact with deeper parts of her nature that simply won’t be pruned back.

Lauren is a Writers’ Workshop alumna. As well as fondly remembering her classes, she treated us to two extracts from her novel and generously answered questions about her process, the themes of the novel, and her possible future projects. If you haven’t read Tender, don’t miss out, grab your copy here. You can also catch up on all of the readings and discussion by watching the video of the event available here.

Look out for next term’s City Writes that once again will be in person for the Spring. Thanks to everyone who made the City Writes Autumn Event so special.

Announcing City Writes Autumn Competition Winners

December 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone As the nights draw in, what could be better than an evening of stories? Come and join us for some brilliant tales at this term’s City Writes on Wednesday 10th December over Zoom at 7pm. Alongside debut novelist, Lauren Du Plessis, whose novel Tender (Influx Press, Sept 2025) excavates the past, present and magical in equal measure, we have this term’s writing competition winners. You can find out all about them below.

Majed Akhter is an educator and researcher based in London. He lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United States before moving to London. In 2019 he was selected as a BBC New Generation Thinker. Majed is writing his first novel, titled Departure and Departure from which he will be reading an excerpt at City Writes. He is a Novel Writing and Longer Works alumni.

Natasha Ali is a speculative horror writer with a degree and master’s in human genetics. She aims to utilise her background to tell compelling stories centring bioethical issues. Her debut novel, Reasons I’m Not Human, will be published in 2027. She has previously been published in From The Lighthouse and F(r)iction. She is utilising the Novel Studio (On Campus) to work on her second novel, The Woman That Was Used Up, and is represented by Daisy Arendell at CAA. Natasha will be reading ‘Gene Drive’ at City Writes. Amaya

Jeyarajah Dent will be reading her story, ‘Yokohama Night Tail’. She is a Novel Studio (Online) student and a UK based writer of fiction. She has always written, for as long as she can remember. Amaya is both Sri Lankan & British and grew up in Tooting Bec, South London.  Riding the Tube is probably her biggest inspiration. The mix of people who call the city home—even for a moment—and the way they commune there is an atmosphere she borrows from for her writing. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Manchester. She is also a Curator and Producer working broadly across all types of contemporary performance. She is writing her first novel.

Judith English was born in Newbury. After a career as a musician and freelance singer she took a prose writing course at UEA and began a novel. In 2025 she took the Short Story Writing course at City St George’s. Her first novel Layers of Silk is currently out for submission. Her work has been published by CafeLit, and she was longlisted for the Henshaw Short Story Competition. When not writing, she enjoys kayaking and gardening. Judith will be reading her story, ‘The Flash of a Bird’.

Lexie Harrison-Cripps is a journalist based in Mexico City, focussing on social justice issues throughout the Americas and Europe.  Her multimedia work is published in outlets such as Al Jazeera,  The Guardian, The Nation and CBS.  She has collaborated with UN agencies, international non-profits and award-winning producers and directors, working in permissive and non-permissive environments. Lexie is a Narrative Non-Fiction alumna and will be reading her piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’.

alumna and will be reading her piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’.

Jon Pierce is an Introduction to Creative Writing and Crime and Thriller Alumna, and loved both. A Currency trader for decades, he now has the time and space to develop his writing and will read the prologue to a future novel Guru Dave; the inspiration for which came from a bizarre trip to California. North London born and bred he supports Arsenal, but has promised his wife to one day move out of the only postcode he has  lived in.

As you can tell, it’s a wonderful group of writers and alongside Lauren Du Plessis we will explore fantastical worlds both real and imagined. We’ll take in stories from Mexico, Japan, America and the UK. Come along to City Writes Autumn Event on Wednesday 10th December at 7pm on Zoom to be moved and inspired. Register here. We’ll look forward to seeing you there!

A Summer Evening of Storytelling Magic with The Novel Studio Showcase 2025

July 8, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

The Novel Studio has been running, albeit with a different title, since 2012. That’s 13 years of nurturing novel writing talent and every year brings new writers with exciting new stories to tell. With a wealth of published alumni from Lara Haworth, Harriet Tyce, Deepa Anappara, Hannah Begbie and tutor Kiare Ladner as just a small sample of past students, this year’s cohort proved they were hot on those published heals with a night of readings that really took our breath away.

 

Before we began there were a few announcements. We were very sad to say that Sufiya McNulty was unwell and unable to read her extract at the Showcase, but her wonderful piece is available in the anthology. More on that below!

