The 10 week writing course in Solihull which could lead to a whole new career

If you love to write and fancy either just brushing up on your skills or finding out what it takes to be a professional writer, the new and exciting Creative Writing course at The Core Solihull is a unique opportunity to learn a range of new skills and techniques to make your writing stand out.

Led by seasoned writer Wersha Bharadwa, you’ll explore how to come up with ideas for various styles of creative writing including fiction and non-fiction pieces, personal memoir, essays, short fiction, features, opinion and review writing and in-depth interviews from a combination of teaching, reading, writing exercises, workshops and constructive feedback in a small and friendly group. 

Wersha will also share insider tips on her writing processes including editing and revising your work and how to get your work published. The ten-week course begins on 15 January 2024 and runs every Monday evening from 6.30pm-8.30pm. 

Wersha is an author, playwright, journalist and award-nominated writer and with works featured in The Guardian, The Independent, Glamour Magazine and Cosmopolitan. She also lectures in journalism and creative writing at universities.  We spoke with Wersha to find out more about the course and what potential students should expect.

Hi Wersha! What can you tell us about the Creative Writing course? 

I’ve been leading the course since last year and it’s been going really well!  So much so, that we’ve decided to run it as an evening class on Mondays as the aim is to be as inclusive as possible to everyone in the Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire areas – whether you’re a total beginner or if you’ve been writing a while and want to elevate your skills. 

What types of writing does the course cover? 

The great thing about this course is that it fully recognises and covers a wide range of writing  and so we’ll be looking at different styles and formats of creative writing like memoirs, fiction, essays, travel and personal blogs while delving into genre, dialogue, structure, setting, narrative voice and lots more. We will also work on skills and techniques to help with generating and developing ideas too. 

Can anyone join the course? 

Absolutely. The feedback on the course is that it’s a very encouraging environment with lots of inspiration for those with limited experience but equally it suits those with a keen interest in creative writing and literature too. Past students have returned to the course as they’ve enjoyed the learning environment and being surrounded by others who are passionate about the craft. Others have gone on to enter writing competitions or redraft and refine pieces they’ve been working on for a while. As part of the course, we’re continuing to develop a community of writers who can then offer each other peer support and collaborations and share writing opportunities beyond the 10 weeks. 

Why The Core, Solihull?  

I love The Core both as a theatre and library because the location in Solihull Town Centre is so easy to get to. The library and cafe are the perfect writing environment with big quiet corners and the on-site library is really well stocked with books and resources vital to the craft of writing too. With the new and exciting Core Creatives artists programme, artists and writers now have a brilliant base at the Core with places to work, a lovely artist’s lounge corner where you can meet with and chat to other creatives over a coffee. 

• The Creative Writing Course at The Core in Solihull is a ten week course beginning on 15 January, running every Monday at 6.30pm-8.30pm.  Find out more and book your place at Activities (thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk) or call 0121 704 6962.

• The Core in Solihull is a multi-purpose arts venue in the heart of the town centre, tucked away next to the giant Touchwood shopping centre. A hub of creativity for the local community, the Core building houses two theatre spaces, a Courtyard Gallery and Art Space, a Library, Community Advice Hub and Café Bar.