Hello everyone, I'm very excited to be hosting my first creative writing workshop tomorrow, 23 January, via Zoom. The workshop takes place from 9am to 1pm (SAST) and will include exercises that help you: Write rich and emotive characters Develop settings that feel real and evoke feeling Get your characters talking in ways that drive… Continue reading Online creative writing workshop happening tomorrow – 23 January
Tag: Writing Advice
Creative Writing Workshops for Every Level in 2025
As inspired by another Substack post I read this morning, I’ll quickly reintroduce myself for those of you who are new. I’m Jen Thorpe, a writer and researcher from Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve published two novels, a full length non-fiction book, edited three collections of feminist essays, and published three children’s books. I’m also… Continue reading Creative Writing Workshops for Every Level in 2025
Writing advice from Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
Nozizwe Cynthia Jele is an award-winning South African novelist who has written two books - Happiness is a Four-Letter Word (Kwela, 2010) and The Ones with Purpose (Kwela, 2018). Happiness is a Four-Letter Word won numerous prizes (Best First Book category (Africa region) in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2011 and 2011 M-Net Literary Award in the Film… Continue reading Writing advice from Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
Writing advice from Kopano Matlwa Mabaso
Kopano Matlwa Mabaso was born in 1985 and by her 22st birthday had written and published Coconut (2007) which won the EU literary award for debut fiction and the Wole Soyinka prize for Literature in Africa (and was written whilst studying to become a doctor). In 2011 she was listed as one of the US… Continue reading Writing advice from Kopano Matlwa Mabaso
Writing advice from Lauren Beukes
More local writing advice! Lauren Beukes is an award-winning South African author, and comics writer, screenwriter, journalist and documentary maker. Her books have been sold all around the world with huge acclaim. Her most recent novel is a dystopian post-pandemic piece of fiction set in the USA. Afterland (listen to her talk about it on… Continue reading Writing advice from Lauren Beukes
Writing advice from Qarnita Loxton
Starting Monday off with a local favourite! Qarnita Loxton is the author of three books in a series that centres women and their friendships. Being Kari, Being Lily, and Being Shelley which have been described as Cape Town's Sex and the City. She has managed to pull this off in amazing time, publishing three books… Continue reading Writing advice from Qarnita Loxton
Jen Thorpe 