What we’re about
Starting out on your writing journey? Looking to have you writing workshopped in a safe, encouraging environment? Nervous?
As somebody who has written and had my writing workshopped since I was 16 (I am now 41), I understand how nerve-wracking this can be. I have also come to understand that without this, the work is unlikely to reach its full potential – whether this means publication, or simply being the strongest version of itself. I am looking to run a series of pilot workshops for writers of fiction/prose where, among other things, we will workshop texts together in a positive, inspiring, useful way.
My Background
I have a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford and am a graduate of writing courses run by Curtis Brown Creative (who represent me) and The Stinging Fly. My debut novel, Belgrave Road, will be published by in January 2026 by Faber. Last year my short story, Pieces, was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. My work has also been shortlisted for the Galley Beggar Short Story Prize, the Curtis Brown First Novel Award, the DGA First Novel Prize, the Exeter Short Story Award and the Evesham Festival of Words Prize. I have had work published in ‘Prole Magazine’ and the ‘Queer life, Queer love’ anthology published by Muswell Hill Press.
What to expect
Each workshop will last a full day (from 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm) and have no more than six people. The workshops will take place in Hackney/Shoreditch and are aimed at people who wish to take their writing to the next level and would like to receive feedback in an encouraging, protected environment.
During the first part of the day, we will do some writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing, reviewing the work of some published writers along the way to see what we can learn. We will then have a go at editing a piece of text together in order to consider what might make it stronger.
In the afternoon, we will take it in turns to workshop work that you will have submitted (one week) prior to the workshop (a piece of between 300-500 words).
Finally, there will be some time at the end to ask me any questions you might have about writing/agents/publishing etc.
Feedback
As these are pilot workshops, I would really appreciate some detailed, thoughtful feedback so that I can understand what things to keep/improve for future workshops.
My aim is for you to leave the workshop inspired and empowered, able to look at your work with objectivity. And to understand that workshopping is essential to the creation of good writing. Writing that can achieve whatever you intend it to achieve.
