WRITING Inspiration
Former student secures agent representation
Congratulations to our former student Hannah Doyle who has signed with with Stephanie Glencross at David Higham after receiving five offers of representation for her literary suspense/psychological thriller set in Paris.
Fabulous Student Reading
Congratulations to our seven fabulous students and alumni who shared their work at our student reading last night at Kemptown Bookshop. We heard poetry and prose, fiction and memoir.
Meet Our Tutors: Joy Persaud
Joy Persaud is a biographer and a highly experienced journalist. She is the author of the forthcoming book Where Are You Really From? which tells the life stories of 45 people who work for, or worked for, our NHS. Joy teaches on both the Life Writing Programme and Creative Writing Programme. Here she talks about her writing life.
Second Novel from former student
Congratulations to former student Clive Edwards, whose second book LOST IN A YELLOW WOOD comes out in September. It’s a thriller with a supernatural twist.
FIVE MINUTES WITH AUTHOR AND FORMER STUDENT JULIE CORBIN
Julie Corbin has written nine psychological/suspense thrillers, translated into eight European languages. An alumni of the Creative Writing Programme in 2008, here she talks about her writing journey.
The CWP arrives in the capital
The Creative Writing Programme, the two-year degree-level course which has kickstarted the careers of many writers, is coming to the capital.
The Creative Writing Programme Is Coming To Hastings
The Creative Writing Programme is coming to Hastings. If you’ve always dreamed of writing a novel, or collection of short stories, and live in or near Hastings, then why not sign up for a taster session on 22 June or 10 September to see if it’s for you?
What is life writing?
We hear a lot about the term life writing these days, but what does it actually mean? Surely all writing is in some way inspired by life?
Five Minutes With: Course Director and Author Cathy Hayward
Cathy’s second novel The Last Daughter of Highdown Hall came out on 1 May 2026. An alumna of the Creative Writing Programme, as well as the course director since 2023, here she talks about her writing routine and the inspiration behind the novel.
Meet the tutors: hannah vincent
Hannah Vincent is a novelist, short story writer and playwright who has been teaching on the Creative Writing Programme for many years. Here she talks about what inspires her.
Do I Need a Degree to Write a Novel?
The short answer is no. There are many successful authors who don’t have a degree and never went near a university. Having letters after your name, or spending years in a university’s hallowed halls, does not necessarily make you a writer. Becoming a writer is all about learning the craft of writing and actually sitting down and writing.
Meet our Tutors: Mel Parks
In September, the Creative Writing Programme will be launching in East Grinstead on a Saturday morning. It will be taught by Mel Parks, an experienced writer and tutor. Here she talks about her writing life.
Meet The Tutor: Paula Lichtarowicz
Paula Lichtarowicz is the author of three novels and comes to writing after twenty years as a documentary-maker. She teaches at London’s City Lit and the University of the Arts and will be working with Rosie Chard on the new London-based Creative Writing Programme. Here she talks about how her first novel was inspired by a postcard, her journey to publication and offers some top writing tips.
Inspirational Student Reading
Congratulations to our seven students who shared their work at our spring reading last night at Kemptown Bookshop, Brighton. They read a mixture of novels and memoirs in progress, flash fiction and poetry inspired by everything from loss, motherhood, racism, violence and the current state of the world.
New Novel From Alumnus Rob Barron
Rob Barron took the Creative Writing Programme from 2022 to 2024. His novel The Wrong Men is published on 28th March 2026. Here he talks about his writing life.
Our Top Five Writer Podcasts
We spend as much time as we can reading and writing but sometimes you just have to drag yourself away from the page. So when we’re doing household chores, walking the dog or on the commute to work, we take the chance to listen to a podcast. And of course it has to be about writing. Over the past few years we’ve found some brilliant writerly podcasts which have inspired and entertained us in equal measure. Here are the Creative Writing Programme’s top five writing podcasts.
New Novel from CWP Tutor Bethan Roberts
Bethan Roberts has been teaching on the Longstanding tutor Bethan Roberts has published her sixth novel A Short Road to Longbrook. Here she talks about her new book and her writing life.
Fourth Novel from alumna Kate Bradley
Kate Bradley took the Creative Writing Programme from 2005-7 and finished her first novel on the course. Her fourth novel – The Institute – comes out this week. Here she talks about the inspiration behind the story.
Can You Teach Yourself To Write?
You want to write a novel or memoir – but should you take a creative writing course or learn ‘on the job’?
Student publishes debut novel
Congratulations to T.M Munyori who has published her debut novel A Holiday Reboot. She’s in the second year of the Creative Writing Programme, studying in Brighton. Here she talks about her journey to publication and her writing life.