Workshops

The first year of the Writing Squad programme consists of six one-day workshops held on Saturdays in cities across the North of England. There are also regular Thursday night workshops held online. 

In the second year, workshops are open to all new and previous Squad members, and we choose guest leaders who reflect the interests and needs of Squad writers.

We also hold regular online ‘Mini Goals’ sessions – in which writers set simple targets for the coming weeks, and share their cultural highlights. 

One to ones

Squad days are complemented by up to eight one-to-one sessions with a member of the Core Team. In these sessions, we create and review individual plans for developing the writer’s work, and how they manage and promote themselves. The one-to-ones take place either by phone, online or in person across the North, wherever our writers feel comfortable meeting.

Residentials

We hold at least one two-day weekend workshop a year, open to current and past Squad members. The focus of these comes from the particular needs of the Squad. In the past, we’ve spent weekends making short films, making flash online projects, exploring self portraiture with a poet and a photographer; as well as open and ‘unblocking’ weekends without agendas.

Professional development

After our writers have completed the two-year programme, the Squad continues to support them with their writing plus professional development advice, continued access to workshops and initiatives to promote them and their work.

Projects

Since we started in 2001, the Writing Squad has evolved from a writer development programme into a community of creatives. Producing projects with partners or by ourselves gives us the opportunity to develop our writers’ professional skills through practical creative adventures. See our current and previous projects here.