The other day, I was having a chat with the lovely Bel Monypenny, editor of Voiceworks, on the topic of workshopping and learning how to write. I remember enthusing widely about my writers’ group (which I suddenly realise I’ve been a part of for almost a year and a half now), yet being somewhat divided on the subject of creative writing courses.

It wasn’t until later that I got to really thinking about why – given that both focus mainly on workshopping and outside feedback. Also, given that creative writing subjects have extra trimmings (lectures, reading lists, structured tutes etc.), why was it exactly that I’d never found them as helpful as a writers’ group?