Writing for Young People - Writing Workshop (London)
Short course
Whether you’re starting a new writing project or finishing a manuscript, this ten week, London-based Writing Workshop supports you in refining your craft and strengthening your writing practice.
- Develop your manuscript or start something new.
- Find community and inspiration in a supportive workshop environment.
- Improve your craft and finish your manuscript over ten weeks at our London centre.
In this Writing Workshop you’ll learn about different forms of writing for young people, from different ages and stages to a variety of styles, genres and forms.
Over ten weeks you’ll learn alongside a small group of other writers as you develop and refine your craft within the supportive environment of the workshop. These workshops will comprise eight writers and one tutor per class and will take place at BSU London. You’ll be surrounded by writers working at a high level of skill and sharing knowledge and talent with one another.
With weekly writing prompts to refresh and inspire you, you’ll be supported to start a new project, experiment with voice/style/genre, or finish a manuscript you're already working on.
Writing for Young People – Writing Workshop is taught by tutors from Bath Spa University’s renowned MA in Writing for Young People and will be delivered with the same approach as the Master’s course. This course is ideal for alumni of BSU’s MA in Writing for Young People or traditionally published authors.
If you'd like to be informed about future courses, please register your interest.
“Writing can be a solitary activity. This new short course is designed to provide the structure, support and creative nourishment that keeps writers inspired, growing and most importantly writing."
Lucy Cuthew, Lecturer, MA Writing for Young People
Overview
You’ll take part in a series of two-hour workshops, where you’ll be encouraged to experiment widely in writing for young people. This is the ideal time and space to ‘play’ and take risks with your work, recognising that success often comes only after practice and failure.
As well as engaging with writing exercises and homework prompts, you’ll have opportunities to work on a longer-term project. Throughout the course you’ll receive detailed input through close discussion of your work and the work of your peers.
You should aim to write around 2,000 words per week for the course. Every other week you’ll present 1,500 words to be workshopped at the next seminar. Each week, you’ll read, annotate and feed back on your peers’ work.
At the end of the course, you'll submit 5,000 words to your tutor. This might be the first couple of chapters of your novel, some key scenes from your work-in-progress, or a portfolio containing a selection of pieces. This course is non-credit bearing; as such, this final hand-in isn't mandatory. Work handed in won't be graded, but your tutor will provide you with a written feedback report.
This course takes place at Bath Spa University London, Hoxton, London.
Dates and times to be confirmed. If you'd like to be informed about future courses, please register your interest.
This short course costs £295 per person, working out at less than £30 a session.
You’ll need a laptop, pen and paper for this short course.
Meet the team
Sam Beckbessinger is an Associate Lecturer for the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. She's also a novelist and screenwriter, has written for Marvel and for kids’ TV, and has published three picture books for young children.
Her YA horror novel Girls of Little Hope (with Dale Halvorsen) was released by Titan Books in 2023, and she recently signed a deal for her debut adult novel (forthcoming: 2026). Sam also writes nonfiction for young people; her interactive story about climate change (Survive the Century) was featured in New Scientist and Gizmodo.
Sam has a knack for writing comedy and a deep love of horror. She loves helping writers think about the commercial viability of their projects, build page-turning plots, and find the heart of their stories.
Terms and conditions
Read the terms and conditions for taking part in this short course.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, get in touch by emailing s.beckbessinger@bathspa.ac.uk to chat directly with the course tutor.