Student writing skills

This year's course at Lucy will be led by novelist, memoirist, and poet Elizabeth Speller and the emphasis will be on developing a piece of short fiction.

The course will run in five sessions across Lent term in which participants will study together and share work. This is a superb opportunity to work in a small group with other Lucy students and a celebrated writer and teacher. The course is open to all undergraduate members of the College and limited to eight places. There will be a waiting list once the course fills.

Applications will be selected on the basis of stated interests and ambitions, not previous achievements; you are warmly encouraged to apply for the course regardless of degree subject or prior experience. You'll be expected to contribute written work and serious engagement throughout Lent, so you should consideration how it will fit with your degree work and other obligations.

Applications are now closed for 2022-23.

Course Leader

Elizabeth (Lizzie) was an undergraduate and MPhil student at Lucy Cavendish.

She is an author of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her novels have been translated into eight languages and been Central New York’s book of the year and a Richard and Judy pick. Her short stories include “The Incumbent” in the anthology Kiss and Part and her poem “Finisterre” was short-listed for the Forward Prize. She also set the words for the musical elegy ‘Farewell’ commissioned by Sir Paul McCartney and composed by Michael Berkeley.

Lizzie has taught at the universities of Birmingham and Bristol, was a Royal Literary Fund fellow at Warwick and is a course director in creative writing (fiction) at ICE Madingley Hall while writing her fourth novel for Virago. Two of her poems are currently short-listed for the Bridport Prize.