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If writer's block is the symptom, then what is the illness and how can we find a cure? David asks us to explore what lies at the root of a creative block. Taking us along on the ebbs and flows of his own journey as a writer and visual artist, he shares what keeps his creative juices flowing.
If writer's block is the symptom, then what is the illness and how can we find a cure? David asks us to explore what lies at the root of a creative block. Taking us along on the ebbs and flows of his own journey as a writer and visual artist, he shares what keeps his creative juices flowing.
'Summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language,' wrote Henry James. This summer, I'm thrilled to welcome a tireless champion of beautiful words and their authors as our guest speaker: literary agent Hellie Ogden, UK co-head of WME Books!
This special Peerclass is also open to non-members. So join us for a free evening of writing wisdom and a peek behind the scenes of what our lovely community is all about.
Spent your summer sweating over your synopsis? Join Hellie Ogden as she discusses how to nail that pitch and make your submission stand out. An editorially focused agent, she will also share her own process of getting a manuscript in shape to go on submission to editors.
Spent your summer sweating over your synopsis? Join Hellie Ogden as she discusses how to nail that pitch and make your submission stand out. An editorially focused agent, she will also share her own process of getting a manuscript in shape to go on submission to editors.
Hellie Ogden joined WME’s London office as co-head of the UK Book division in 2023. She represents fiction, children's books and non-fiction and enjoys bold storytelling, moving prose and vivid, thought-provoking characters. She is actively taking on new clients and as an editorially focused agent, she has a keen interest in helping to develop and nurture debut writers. Hellie was shortlisted for Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2025. She represents a number of global bestsellers and award-winning writers including Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Samuel Burr, Fran Littlewood, Sharna Jackson, and Jessa Hastings. She often speaks at writing conferences and mentors debut writers.
It is 7th October 2023. Imagine you are gearing up to publish your debut novel about the Israel-Palestine conflict when the war in Gaza breaks out. Gal takes us along on the emotional rollercoaster of publishing her debut Until the Walls Come Down, equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. How can we as writers look after our wellbeing?
It is 7th October 2023. Imagine you are gearing up to publish your debut novel about the Israel-Palestine conflict when the war in Gaza breaks out. Gal takes us along on the emotional rollercoaster of publishing her debut Until the Walls Come Down, equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. How can we as writers look after our wellbeing?
Part oral history, part practical guide to running a writing group, this is your chance to peek behind the curtains of The Original Writers of London. In the lead-up to our 20th anniversary, Rupert reflects on our origins and the decisions that shaped our group. What does it take to create a community like ours – and then make it last?
Part oral history, part practical guide to running a writing group, this is your chance to peek behind the curtains of The Original Writers of London. In the lead-up to our 20th anniversary, Rupert reflects on our origins and the decisions that shaped our group. What does it take to create a community like ours – and then make it last?
To celebrate one year of Peerclass, join us for an evening of reflection as we look back and plan ahead together. This is your chance to suggest ideas for future topics or improvements to the format, ask questions, and just have a chat about writing and how Peerclass can help nourish yours.
To celebrate one year of Peerclass, join us for an evening of reflection as we look back and plan ahead together. This is your chance to suggest ideas for future topics or improvements to the format, ask questions, and just have a chat about writing and how Peerclass can help nourish yours.
'Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words,' said grand seigneur of American poetry, Robert Frost. Ouida guides us how to let our emotions find words. A poet and emotional intelligence coach, she marries her two passions to explore how poetry can not only express emotions but also act as fertile ground to develop our emotional intelligence.
'Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words,' said grand seigneur of American poetry, Robert Frost. Ouida guides us how to let our emotions find words. A poet and emotional intelligence coach, she marries her two passions to explore how poetry can not only express emotions but also act as fertile ground to develop our emotional intelligence.
What if your new writing mentor were available around the clock, free of charge? Enter ChatGPT, OpenAI's groundbreaking artificial intelligence chatbot. An early adopter of ChatGPT, Guy shares how he uses it as a writing tool – and why it has taken his writing to the next level.
What if your new writing mentor were available around the clock, free of charge? Enter ChatGPT, OpenAI's groundbreaking artificial intelligence chatbot. An early adopter of ChatGPT, Guy shares how he uses it as a writing tool – and why it has taken his writing to the next level.
