What are the Sunday Writing Sessions? 

Established at Chapter Arts Centre, in 2012, The Sunday Writing Sessions are hearty, high quality, inspiration-filled, creative writing workshops, with an emphasis on generating fresh writing that could lead to new projects or develop existing ones.

Each workshop has a very loose theme to get everyone going, but most writers find themselves travelling far from the initial starting point.

Students are welcome to work in fiction, autobiography, poetry, or a mixture of any of these things.

It's a place for writers to experiment, explore, and experience their own creative potential. Every session should feel abundant with possibilities, and every writer should leave feeling excited by the new directions their writing might take.

Every workshop is a one-off. Writers are welcome to book onto as many (depending on availability) or as few sessions as they wish. Some come for a whole year for the cumulative effect upon their confidence, skills, and to gather a portfolio of ideas. Others come every now and again for a creative boost. Several writers come to a mix of online and in-person sessions.

Who are the Sunday Writing Sessions for?

Writers of every background, with every level of experience, from those with their own shelf in Waterstones, to those who haven’t picked up a pen since school. All are welcome.

What can you expect from a Sunday Writing Session?

• A theme to stimulate the imagination and/or memory (e.g. rain / dawn / rivers / sleep / light / birds / road trips / grandparents / brief encounters…)

• Exercises designed to stimulate the creation of new writing & fresh ideas

• A safe & supportive space in which to take creative risks, read work aloud, and share work

• A welcoming group of like-minded individuals who love stories and are interested in the creative process

• Unconditionally generous environment, with no criticism or judgment 

• Excellent quality listening & thoughtful feedback, leaving the individual with an expanded sense of their own writing and its potential

When do the Sunday Writing Sessions take place?

• In person workshops take place on the second Sunday and third Sunday of every month, excluding August, 10am-1pm, with a half hour coffee and cake break in the middle

• Online workshops take place on the fourth Sunday of every month, excluding August and December, 10am-12pm-ish

What do they cost?

• In person sessions cost £27 for the 3 hours (£18 unwaged)

• Online sessions cost £18 (£12 unwaged)

How do I book?

• Email brionygoffin@gmail.com with the dates you're interested in. If the dates are available you will be given instructions on how to pay and secure your space. Pre-booking and pre-payment are essential.

How do the Sunday Writing Sessions on Zoom work?

• On the morning of the workshop, at 10am, I send out the writing exercise and instructions to everybody who has signed up.  Participants will then proceed with responding to the exercise at home. At 10.30am, we will meet on Zoom to introduce ourselves; to listen to and discuss the responses to the exercise; and look at where the writing could travel to from here. The Zoom session will last between an hour and a half, and two hours.

As a Zoom convert, here are some things I've discovered...

• That it's rather nice to be 'in' the workshop, whilst surrounded by home comforts (wearing slippers, reaching for a familiar mug, hearing the thrum thrum of the washing machine in the background)

• That Zoom has a 'touch up appearance' function. 'Real-life Briony' might be a shock when we meet again in person! 

• That warmth can carry across the screen; that the listening and care for one another's writing is as tangible as ever; that the 'workshop atmosphere' is still present. It's not exactly the same but it's definitely there.

• That it will always be a tender thing to be invited into one another's homes

• That it's a thrill when a small child (not my own), teenager, cat, dog...wanders into screen; or somebody has to go and answer the door. 

• That anybody from anywhere in the world can join us, live!

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Sunday Writing Session Dates for 2025:

Sunday 12th January, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 19th January, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 26th January, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 9th February, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 16th February, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 23rd February, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 9th March, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 16th March, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 23rd March, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 13th April, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 27th April, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 11th May, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 18th May, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 25th May, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 8th June, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 15th June, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 22nd June, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

Sunday 13th July, 10am-1pm, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sunday 20th July, 10.30am-12pm-ish (exercise released at 10am), Online

All about the Sunday Writing Sessions at Cardiff Writers’ Studio (youtube.com)

Cardiff Writers’ Studio: Sharing Work and Offering Feedback (youtube.com)