Aimed at wakening the ‘writing voice’ using imagination freely, accessing all the senses, with the use of exercises, writing prompts and props.

The course will briefly cover the different types of creative writing.

We will discuss the benefits of the different genres of creative writing on mental health and wellbeing.

Work started in the group sessions may be finished at home later. There will be prompt sheets available in the course prior to sessions.

What to expect

  • Community

    LIVE Zoom Sessions & COMMUNITY chat app to connect, share and meet people

    You will be encouraged to share your work with the group although this not compulsory.

  • Getting the juices flowing

    Session 1

    Discussion on ideas that come up when using prompts. Exploring what makes a good story.

  • Building characters

    Session 2

    How to build characters and breathe life into them.

  • Using the senses

    Session 3

    Enriching your writing by using as many of the senses as you can in descriptions of settings.

  • Using visual prompts

    Session 4

    Discussion on what can be conjured up and how to build a story or a poem around these ideas.

  • Brining it together

    Sesson5

    Sharing your writing and experience with the group. Discussion on how to take your writing further

Live Zoom sessions Thurs, 10am-11:30am GMT, 22/4, 29/4, 6/5, 13/5, 20/5

Have always wanted to write and have never quite found the motivation or inspiration?

Do you have little experience of creative writing, but have always wanted to write and have never quite found the motivation or inspiration to start or to keep writing?

Writing can build confidence and a sense of wellbeing, a sense of achievement and empowerment in hearing your work shared amongst a supportive group of people. Discussions using prompts and sharing ideas for writing can be uplifting and fun and is of great benefit to our wellbeing.

Open to everyone

Live Zoom sessions coming after Easter

Your course facilitator

Christine Lawrence

I am a retired mental health nurse with a BA hons in English and Creative Arts, MSc in Addictive Behaviour and MA in Creative Writing.

I have experience in running creative writing workshops in the following areas:

Phoenix House (Alpha) - working with clients who were in residential rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol. Working with clients with enduring mental illness in low secure unit.

The Mental Health Co-operative Portsmouth - a drop-in facility. “Start Writing, Keep Writing” “Your Voice Matters” workshop targeting women in Portsmouth. A free workshop held in the Labour Party office in Albert Road. Portsmouth Central Library, The Carnegie Library, North End Library - reaching out to areas of Portsmouth which are under-resourced for Portsmouth Short Story Writing Competition. Creative Writing @ 101 Gosport Road, working with residents and street homeless clients.

Mind Matters workshop to enable participants to write positive stories and poems with the theme Mental Health. Produced an event at the Great Barn Titchfield for “Mind Matters”, where the best of the writings were performed to an audience and participants were publicly awarded for their work. Founder member of T’Articulation which is a spoken word group. Encourages writers to perform their work in various locations including cafes, libraries and theatres across the community. Director of the Portsmouth Writers Hub.

Contributor to Portsmouth’s Star and Crescent online magazine. My work: I have two novels to my name - Caught in the Web and Payback, as well as two books of short stories: Moments of Darkness and More Moments of Darkness. My third novel, Don’t Step on the Cracks will be published in 2021. I also enjoy playwriting, acting, directing and helping in the wardrobe at Titchfield Festival Theatre. Novels and books are available on Amazon or direct from me at reduced cost. I am on the organising committee of the DDay Revival at Southwick, helping to recruit volunteers for the annual event.

Mental Wealth Academy

The Good Mental Health Cooperative

The Good Mental Health Cooperative supports people to access community based activities and workshops which help with inclusion, recovery and good mental health. The support is intended for people who have experienced serious life challenges, are socially isolated, anxious or lacking in confidence. This may include experience of mental ill-health, addictions, disability, bereavement, caring responsibilities for example. At the Good Mental Health Cooperative, we believe that connecting with others, and informal learning opportunities, are really important steps to good mental health, bringing a sense of inclusion and challenge, rather than feeling isolated and lacking in purpose. www.goodmentalhealth.org.uk

Funded by

Awards for All National Lottery