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Creative Writing & Author Courses in Cornwall

Learn creative writing, storytelling, poetry, fiction, memoir, publishing and the skills needed to develop as an author in Cornwall and Plymouth.

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Cornwall has a growing community of writers, poets, storytellers and creative organisations offering opportunities for both beginners and experienced authors. Courses range from friendly evening classes and one-day workshops to residential writing retreats and university-level creative writing degrees taught entirely within Cornwall.

Falmouth University runs a dedicated BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree, a combined BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing degree, and postgraduate options including MA Professional Writing - all at its Falmouth Campus. Shorter, more accessible courses are available at Cornwall College's Camborne and St Austell campuses and at Truro & Penwith College in Penzance, while The Writers' Block in Redruth and writers' groups in Liskeard offer ongoing community and workshops rather than a fixed syllabus.

For writers wanting dedicated time away from home, The Writing Retreat runs non-residential weekends and residential retreats at venues across Cornwall, concentrating on the practical craft of fiction and developing a manuscript towards a publishable standard.

A note on this guide

One practical note: we couldn’t verify current dates for The Writing Retreat’s Just Write weekend - their events page shows past dates, so check their current calendar before booking.

Good to know before you go

  • Booking essential: course dates, prices and venues can change - always check the provider's own website before travelling.
  • Degree vs short course: Falmouth University and the University of Plymouth offer full degree programmes (years, not weeks); Cornwall College, Truro & Penwith College and The Writing Retreat offer shorter courses and workshops.
  • Free and low-cost options: community writers' groups such as Liskeard Writers Group and Theatrabilia are typically far cheaper than formal courses - a good starting point if you just want to share work and meet other writers.
  • Accessibility: college and university campuses have accessibility support services, but confirm access to the specific teaching room or workshop venue before attending.

Creative Writing Courses & Groups in Cornwall & Plymouth

Falmouth

Degree

Falmouth University - Creative Writing

Falmouth Campus, Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH

Falmouth University's Falmouth Campus offers a dedicated BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree and a combined BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing degree, taught in-person full time. Postgraduate options include MA Professional Writing and MA Writing for Script & Screen.

  • Study: BA (Hons) Creative Writing, BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing, MA Professional Writing, MA Writing for Script & Screen.
  • Parking: Limited on campus - consider public transport.
  • Disabled access: University accessibility and student-support services available.
Visit official course page

East Cornwall & Liskeard

Writers' Hub

Theatrabilia Writers' Hub

7 Fore Street, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 3JA

A local creative writing and writers' community for people in East Cornwall, run by Theatrabilia, alongside its wider theatre history and playwriting projects. Activities include writing-related events, workshops and opportunities for writers and performers.

  • Parking: Local town-centre parking - confirm for the specific event.
  • Disabled access: Contact the organiser regarding the particular event venue.
  • Contact: 07903 513337.
Visit official website
Community Group

Liskeard Writers Group

Stuart House Arts & Heritage Centre, Barras Street, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 6AB

A separate, long-running community writers' group meeting at Stuart House, Liskeard's historic arts and heritage centre - a low-key option for local writers wanting to share work and get feedback rather than follow a structured course.

  • Parking: Town centre parking nearby.
  • Disabled access: Contact Stuart House regarding access to the meeting room.
  • Contact: 01579 347347.
Visit Stuart House website

Writing Retreats

Retreat

The Writing Retreat

Tremayne Hall, Lemon Hill, Mylor Bridge, Cornwall TR11 5NA (non-residential venue)

Specialises in helping writers develop fiction towards a professional, publishable standard. Non-residential "Just Write" weekends are held at Tremayne Hall, a community hall in the creekside village of Mylor Bridge near Falmouth; residential retreats have previously run at Rosemerryn near Lamorna Cove and Bonython on the Lizard. Online courses, including Building Blocks of Fiction and Shape a Publishable Novel, are also available year-round.

  • Facilities: Writing space, workshops, one-to-one coaching, refreshments and meals; residential accommodation on selected retreats.
  • Dates: Check the provider's current events page - we could not confirm an advertised 2026 date at the time of writing.
View current events

Redruth

Writing Centre

The Writers' Block

Redruth, Cornwall (registered office: The Villa, Scorrier, Redruth TR16 5AU)

A dedicated writing centre supporting writers at every stage, with workshops, masterclasses, programmes, literature events and opportunities for emerging and established writers. Also supports children and young people and runs community projects, making it one of the more comprehensive creative-writing organisations in Cornwall. We couldn't confirm a single fixed street address for workshops in Redruth town itself - check current listings for the exact venue.

  • Activities: Creative writing workshops, masterclasses, author events, programmes and community projects.
  • Parking: Contact the centre regarding current visitor parking.
Visit official website

Camborne & St Austell

Short Course

Cornwall College Camborne

Trevenson Road, Camborne, Cornwall TR15 3RD

An eight-week evening Creative Writing course aimed at people who have always wanted to write or who need fresh motivation to get a stalled project moving, concentrating on practical storytelling skills rather than academic literary study.

  • Next listed start: 28 September 2026 (Mondays, 18:30-20:30). Further dates: 18 January 2027, 26 April 2027.
  • Duration: 8 weeks.
  • Parking: Campus parking available - check current arrangements.
View official course
Short Course

Cornwall College St Austell

Tregonissey Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 4DJ

A practical creative-writing course for people beginning a story, returning to an unfinished project or wanting to develop their writing voice - covering character, dialogue, narration, structure, tension, pace and storytelling, plus an introduction to routes towards publishing.

