Creative Writing Masterclass - Writing from the Self

Has your head been stuck in your manuscript and you’d like to return to your authentic writing self and unlock other stories in the process?

Writing from the self is a creative and experiential session to bring you back to yourself, what you need to be effective as a writer and how you can take your focus back to the process and not the product.

In this masterclass, we will look at the wellbeing benefits of writing without judgement and explore where you are writing from emotionally. We will use creative prompts and exercises to surface hidden thoughts and guide you to a playful, nonjudgmental place where you can be curious about what emerges from your writing. We will notice the metaphors and symbols that occur in your writing which may provide new themes, threads or stories for development in your future work.

The workshop will be led by Brighton resident Kate Gillhespy, an arts therapist, certified Write Your Self guide, and a former writer/editor at Usborne. Kate’s first novel I will mend you with gold was shortlisted and highly commended in the 2025 Yeovil Literary Prize.

The session will be held at the Jubilee Library in Brighton and will run from 10:15-16:15 with an hour for lunch. The venue is fully accessible, near the train station and bus routes and with plenty of options for lunch (including bringing your own). If you have any specific needs to enable you to access the workshop, please do Contact Cathy Hayward - cathy@creativewritingprogramme.org.uk

The workshop is part of a series of one-day masterclasses held in the Easter and summer holidays. They are open to existing students on the Creative Writing Programme and other writers looking to improve specific areas of their writing craft.