It’s not easy to find quality publications and good teachers for creative writing, especially in the UK. We identify the best blogs and websites to help you make the right decision.
The Best Blogs For Creative Writing
There are so many blogs out there, all devoted to creative writing. The trick is knowing which ones to bother with, and which ones to ignore. Here are our top picks for the best blogs for creative writing.
The London Teen Blog
The London Teen Blog is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to develop their creative writing skills. The blog is written by a group of students from the London School of Economics, and it’s a treasure trove of useful information for budding writers. What’s more is that each post comes with a short tutorial on how to improve your writing. If you’re looking for inspiration, there’s nothing more appropriate than a post about a young adult’s experiences in the big city.
The Litrocks Blog
The Litrocks Blog is another great blog for creative writing students, with a mixture of short story prompts, interviews with famous authors, and useful advice on improving your craft.
One of the main contributors, Holly Hill, wrote a short story called ‘The Luxe of Lieching’, which she published on the blog. It’s an engaging piece that deals with grief and the differences between high and low cultures. You can read it for free on the Litrocks Blog, along with other great short stories and poems by the author.
The Zenned Out Blog
The Zenned Out Blog is written by Jack Zenned, a creative writing graduate from the University of East Anglia. It’s a great place to find both established authors and up-and-coming talent, looking for useful advice on getting their work out to the world. Zenned also hosts workshops and provides students with mentoring opportunities.
The best thing about The Zenned Out Blog is the way it challenges its readers to push themselves as writers. Each post comes with a short story or chapter from an established author, along with constructive criticism that encourages the writer to improve their craft. It’s open to all levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned pros, and it has something to offer everyone. It’s well worth a visit, whether you’re a reader, a writer, or both.
Pensters, Paintbrushers, And Other Creative Writers
If you love animals, and especially cute animals, you’ll love Pensters, Paintbrushers, and Other Creative Writers. It’s a fantastic blog for those interested in writing for children. It’s currently run by three full-time freelance writers, Sally, Rachel, and Susan, who are all mothers to young children. They create resources for parents and carers to use when raising their children, and some of their material is so innovative and useful that it’s been adapted and reissued by other publishers. You’ll find plenty of lovely poems, stories, and activities for kids here.
One of the writers, Sally, hosts workshops for parents and carers, teaching them how to be the best parents and guardians they can be. She also gives advice on how to cope with tricky behaviour in children, and she shares her own experiences of being a parent. It’s an engaging read for both kids and adults alike.
The Inky Pig Blog
The Inky Pig Blog is probably the most famous creative writing blog in the UK. It was set up by Joe Dunthorne, and it began as a place to post his reviews of literature. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a place where authors can come to be interviewed, to discuss their work, or just to write for the fun of it. It’s opened up a whole new world for students interested in creative writing, as it’s not uncommon for authors to visit every week, and workshops are usually filled to capacity each week as well. Most importantly, it’s a place where students can publish their work, providing them with essential feedback and useful critique from experienced professionals.
The Moth Diarist Blog
The Moth Diarist Blog is a place for the incredibly brave. If you’ve never done stand up comedy before, you might find it tough to start, but Mike, the founder of the blog, is looking to change that. Not only does he want to provide a space for new comics, but he also wants to give them the courage to try something new and different. It’s a place where anybody can just write a comedy piece about what’s happening in their life at the moment, whether it’s funny or sad or both. There’s no right or wrong in terms of writing style or subject matter, and that’s what makes it such an exciting and encouraging place to be. It’s all about having the courage to be yourself, and being proud of what you write.
If you’ve got a love of words and the written word, and you want to put your skills to good use, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to do so. Make sure you check out the blogs detailed above, and don’t forget about the Twitter hashtags #creativewriting and #writingblog. You can also look out for creative writing conferences and events that you can attend, either in person or virtually, to discover more about this fascinating career choice. Good luck!