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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

You want to write a novel or memoir – but should you take a creative writing course or learn ‘on the job’?

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.

John McCullough has been teaching our Advanced Poetry Workshops for many years and has a new poetry collection out this spring. He tells us about his writing life.

Our courses start this week so it feels appropriate to share this quote from the inspirational Stephen King. Whether you’re a returning second year writer, or starting on a creative writing course, the life writing programme or poetry, welcome and welcome back. We’re so excited to be teaching again after the long summer break.

Elaine is a novelist, short story writer and English teacher. She is the author of a novel and a short story collection. She teaches on the two-year Creative Writing Programme. Here she talks about her writing life.

Laura Wilkinson is a tutor on the two-year Creative Writing Programme in Brighton and runs the Advanced Writing Workshops. She has published seven novels for adults (two under a pseudonym) and numerous short stories. Here she offers her top writing tips.

Life Writing Programme alumna Carole Aubree-Dumont won the Emerging Authors prize at this year’s Brighton Book Festival with a reading from her memoir Dumb. Here she talks about her writing journey.

Mick Jackson’s first novel, The Underground Man, was shortlisted for The Booker Prize. He has since published a further three novels and three collections of stories, all with Faber and Faber. He teaches on the Brighton-based Creative Writing Programme. Here are his top writing tips.

It’s a difficult, if unanswerable, question. A strong visual imagination and an ability to observe and recall are important skills, as is curiosity. Some writers have a natural ear for dialogue. Others have the ability to put the subtlest of thoughts into words. Others can paint a scene in a few strokes of the keyboard. But writing is just not about the practical skills you can learn.

Ruth Figgest is a novelist and short story writer and teaches on the Creative Writing Programme at the Towner Eastbourne which starts in October. Here she offers her top tips for writing.

Beth Miller is the author of six novels, including the bestselling The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright. She teaches on the Creative Writing Programme based in Worthing on Friday mornings. Here she offers her top writing tips.

Good creative writing is about writing itself—not following rigid templates or academic constraints, but embracing the artistic process.