Introduction to Creative Writing
7 November 2026
10am Saturday - 5pm Sunday
Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
7 November 2026 - 8 November 2026
Study Format:
In-person day/weekend
Fees:
£260.00
Are you looking to develop your unique voice as a writer?
As an introduction to Creative Writing, this in-person weekend event in Oxford will explore the craft of storytelling: offering practical advice about how to find ideas and develop them into engaging, original stories of your own.
In this informative and fun interactive course we will be using a wide range of resources as prompts for writing exercises and class discussion: photographic and video archive; audio materials; texts from novels and news media.
We will begin by demystifying the process of finding inspiration and then focus on how to develop the initial spark of an idea into a story. Along the way we will be looking at the relationship between character and plot, setting, structure, description and editing. You will be encouraged to play with these principles on your own terms, exploring the specific kinds of stories that you want to tell.
You will leave with an understanding of how stories are constructed, the tools with which you can build them, and confidence in your unique voice as a writer. No previous experience is necessary.
Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 GMT on 4 November 2026.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Accommodation
Accommodation for Saturday night can be booked directly online, subject to availability, when you register your place. This includes a buffet breakfast on the Sunday morning.
Our accommodation at Rewley House in Wellington Square has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation under Visit England. All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished with tea/coffee making facilities, Freeview television, private bath/shower rooms and free WiFi. For more details see our accommodation information.
If you wish to extend your stay with us, either before and/or after the event, please contact our Residential Centre for availability and discounted rates.
Call +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
Recommended reading
King, S., On Writing (Hodder Paperbacks, 2012 (20th Anniversary edition))
Programme details
Saturday 7 November
9.45am
Registration at Rewley House reception
10am
Inspiration and getting started
11.15am
Tea/coffee break
11.45am
Building your story
1pm
Lunch break
2pm
Character creation
3.15pm
Tea/coffee break
3.45pm
Character and plot
5pm
End of day
7pm
Dinner (optional)
Sunday 8 November
8am
Breakfast (for those staying at Rewley House)
10am
Plot and setting
11.15am
Tea/coffee break
11.45am
Structure
1pm
Lunch break
2pm
Description and voice
3.15pm
Tea/coffee break
3.45pm
Editing
5pm
End of weekend
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Event Fee (includes tea/coffee) | £260.00 |
| Saturday baguette lunch | £7.90 |
| Saturday dinner | £33.10 |
| Saturday hot lunch | £22.40 |
| Single B&B (Saturday night) | £128.00 |
| Sunday baguette lunch | £7.90 |
| Sunday hot lunch | £22.40 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Elizabeth Garner
Elizabeth Garner is a novelist and editor with 25 years of experience of story-development in both film and publishing. She was written two novels: Nightdancing, which received the Betty Trask Award; and The Ingenious Edgar Jones, which was published to critical acclaim in the UK and USA. She has also published a collection of illustrated folk tales: Lost & Found. She is a freelance fiction editor and also teaches creative writing for Oxford Lifelong Learning.
Module code: O26P119LTR
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.
