Caroline Deacon
Journalist and author based in Scotland, UK

Creative writing

I have been teaching creative writing for WEA as well as for Women’s Aid for just over four years, although for the previous ten years I worked as a distance tutor for the Writers Bureau in Manchester. 

Your work critically appraised - submitting your work.

Want to be a writer?

• generating ideas for features
• landing a commission
• how to follow through  - link broken

Your comments

Just heard from Sara Mace at Writers' Bureau that you have now moved on to new things. I just wanted to drop you a line and say thank you for your encouragement during the past 12 months since I started my course with Writers' Bureau. It has been a very interesting year so far - and the course has been just the boost I need to keep writing.

In February I found out that one of my short stories has won first place in the New Subscribers Competition of Writing Magazine, and will be published in October. I was thrilled to hear this news - and had to read the email over a few times before it sank in!

Once again thank you very much for your guidance and positive support of my scribblings - and I wish you all the very best with your next projects.

Juliet Platt

Comments from recent WEA stand alone session:

Well run session with plenty of time to do individual exercises on our own issues. Good handouts- some theory and practical. Came away having used 2 specific exercises to reflect on individual issues which really helped. Have some extra tools in the kit bag now which can be used for self and work
Excellent session – really liked the exercises we were given. Thank you

Comments from regular clients of my WEA creative writing classes:

• I found Caroline to be friendly, supportive, clear, organised and practical
• It has been a very enjoyable learning experience and has greatly helped my writing confidence as I am dyslexic.
• I found the class was not only educational but also fun. It sparked a great deal of creativity in me.
• I have learnt a lot on this course about structure; various types of writing, both fiction and non-fiction. It has set a great big ball rolling and I’m writing a lot myself now. 
• I have got great enjoyment from this course, have learnt new skills and also gained the knowledge that my writing isn’t too bad! It has got my creative juices flowing and I can’t stop writing!
• I have learnt useful techniques, have found the feedback helpful, and have really enjoyed the course. It now occurs to me that I might be able to write something which other people might read.
• Thank you Caroline. The comments you made were clear and concise. You’ve got me buzzing with ideas!