Writing Workshops & Courses
TAKE IT FROM SHAKESPEARE
7th April — 4th May, 2025
A four-part asynchronous workshop series at The Forever Workshop
What can we borrow from Shakespeare when it comes to our writing? A love of linguistics and a bold disregard for the literary ‘rules’!
In this generative workshop, we’ll use Shakespearean techniques to experiment with rhythm, rhetoric and repetition. We’ll explore methods of manipulating and subverting language to create layers of meaning. We’ll push boundaries, play with form, mix up syntax, and have a whole load of fun mucking about with our writing.
Whether you write prose, poetry, long or short, borrowing methods from Shakespeare can help to elevate each sentence, bring a unique voice to your work, and make every line sing. No previous Shakespeare knowledge or literary snobbery required — just a passion for words, words, words.
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW — Characterisation
Weds 28th May, 2025 @ 7.30pm (BST)
A one-hour online Zoom workshop exploring how to craft authentic, nuanced fictional human beings using a little (ethical) identity theft…
Using a range of ‘Write What You Know’ techniques and exercises, this generative workshop will explore different ways to create characters with depth, nuance and personality — borrowing from people you know and those you observe in the wild; incorporating traits, foibles and habits; developing realistic dialogue and delving deeper into character psychology.
Use this workshop to fine-tune a character from your work-in-progress or make up a brand new protagonist (or two, or three, or twelve)…
Pay as you feel & the workshop will be recorded for those who can’t make it live.
THE STORY IN A SONG
2nd - 29th June, 2025
A four-part asynchronous workshop series at The Joy of Fixion
Find the music in your writing with this weekly workshop series throughout June. Each lesson will invite you to immerse yourself in a varied playlist of songs to inspire stories, characters, settings, scenarios, details, vibes, ideas — all that jazz (and maybe some actual jazz).
We’ll explore songs that are secretly tiny stories. We’ll learn how to translate a melody into a literary mood. We’ll borrow songwriting techniques for our fiction. We’ll get inspired by love songs and heartbroken songs, revenge songs and revolutionary songs. We’ll step into the music and discover whole worlds of people and places that only exist for three-and-a-half minutes at a time.
By the end of the month, you’ll look at (and listen to) music in a whole different way — and maybe even make it a more integral part of your writing process.
Sign up for a paid subscription at The Joy of Fixion to take part — only £5/month!
Past Workshops & Ongoing Series
(join in and catch up anytime)
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
Bring Authenticity to Your Writing
‘Write what you know’ is one of those familiar pieces of writing advice, but it doesn’t just mean sticking to your own limited experiences.
My interpretation of Write What You Know (WWYK) is to delve much more deeply into what it means to be human — to learn how to imbue your writing with empathy and nuance, transferring your lived experiences and emotions into new scenarios, characters and settings.
Join in with a series of monthly(ish) exercises and workshops exploring a range of Write What You Know techniques, including:
Cultivating your observation skills
Creating a ‘life resume’
Drawing from physical experiences
Exploring emotions
Writing about places you’ve never been to
Crafting three dimensional characters
Using detail and description
Working from photos and memories
Transferring real life into fiction
Each WWYK post will encourage you to draw from your unique perspective on the world and develop your writing with realism, authenticity, and personal detail.
Apply it to your fiction, your non-fiction, and everything in between to add originality and meaning to your words, and connect more deeply with your readers.
Sign up for a paid subscription at The Joy of Fixion to access the Write What You Know series, as well as future premium series, workshops and exclusive extras.
Just £5/month (unsubscribe any time) with discounts on annual and founder subscriptions.
CREATIVE HIBERNATION
Overwinter Your Writing
Does your work-in-progress need a nap? (I know I do.)
Let your writing rest for a bit while you indulge in a series of supportive, holistic and enthusiasm-building exercises that’ll help you reconnect with your ideas.
Work through six gentle exercises to keep your creativity ticking over — even if your brain needs a break.
Each workshop will look at a different aspect of your writing and experimenting with low-pressure ways of supporting your WIP’s progress during downtime.
Including:
The benefits of taking a break from your WIP!
Taking stock of progress so far
Finding the flow and immersing yourself in your story
Building your writing confidence
Reigniting excitement in your work
Embracing the unknown
Making a masterplan for absolutely smashing it in the new year!
And by the end of the series, you’ll be ready to get back on track with your head straight and your creativity champing at the bit – without even getting out of your pyjamas.
Sign up for a paid subscription at The Joy of Fixion to access all Creative Hibernation exercises, as well as future premium series, workshops and exclusive extras.
Just £5/month (unsubscribe any time) with discounts on annual and founder subscriptions.