 

We also wanted to acknowledge the sponsor of the Novel Studio Scholarship, George Politis. Originally set up in 2019 and sponsored by Harriet Tyce, the new scholarship, known as the Captain Tasos Politis scholarship after George’s late father, provides a full year’s fees for a student from a low-income family. We were so pleased to have George in the audience supporting yet another cohort of new writers. Thank you, George!

After a few more thank yous to City George’s Short Courses team and the new director, Dr Holly Shiflett, the night opened with some very warm and wise words from alumna, Anna Mazzola.

 

Novel Studio Alumna Anna Mazzola

Anna joined us from the Connaught Hotel awaiting the awards ceremony of the CWA Dagger Awards. Her fifth novel, The Book of Secrets, was shortlisted for not just one, but two awards: the KAA Gold Dagger and the Historical Dagger. We are delighted to be able to congratulate her on winning the KAA Gold Dagger for the best crime novel of the year. She was only minutes away from discovering her win when she spoke of the importance of building a cohort of supportive writing buddies and making the most of every success for the long haul of writing that should always be about loving the process. Congratulations, Anna, we’re so delighted for you and excited that you were able to join us on the night!

 

Suitably buoyed by Anna’s words, the readings began with a heart-stopping extract from Rosalind Ginsberg. Her novel Things to do in Dalston When You’re Dead explores quite what happened to counsellor Melanie Little after she disappears on holiday. Rosalind’s extract examined quite why documentary-maker Anne was so keen to unravel the mystery of Melanie’s disappearance. What is there to do in Dalston when you’re dead?

 

Brought to life by Rosalind’s tale, we shook things up further as we entered a dance rehearsal. Top dance student Jordan Star was about to perform fouetté turns as punishment for her late arrival to the rehearsal, when she was joined by an even later student and the pressure began to mount further. Transported into the rush of movement and intense emotions of these young adult lives, Maddie Silvs read the extract from her novel, Stardust to great effect, leaving the audience as breathless as her characters.

 

Before we could get too comfortable back in reality, our next writer, Emma O’Driscoll, took us back through time to eighteenth century Wiltshire and a jolting carriage ride to the rotten borough of Hynedon. The extract from her novel, Trial by Fire, set a scene for momentous events to come, ending on an ominous note. ‘You mark my words’ her character exclaims, ‘one of these days there’s going to be a very serious accident.’

 

With our minds swirling in contemplation of what might happen next, we were forced to leave our curiosity on hold for Aoife Sadlier as she introduced us to her novel, Paloma and the Octopus. There we found Kaya desperately seeking connection with the magical Paloma, an alter-ego with a moustache and watermelon breasts who promises to come to Kaya’s aid in rediscovering her childhood toys and her sense of joy.

 

The image of a ripened peach sunset lingering, we stepped out of Kaya’s magical real world and headed for Mexico City and the antics of an Irish Writer, Seamus, in an extract from Daragh Thomas’s novel, Dogdealer. As Seamus desperately rushed through the city to catch his flight, we followed his turbulent mind and disrupted gut right out onto the ground with a puddle of vomit in which Seamus saw his artistry flourish. A character we’ve all grown to love to hate, Daragh’s compelling prose always induces rye smiles if not laughter.

 

Grins on our faces, we said goodbye to Seamus and his vomit-stained shoes for another reality entirely as Eva Nip read an extract from her novel, Insatiable. We stepped into a dream of Freya’s, an American university student learning about herself and her Chinese heritage through a connection with her dead grandmother, Popo. We listened in horror as Popo tried to hold on to objects breaking apart in her grasping fingers leaving trails of destruction that seemed to make their way out of the dream and into reality.

 

With Popo’s cries ringing in our ears, we fled from America to the Democractic Republic of Congo. Merveille Ondekane read an extract from her novel, Little People, taking us into the oppressive sick room of Thérèse’s mother, whose cursed foot was not only causing her pain but souring her attitude to her daughter. Announcing that she planned to sell her house and move away to live with her sister, long-suffering Thérèse was clearly at the start of a day of uncomfortable revelations.

 

What will happen to Thérèse? We’ll have to read the novel to find out and there was no time for further speculation as we took fresh steps into the future and the speculative world of Rebecca Miles, who read from her YA novel, Elderado. A hard-hitting and nail-biting account of a lottery followed. We were terrified to learn that Kore had won a place at the eco-sanctuary, Elderado. But some technology had forced her hand to sign into the ceremony and Kore didn’t know what to expect as a cry rang out and interrupted the crowd’s celebrations and her own uncertainty.