The difference between literature and journalism, according to Oscar Wilde, is that 'journalism is unreadable, and literature is not read'. In our first Peerclass of the new year, Caroline takes us on a whirlwind tour of her writing career spanning these dual realms of fact and fiction. How can thinking like a journalist make us all better writers?
The difference between literature and journalism, according to Oscar Wilde, is that 'journalism is unreadable, and literature is not read'. In our first Peerclass of the new year, Caroline takes us on a whirlwind tour of her writing career spanning these dual realms of fact and fiction. How can thinking like a journalist make us all better writers?
'Tis the season for our Christmas Peerclass! To celebrate our inaugural year of Peerclasses, I am thrilled to welcome our first guest speaker: writer, editor, and educator Reena Shah. This last Peerclass of the year is also open to non-members. So join us for an evening of writing fun and festivities, and a peek behind the scenes of what our lovely community is all about. Ugly Christmas jumpers, mulled wine, and mince pies are very much encouraged as writing accessories!
Getting your writing noticed is on your list of New Year's resolutions? Writing a query letter or artist statement makes you break out in a cold sweat usually reserved for buying Christmas presents? Fear not! Reena takes on our most requested topic: how to write a successful submission.
Getting your writing noticed is on your list of New Year's resolutions? Writing a query letter or artist statement makes you break out in a cold sweat usually reserved for buying Christmas presents? Fear not! Reena takes on our most requested topic: how to write a successful submission.
Reena Shah is a writer, educator, and senior fiction editor at The Rumpus. She is currently a Michener Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin and has received fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, Millay Arts, and Tin House, among others. Her writing has appeared in Electric Literature, Joyland, The Masters Review, National Geographic, The Guardian, the BBC, and elsewhere. A former dancer, her dance biography, Movement in Stills, was published by Mapin. Her debut novel, Every Happiness, will be out with Bloomsbury (US) and Penguin Random House (India) in 2025.
In writing, as in life, the beginning of a new project is often the hardest. How can we get over the fear of the blank page? Tony guides us through his approach to starting a story. From creating a character to setting the scene, and everything in between – what goes into a banger beginning?
In writing, as in life, the beginning of a new project is often the hardest. How can we get over the fear of the blank page? Tony guides us through his approach to starting a story. From creating a character to setting the scene, and everything in between – what goes into a banger beginning?
Where do we draw the line between fact and fiction? How do we become a character in our own writing? Can our memory be trusted or are we all just unreliable narrators of our own lives? Prepare to ask the big questions as Barry shows us how to marry fact and fiction in life writing.
Where do we draw the line between fact and fiction? How do we become a character in our own writing? Can our memory be trusted or are we all just unreliable narrators of our own lives? Prepare to ask the big questions as Barry shows us how to marry fact and fiction in life writing.
How do you cut a long story short? From its ancient origins to its present role and uncertain future, Andrew guides us through the evolution of the short story. Who are the writers that have made their mark on it and what can we learn from them?
How do you cut a long story short? From its ancient origins to its present role and uncertain future, Andrew guides us through the evolution of the short story. Who are the writers that have made their mark on it and what can we learn from them?
Just as every body needs a skeleton, so does every story need a structure. Laura guides us through how she structures her fantasy novel by breaking it down into key scenes, explaining different types of structure and scenes, and their essential elements.
Just as every body needs a skeleton, so does every story need a structure. Laura guides us through how she structures her fantasy novel by breaking it down into key scenes, explaining different types of structure and scenes, and their essential elements.
In the second Peerclass instalment, Shazz shares her experience working with a writing mentor, taking us through the benefits and costs of mentoring. What do you need to ask yourself before looking for a mentor, and how do you go about finding one?
In the second Peerclass instalment, Shazz shares her experience working with a writing mentor, taking us through the benefits and costs of mentoring. What do you need to ask yourself before looking for a mentor, and how do you go about finding one?
We kick off Peerclass with a guided tour through the jungle of publishing. Gal takes us on her journey of getting published, exploring the different paths open to writers who aim to get traditionally or self-published. Which ones did she choose for her short story collection and upcoming novel, and why?
We kick off Peerclass with a guided tour through the jungle of publishing. Gal takes us on her journey of getting published, exploring the different paths open to writers who aim to get traditionally or self-published. Which ones did she choose for her short story collection and upcoming novel, and why?
Peerclass is a grassroots twist on the traditional writing masterclass, run by The Original Writers of London.
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© 2024 Jasmin Allenspach, The Original Writers of London. Illustrations created with Storyset.