The Creative Writing Playground: A 7-Week Writing Workshop with Tutku Barbaros

Join Tutku Barbaros as she guides you through seven playful weeks of creative exploration in search of your voice, the stories you ache to tell, and structured insights into how to get the best out of your ideas. This course is designed to accelerate your inspiration. If you are looking to identify and grow your voice, this seven-week guided creative workshop is for you.

You will gain the confidence to experiment, explore, and develop your creative voice in a safe and structured setting. This practical programme offers the opportunity to generate ideas in a range of written mediums while learning how to refine those ideas into finished projects while cultivating a joyful, authentic and bespoke creative practice.

Other areas we will explore will include:

• How to tackle “writer’s block”
• Developing confidence in your practice
• How to overcome personal blocks including the ways trauma may surface when writing
• How to overcome procrastination
• Opportunities to share work and receive feedback

Tutku is a writer across forms of Turkish Cypriot heritage from south-east London. She is a trauma informed practitioner and this is her fourth course at Bell House. Her debut book All the Women She Knows, a collection of 11 short stories centred on the lives of 8 women on the precipice of change was published in 2024. She is an alumna of the Royal Court Writers’ Programme as well as Sphinx Theatre’s year-long writer’s development programme, Sphinx 30. Her play Layla and Youssef was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize and the Paines Plough Women’s Prize for Playwriting.

The course costs £120 per person and will be held every Monday evening:

13^th October, 20^th October, 3^rd November, 10^th November, 17^th November, 24^th November & 1^st December. *No session on 27^th October due to half-term holiday

"I was definitely out of my comfort zone, having never done any creative writing before, but Tutku created a relaxing vibe. She made everyone feel welcome and after her sessions I felt energised. She encouraged us all to write and explore and challenged in a good way. I really liked her technique of questioning that pushed you to take writing into new places. She helped me take those first steps and I finished the course thinking maybe I could write and with thirst to continue."

"Tutku is a really inspiring teacher, brimming with energy and enthusiasm. She really engages with the group. As a novice writer, I also appreciated her structured classes and amazing after-class handouts. It was easy to catch up if you missed a class and I liked the exercises we did in the class too. Her approach suits beginners well, but I think more advanced writers enjoyed the camaraderie too. As a published author and award winning playwright, with a "day job" she is a living example of what is possible"

"Tutku is a brilliant teacher. She creates a very relaxed atmosphere, with no pressure or expectations. The exercises and prompts she uses are so useful, and almost before you know it, you're writing something - the exercises really give you the space to let the words flow. Tutku has so much knowledge about literature, which she shares with passion and enthusiasm. I feel like the course will have a lasting impact, not just because I've learnt new things, but because the way Tutku teaches encourages you to find joy in writing, and that's something I want to capture and continue."

"Tutku brought so much energy into each session that you couldn't help but engage with her passion for storytelling and the written word. She covered a breadth of topics, from crafting compelling characters to dialogue development, all while providing direction and support with writing exercises in the class."

Refunds

Please note, we are unfortunately unable to offer refunds for this event.

Reduced ticket prices

We’d like as many people as possible to be able to access and enjoy Bell House. We offer a limited number of income-based bursary tickets at half price, which can be booked directly - if you would not be able to attend at the full price due to financial considerations, then this concession option is available.