 

Left speculating what might be next for Kore, we found ourselves at the final reading of the evening. Once again we travelled back in time and across continents to find ourselves revisiting the founding of America with Connor Maxwell as he read from his novel, Between the Lines. Inspired by true events, the novel explores the American Revolution from through the eyes of enslaved Apollo. We witnessed Apollo leading a hunt under the threatening eyes of his master, Custis Braxton and the extract and the readings ending with the threat of a whipping.

 

It was a dramatic way to end a night of riveting readings from a group of seriously talented writers. You can watch the readings for yourself here and read the extracts in the 2025 Novel Studio Anthology We couldn’t be prouder of these brilliant new writers starting their journeys into a publishing world that would be seriously remiss in not snapping them up. Congratulations Novel Studio Cohort of 2025, we can’t wait to find out what happens next and wish you the best of luck with your writing!

 

 

Final Call: One Week Left to Apply for The Novel Studio

May 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Time is running out for one of the most established and successful novel development programmes in the UK. Applications for The Novel Studio close in just one week, and if you’ve been considering taking your fiction to the next level, this is your moment.

Why The Novel Studio?

For over twenty years, The Novel Studio at City St Georges, University of London has been quietly building an impressive track record in writer development. This isn’t about churning out cookie-cutter novels – it’s about nurturing individual voices and helping writers create work that genuinely connects with readers.

Our alumni have secured major publishing deals, been shortlisted for prestigious awards, and built sustainable writing careers. More importantly, they’ve done so across every genre – from literary fiction to crime, science fiction to historical novels.

A Programme Built for Results

What sets The Novel Studio apart is its comprehensive approach to novel development. Over 30 intensive weeks, you’ll move through three carefully structured terms:

Foundations focus on the crucial early work – research, plotting, and concept development. Without this groundwork, some novels can flounder. On the Novel Studio you’ll receive structured guidance to ensure your novel has solid bones from the start.

Craft Development is where the real magic happens. Through workshop sessions and detailed feedback, you’ll master the essential elements that to develop your novel – character, voice, dialogue, pacing, and narrative drive.

Industry Focus prepares you for the realities of publishing. You’ll meet agents, authors, and editors, understand the current market, and most crucially, prepare your work for professional submission.

Industry Access

Every successful application to the Novel Studio is automatically considered for our agent competition, with the top three manuscripts reviewed by Lucy Luck, top literary agent at C&W Agency.

But it doesn’t stop there. Your work will be professionally edited and included in an anthology that’s sent to every UK-based literary agent.

The programme culminates in an industry showcase where you’ll present your work directly to agents.

Flexibility Without Compromise

Understanding that writers come from all walks of life, The Novel Studio now offers both London-based and online experiences. The London studio provides face-to-face workshops and direct networking in the heart of the literary world. The online option delivers the same intensive programme with full access to the virtual writing community.

Crucially, both options maintain the same rigorous standards, same tutors and same feedback structure.

Supporting Diverse Voices

The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship proides full funding for a talented writer from a low-income household. It’s a recognition that great stories can come from anywhere, and financial barriers shouldn’t prevent exceptional voices from being heard.

Last Chance

Applications close in one week. If you’re serious about your novel, if you want professional development within a supportive community, if you’re looking for genuine connections to the publishing world – this is your opportunity.

The Novel Studio doesn’t just teach craft; it opens doors.

To apply, email shortcourses@citystgeorges.ac.uk

Your novel – and your writing career – deserve this level of professional support and industry access.

Ready to join the ranks of published Novel Studio alumni? The clock is ticking. Full course details here.

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: 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 Springs into 2025 with an Exciting in-person Literary Extravaganza

January 17, 2025 / / 0 Comments

City Writes Springs into 2025 with an exciting in-person literary extravaganza and submissions are open.

City Writes, the showcase for all the creative writing talent coming from the short creative writing courses here at City St. George’s, is back and supercharged for Spring. We will be holding the event in person in Northampton Square, 7pm 26th March, and we have a bumper line up.

Not only do we have the amazing Short Story Writing alumna Han Smith, a 2024 Goldsmiths Prize shortlisted author coming to read from her debut novel, Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking, we also have readings from some of our incredibly talented tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Caroline Green, Katy Darby and Martin Ouvry. More details of all four tutors will be forthcoming over the next few weeks, so do keep an eye on your inbox.

