Writers' Circle

A warm, supportive online space for anyone wanting to nurture their writing practice and find community with other writers.

Writing can help us make sense of ourselves, our experiences and the world around us. But sustaining a writing practice can be difficult in isolation. Many of us long for a regular space where we can return to the page, reconnect with our voice and write alongside others who understand the value (and challenges!) of creative and therapeutic writing.

The Writers’ Circle is an informal and supportive online writing space designed for people who want gentle structure, meaningful connection and dedicated time to write. Whether you’re journaling, working on poetry, exploring therapeutic writing, or progressing a memoir or auto-fiction project (or something else entirely), this is a space to arrive as you are and write in good company.

These sessions combine some of the most-loved prompts from the Writing the Self programmes with Parallel Writing Club’s body doubling and facilitated whole group discussion. We hope you’ll leave with tools to support a regular creative practice, make meaningful progress on your personal projects, and form lasting connections with other writers.

What’s included in the fee?

• Six live online sessions taking place twice a month
• Structured writing prompts inspired by the Writing the Self programmes
• Focused time to work on your current writing projects in parallel with others
• Small breakout rooms for more intimate connection and discussion
• Whole-group conversation facilitated by your tutors
• Three months of informal writing community and encouragement
• A supportive and trauma-informed environment designed to nourish your practice

Who is this space for?

The Writers’ Circle is for anyone looking for consistency, accountability and community within their wider writing life. You might be:

• Hoping to maintain a writing practice after completing a Writing the Self programme
• Looking for more writing spaces after attending Parallel Writing Club
• Wishing for a gentle and encouraging structure to help you keep writing
• Wanting dedicated time for a creative project
• Interested in therapeutic or reflective writing generally
• Seeking connection with like-minded writers in a supportive environment
• Keen to return to writing after time away

Typical session structure

• Setting writing intentions as a whole group (10 min)
• Small group check-ins using breakout rooms (20 min)
• Optional guided writing exercise (20 min)
• Comfort break (10 min)
• Independent writing time for your creative project (20 min)
• Whole-group discussion (10 min)

A few notes on the space

Sharing writing is, and will always be, optional. All levels of contribution have value, even if that’s just listening. Although the main focus of the session is writing, you are welcome to engage with other creative activities – like thinking, doodling, reading, crafting, and moving around the space!

Each Writers’ Circle will be closed and kept relatively small to protect the integrity of the space and to ensure a quality experience for all participants. Having our cameras turned on is preferred (but not compulsory) to help aid feelings of transparency around who is attending. If you have any access needs you would like to share ahead of the session, please get in contact with Ennis at enniswelbourne@gmail.com.

The Writers’ Circle is facilitated using trauma-informed principles in its delivery, structure and content. It is important to note that is not group therapy or intended as a substitute for mental health treatment – our focus remains on writing, creativity and community. You are responsible for managing your own self-care throughout the sessions.

Please familiarise yourself with the Terms and Conditions below before booking. If you would prefer to arrange payment via installments, please contact Ennis at enniswelbourne@gmail.com. Each Writers’ Circle will run with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 18. Suitable for all experience levels. Open to writers and creatives aged 18+.

The session Zoom link for our meeting room is available via your Ticket Tailor booking confirmation email and will also be sent out in a welcome email before the start of the course. After booking, your email address will be added to Katie and Ennis’s monthly newsletter. You can opt-out of this by replying with 'X'.

Session Dates: 8th and 22nd July, 5th and 19th August, 9th and 23rd September | Wednesdays 6–7:30pm UK Time

About your facilitators

Katie Watson (she/her)

Katie offers workshops, courses and bespoke sessions in therapeutic writing using a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive methodology that is underpinned by international research. In 2017, she received a scholarship to train with Write Your Self, a global movement that supports people to reclaim their voices through creative writing after trauma. She was the first guide to be trained in this methodology in the UK. Katie also practises as a psychotherapist and currently works in the North West of England in Liverpool, as well as online. Outside of her private work, she has worked in the charitable sector with disadvantaged people for over the last 10 years. You can find out more on Katie's website. 

Ennis Welbourne (they/them)

I am passionate about facilitating and leading groups and workshops for writers and creatives – I do so under the banner, Access Narrative. I have worked alongside Katie for the last five years and have facilitated 8 Writing the Self offerings. I have provided online facilitation for over 88 writing workshops and courses, and I have ran over 100 body doubling sessions. I completed the UpFront Survivors creative leadership training programme which has improved my skills with designing and facilitating safer creative spaces for survivors of child sexual abuse. I am a survivor of sexual, physical, emotional and neglectful child abuse. I use my lived experience to develop more accessible community for those who are non-conforming, disabled, poor and who have experienced abuse. I am a writer and artist living in Bristol, UK and I hold a first-class degree in creative writing. You can find out more on my website. 

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Terms & Conditions

By booking a place on this course, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions:

Payments:

• Your booking will not be complete until the full course fee has been paid to the organiser. This applies to both full price and subsidised places, and those opting to pay in instalments. The full course fee must be paid by the course start date, unless otherwise agreed with the organiser.
• If you book your place with a deposit payment (usually £35), please note this is non-refundable. To organise this, please email enniswelbourne@gmail.com. 
• If there are outstanding fees to be paid by the course start date, the organiser reserves the right to offer your place to another participant and will not issue a refund.

Cancellations & refunds:

• If you decide to cancel your booking, you will need to provide at least 30 days’ notice before the course begins to receive a full refund. If your cancellation is made in less than 30 days of the course start date, the organiser will retain your course fee in full. Exceptions can be made if the organiser finds another participant to take your place before the course start date.
• In the rare event that the organiser needs to cancel this course, alternative course dates will be offered in the first instance. If these are not suitable for you, the full fee will be returned to you (or any instalments that have been paid at the time of cancellation). Please note that if you have made special arrangements to attend the course (e.g. travel or accommodation), these costs remain with you and will not be covered by the organiser in the event of cancellation or postponement. It is advisable that you arrange appropriate insurance at the point of booking to ensure you are covered.
• In the rare event that a single course session is cancelled by the organiser, an alternative date will be offered but no refunds shall be given.
• If you decide to leave a course once it has started, no refunds shall be given. By booking and paying for your place on the course, you are demonstrating a commitment to attending for the full duration. The organiser is not obligated to allow deferrals onto future programmes for missed sessions due to illness or any other reason.
  
• The organiser will not offer refunds for single sessions that are missed due to illness or any other reason.
  
• No refunds shall be given to participants that are asked to leave a course because of discriminatory, abusive or disruptive behaviour.
  
  Use of data:

• When booking, the organiser will collect your full name and email address. This will not be shared with any third parties and will only be utilised for correspondence regarding your place on the course or to promote future courses. You can be asked for these details to be removed at any point by contacting katiewatsonpsychotherapy@gmail.com