Entering writing competitions is great fun and brilliant for building up your writer’s CV if you get placed. Join this eight-week course where, at the end of it, you’ll have a 2000 word short story that you can be proud of, and is competition ready.

We’ll be closely analysing stories by Zadie Smith, Kevin Barry, Yiyun Li and Clare Keegan (among other twenty-first-century greats) and also exploring how using real-life material can enrich our writing.

The course will include two workshopping sessions where you’ll be given feedback from Carla Jenkins and the rest of the attendees, and you will also give feedback on their short stories. Guidance and support will be given on how to do this.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of reading and writing in between sessions, and a full course outline and reading list will be sent once you’ve signed up. Places are limited to eight so everyone (and their stories) are given a lot of attention.

Free entry into the Raw Writing Short Story competition (worth £25) when you sign up for this course! The deadline for the Raw Writing Short Story competition is 17th June 2026, the word count is 2000 maximum, and the prize will be a mentoring package (six sessions) with a published writer, a place on a six-month Raw Writing course, and publication in the Raw Writing Anthology.

Session Dates

Fridays, 2pm – 3.30pm

• Fri 13 Mar
• Fri 20 Mar
• Fri 27 Mar
• Fri 17 Apr
• Fri 24 Apr
• Fri 01 May
• Fri 08 May
• Fri 15 May

About The Tutor

Carla Jenkins is the founder of Raw Writing and an award-winning writer and teacher. Her debut novel, Fifty Minutes, was published by Hachette in May 2024. Her second novel is due for publication in the summer of 2027.

Please email Carla at carla@rawwriting.co.uk if you have any questions before booking or call or message her on 07474 116771

www.rawwriting.co.uk

Venue: Meeting Room, Exeter Phoenix

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>