Han Smith grew up in Japan, Russia, the UK and elsewhere. A queer writer, translator and adult literacy teacher, Han is the recipient of a 2019/2020 London Writers Award, and has been shortlisted/longlisted for the 2019 Mslexia Novella Award, the Bridport Prize, the Desperate Literature short story prize, and the Brick Lane short story prize. She has also been published by Lunate, Five Dials, Cipher Press, Versopolis, Litro, The Interpreter’s House and the European Poetry Festival. She lives in London. Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking is her debut novel and was shortlisted for the 2024 Goldsmiths Prize.

We couldn’t be more delighted by her visit to City Writes. She’ll be reading from Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking and taking part in a Q&A with tutor and City Writes host, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone. We’ll then be asking our tutors to join us on stage for a broader Q&A with the audience.

Joining this stellar line up will be our competition winners. This could be you!

For your chance to read your work on stage, in person, with Han Smith, Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry, all you need to do is send the 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.

In the meantime, don’t forget to save the date for the event. It is free and doors open at 6.30pm for drinks and nibbles. Book your place for City Writes Spring 2025 at Northampton Square, 7pm, 26th March. The booking link is here. And as an extra bonus, all attendees get 10% off their next Creative Writing Short Course, as long as you book by 30th March.

City Writes Spring 2025 needs to be in your diary now!

Announcing the City Writes Autumn 2024 Competition Winners!

December 3, 2024 / / 0 Comments

 By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

Congratulations to Joanna Bawa, Doug Kessler, Audrey Madden, Tunde Oyebode, Aditi Parekh and Robin Sheeran, this term’s winners of the City Writes competition! From complex family histories, through childhood summer afternoons, airport queues, befriending apps and graveyards all the way to AI envisioned futures, this term’s selection of writing has it all. You can hear these fantastic stories being read by their authors alongside debut crime writer Jo Cunningham, at this term’s City Writes event on the 11th December at 7pm on Zoom. Register here to come along and read on for more information on our wonderful winners.

Joanna Bawa is a professional and creative writer, currently working as a ghostwriter. This complements her work as a cognitive behavioural therapist, combining an appreciation of the power of words and the complexity of human nature. She belongs to a local writing group where her fiction and poetry has won awards, and her first novel was longlisted in the 2019 Mslexia novel competition. She is working on a second novel, and her piece for City Writes, ‘DeathDefy’, may become a third. Joanna is an alumna of the Writing the Memoir course.

Doug Kessler is an expat Yank who’s lived and worked in London for the last 34 years.
He’s a marketing copywriter and agency founder but pretty new to narrative non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. Adam in 20 Snapshots is his first book-length project, of which he will be reading an extract. Doug is a Narrative Non-Fiction alumnus.

Audrey Madden is currently writing her first book while working in the not for profit arts and culture sector. She has a degree in English & Comparative Literature from Goldsmiths University. Her work is inspired by nature and the different environments that exist across the United States and the UK. A Writers’ Workshop alumna, Audrey will be reading an extract from her novel, Matriarchal Lines.

Aditi Parekh is an aspiring writer and student of Writers’ Workshop. She is interested in human psychology, particularly the dark triads and group dynamics. She is currently working on a novel, with the working title The Sabbatical, which describes a woman’s struggle with drug addiction and her descent into madness. She will be reading an extract from the novel.

Tunde Oyebode is a Nigerian-British architect and writer based in East London. Drawing inspiration from everyday life, his fiction explores human relationships and African diaspora experiences. His work has been featured in Stylist Magazine, Obsidian, and Solstice Literary Magazine. A finalist for the 2023 London Independent Story Prize and the 2024 Solstice Literary Magazine Prize, he was also nominated for Best of the Net. Tunde is currently looking to publish a collection of interconnected short stories. Outside writing, he enjoys cycling and photographing architecture. A Writers’ Workshop alumnus, Tunde will be reading ‘To Crazy Shane’.

Robin Sheeran is a native of Belfast. He studied Film and Literature at Warwick University and is a former BBC journalist. Robin is interested in producing stonking characters and crackling dialogue. His work uses dark humour to examine how we relate to each other. Robin is the current holder of the international Piazza Grande Religion Journalism Award for his writing for New Humanist. He ghostwrote Going the Distance, the autobiography of endurance cyclist Joe Barr, published by Gill Books in 2021. A Short Story Writing alumnus, Robin will be reading his story, ‘Summer Job’.