  • Next listed starts: 13 January 2027 and 21 April 2027 (Wednesdays, 13:00-16:00 or 17:00-20:00).
  • Parking: College parking - confirm before attendance.
View official course

Penzance & West Cornwall

Short Course

Truro & Penwith College

Penwith College, St Clare Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 2SA

Creative-writing courses through the college's adult-learning programme at Penwith College, designed for people wanting to explore and develop their talent across different forms including short stories, flash fiction and poetry.

  • Duration: 10 weeks on the published course listing.
  • Parking: Contact Penwith College for current arrangements.
Visit official college website

Just Over the Border: Plymouth

Not in Cornwall, but close enough to matter if you're staying in or travelling via South East Cornwall - all three University of Plymouth programmes share the same Drake Circus campus.

Devon - Not Cornwall

University of Plymouth - BA (Hons) Creative Writing

Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA

A dedicated BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree. Students work with published and award-winning writers and journalists in small workshops covering prose, poetry, drama, non-fiction, professional writing and genre fiction.

  • Duration: 3 years full-time, 4-year sandwich option.
Visit official course page
Devon - Not Cornwall

University of Plymouth - Creative Writing with Foundation

Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA

A four-year BA Creative Writing programme incorporating a foundation year, providing an alternative route for students who need additional preparation before progressing to degree-level creative writing.

  • Duration: 4 years full-time.
Visit official course page
Devon - Not Cornwall

University of Plymouth - MA Creative Writing

Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA

Aimed at writers with substantial experience wanting to develop their work towards professional and publication standards, working on a substantial project across fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and screenwriting.

  • Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.
Visit official course page

Choosing a Creative Writing Course

Complete Beginners

Cornwall College Camborne and Cornwall College St Austell are particularly suitable for people who have an idea for a story but have little or no formal writing experience.

Writing Your First Novel

The Writing Retreat is particularly relevant to aspiring novelists, with courses concentrating on story structure, prose and developing a manuscript towards publication.

Poetry & Short Stories

The Writers' Block and Truro & Penwith College provide opportunities to explore different forms including poetry, short stories and flash fiction.

Developing an Existing Manuscript

The Writing Retreat's workshops, one-to-one coaching and residential programmes are designed for writers who already have a project underway.

Professional / Degree Study

Falmouth University's BA and MA programmes and the University of Plymouth's BA and MA programmes both provide structured academic and workshop-based study for writers wanting to develop their craft to a high level.

Writing Community

The Writers' Block, Theatrabilia Writers' Hub and Liskeard Writers Group are all useful for meeting other writers and becoming involved in Cornwall's wider literary community.

Creative Writing & Author Course Guide

Provider Area Level Main Subjects Best For
Falmouth UniversityFalmouthDegree (BA/MA)Fiction, script & screen, professional writingSerious long-term study, based in Cornwall
Theatrabilia Writers' HubLiskeardCommunityWriting events, workshopsLocal writers & performers
Liskeard Writers GroupLiskeardCommunityPeer feedback, sharing workLow-cost regular meet-ups
The Writing RetreatMylor Bridge / variousBeginner to advancedFiction, novels, structure, publicationAspiring authors
The Writers' BlockRedruthAll levelsCreative writing, workshops, masterclassesWriting community
Cornwall College CamborneCamborneBeginnerCharacter, structure, pace, narrativeFirst-time writers
Cornwall College St AustellSt AustellBeginnerStorytelling, dialogue, narrationNew & returning writers
Truro & Penwith CollegePenzanceBeginner / improverShort stories, flash fiction, poetryWest Cornwall writers
University of PlymouthPlymouth (Devon)Degree (BA/MA)Prose, poetry, drama, genre fictionSerious long-term study

Courses for Aspiring Authors

If your ultimate aim is to become a published author, look for courses that go beyond generating ideas. Useful subjects include character development, narrative structure, dialogue, pacing, editing, rewriting and understanding the expectations of agents and publishers.

The Writing Retreat is particularly focused on bringing fiction towards a publishable standard, while Falmouth University's and the University of Plymouth's postgraduate programmes both provide advanced workshop environments in which students develop a substantial writing project.

For someone starting from scratch, a good progression would be an introductory Cornwall College course, followed by workshops at The Writers' Block or a dedicated writing retreat, before considering longer-term degree study at Falmouth University or the University of Plymouth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Falmouth University offers a dedicated BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree and a combined BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing degree at its Falmouth Campus, alongside postgraduate options including an MA Professional Writing. Cornwall College also runs shorter evening and daytime creative writing courses at its Camborne and St Austell campuses, and Truro & Penwith College runs one at Penwith College in Penzance.

Yes. Falmouth University's Falmouth Campus offers a BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree, a combined BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing degree, and postgraduate options including MA Professional Writing and MA Writing for Script & Screen, entirely within Cornwall.

Yes. Theatrabilia Writers' Hub and the separate Liskeard Writers Group at Stuart House both operate in Liskeard, and The Writers' Block runs workshops, masterclasses and community projects from Redruth.

The Writing Retreat runs non-residential weekends at Tremayne Hall in Mylor Bridge near Falmouth, plus residential retreats at Rosemerryn near Lamorna Cove and Bonython on the Lizard. Always check their current events page for confirmed dates, as advertised dates can be provisional or change.

Yes. The University of Plymouth offers a BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree, a four-year version with a foundation year, and an MA Creative Writing, all based at its Drake Circus campus.

Course dates, prices and availability change throughout the year. The dates shown above are those published by providers at the time of research - always check the provider's official website before travelling. Providers are included where a current creative-writing course, workshop, retreat or established writing programme could be verified; organisations that merely provide general literary services have not been presented as course providers. Cornwall Online is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this page.

Page last updated: August 2026