Courses, Workshops & Mentoring
Innovative, online creative writing courses and in-person workshops for writers at all stages of their practice. One-to-one mentoring and editing are also available.
Write Your Novel: Autumn 2023
The Lil' Writing Shed helps writers explore their creativity, build their craft, and develop their writing project with a balance of commitment, enthusiasm and fun.
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"Samantha's courses are what have really got me writing. They are vibrant, stimulating, unusual and fun. She has a deep knowledge of writers and writing which she shares to encourage even the most tentative new writer to put pen to page." Em, 2022
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"I've done a few writing courses and Samantha's are by far my favourite. She's fantastic at facilitating group discussion, and always has an array of stimuli to get us approaching our writing in new ways. Her feedback on my work is detailed, and I always look forward to my weekly writing class." Beth, 2022
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Come join the team!
University of Cambridge, Homerton College - PGCE Art and Design
City Literary Institute - Course in Figurative Sculpture King's College in association with RADA - MA Drama King's College London - BA French and German, Theatre specialism Académie Julian, Paris - Cours Préparatoire en Arts Plastiques |
Meet Samantha Forrest
Samantha Forrest is a writer and teacher of creative writing, based in Bristol, in the south-west of England. She has facilitated hundreds of workshops, helping people move their projects forward and take pleasure in their learning.
She has written since she was a young teenager. Her work covers poetry, theatre, fiction, including stories for children, and creative non-fiction. She has performed her work at open mic events and poetry slams and had stories and essays published in a variety of UK magazines. She is currently working on an inspirational biography alongside a novel for children. Teaching has been part of her life since she was 16. She trained in the Visual Arts and Theatre in Paris and London, before undertaking a PGCE at Cambridge University. She has worked with all ages and abilities, in a wide variety of settings, including primary and secondary schools, museums, self-help centres, and on the road as a tour guide throughout western Europe. She particularly enjoys sharing her love for the arts, and encouraging creativity. She has a sensitive and fun-loving approach to teaching, whilst taking the subject seriously, and likes to create a supportive atmosphere, with lots of laughter too. |
Testimonials
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'I have really enjoyed the course and feel as if I’ve learnt a lot and my writing definitely seems to have improved. Feedback from you and from the group has been invaluable. Thank you for all the wisdom that you’ve passed on to us and for facilitating such a great experience.' Deidre, 2023
"Thank you for creating such inspirational and thought-provoking writing courses. I’ve enjoyed them enormously and always come away feeling energised and full of ideas. Thanks too for creating such a supportive environment, full of freedom and fun. Such a tonic!’" Kate, 2022
"Thank you for creating such inspirational and thought-provoking writing courses. I’ve enjoyed them enormously and always come away feeling energised and full of ideas. Thanks too for creating such a supportive environment, full of freedom and fun. Such a tonic!’" Kate, 2022
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"Samantha's methods are refreshing, challenging and most constructive. She is extremely well prepared with literary and artistic examples and encourages her students to develop personal confidence in their creativity, share their work and learn from one another. I commend Samantha for her professionalism and for her skill as an educator, and I thank her especially for her extreme patience and gentle encouragement." Patricia, 2020
"The course has been very rewarding. I've enjoyed meeting all the others and you have been a great inspiration." Lucy, 2019 "Samantha's approach is thoughtful, humorous, and encouraging. I appreciated how she explained and gave examples." BCC student, 2019 "I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course, it was very, very interesting to work with different influences. You work in a very holistic way which I have been searching for in Bristol for a few years." Vivienne, 2018 "Sam is a very gentle and encouraging teacher who made everyone feel comfortable and free to share their work. I would recommend her courses to anyone who wants to stretch their creative muscles, improve their writing technique, and meet like-minded people." Georgina, 2016 |
"This is super helpful and I've made those edits, thank you so much!" Harriet, 2020
"It is a most enjoyable course. Samantha is inspirational." Jac, 2020 "Creativity and kindness! Happy!" BCC student, 2020 "I've done several writing courses and this has been the best. Frequent writing exercises with imaginative prompts are extremely helpful, thank you." BCC student, 2019 "I would like to thank you for the classes I attended. I found them very helpful and constructive and have picked up some useful knowledge, concepts, references and skills that have helped me during creative mental blocks. I especially appreciate the spiritual element you bring to your teachings. It resonates really well with me." Sophie, 2018 "I found the creative writing course brilliant, and very helpful during difficult circumstances." Anna Maria, 2018 "I not only enjoyed your course, but found I learnt something about myself and my identity." Kaj, 2016 |