Just from reading their biographies you get a sense of the night of stories that awaits on Wednesday 11th December at 7pm over Zoom. Alongside these wonderful competition winners will be our cosy crime author and Novel Studio alumna, Jo Cunningham, whose novel Death By Numbers came out earlier this year. Register here to listen to all these authors on 11th December at 7pm. Can’t wait to see you there!

Guest alumna Jo Cunningham, author of Death by Numbers

Writing Short Course News Roundup 2024

October 8, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Whether you’re taking a course with us this term or were a student in the past, we want to inspire your writing with the latest news from our short course alumni and tutors.

The Novel Studio 

Alan Gray (also alumnus of WW and SS) has been awarded the Sonny and Gita UK Scholarship to complete his MA in creative writing at UEA.

Kathrine Bancroft has had one of her poems longlisted for the 2024 Aurora Prize. She is also a London Independent Story Prize Poetry Finalist.

Katy Darby’s Writers’ Workshop and Short Story Writing alumna Isabel Blake has been accepted on the Creative Writing MA at UEA, while Erica Buist has just completed her Cambridge MSt in Creative Writing, has been longlisted for the BBC’s annual callout for scripts and is now teaching Creative Writing at City Lit.

Peter Forbes’ Narrative Non Fiction alumna Melissa Cornet has had her firstEnglish piece published in July in the London Review of Books, about her work in Afghanistan on Gender apartheid. She is also confirmed to publish a piece in the Guardian this month.

Tutor News

Anna Wilson has two books out this autumn: Be Back Soon is a picture book about swallow migration, illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield and published by Andersen Press and A Story of the Seasons, a large-format non-fiction picture book about seven habitats throughout the seasons, illustrated by Carolina Rabei and published by Nosy Crow and the National Trust. Both books have been translated into other European languages including French, German and Danish.

One-day Courses

There are plenty of options for anyone keen on one-day writing courses: our ever-popular Introduction to Copywriting with Maggie Richards is available monthly; while our Writing the Memoir course is now taught by the brilliant Anna Wilson (see above). And the dynamic duo of Anna Tsekouras and Pete Austin, aka Anon Agency, run our Intro to Branding course. This term we are also introducing a brand new course, Content Writing, taught by the fabulous Tamsin Mackay.

Opportunities

City Writes

City Writes is City, University of London’s termly writing event, showcasing the best of City Short Courses writing talent.

Hosted by longstanding short courses tutor, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone, and into its seventh year, City Writes provides an opportunity for the best new writers from the City Short Courses community to read an extract of their work, sharing the stage with one of our published alumni or tutors reading from their new or award-winning publication.

This term’s guest alumna will be debut cosy crime author and Novel Studio alumna, Jo Cunningham. Jo’s novel, Death by Numbers, was published by Constable in August this year. This delicious crime has had rave reviews and who could resist a novel about an actuary investigating a spate of deaths in Eastbourne? Hilarious and gripping, this is the perfect novel to see you through the cold winter nights. Buy your copy ahead of the event here.

To join Jo on the virtual stage, all you need to do is submit your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction (we do accept young adult fiction but don’t currently accept children’s fiction) on any subject to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.2@city.ac.uk with details of the City short course you are taking or have taken by midnight on Friday 15th November. Competition and submission guidelines can be found here. 

We can’t wait to read your submissions and if you are keen to secure your place for the night, you can register for the event here. Good luck!

Key Dates:

Our Writing for Social Impact course continues to offer a scholarship for one young student (18-25) from an underrepresented background and/or facing financial difficulty. Please contact the tutor, Ciaran Thapar, for more information on this opportunity.

All current students of Introduction to Copywriting, Writing for Business and Narrative Non-Fiction courses are eligible to submit an idea for a blog post for short courses. If the idea is accepted, and the written piece meets our standards, it will be professionally edited and published on our blog.

The annual Book Edit Writers’ Prize is open for submissions until 15 October 2024. Judged this year by Novel Studio alumna Lara Haworth and run in association with Legend Press, this is a fantastic (and free) opportunity for any unpublished novelist from a community currently underrepresented in UK publishing. What’s up for grabs? Chance to share your work with top agents. A mentoring session with a Legend Press Commissioning Editor. A supportive community of talented writers and tailored advice from industry experts. For more details please click HERE.

Open Evening

And finally, we are running an open evening with taster sessions on 11th December. Details will be available soon but watch this space or check the website for links to registration.

That’s all for now. Keep on writing and keep your stories coming into us. And huge congratulations to all our alumni and tutors.

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