Raw Writing Challenge for August
2025-08-01 09:00 - 2025-08-31 10:00 (Europe/London) | Online / Email
Are you looking for writing inspiration this summer?
Do you want to become a better writer?
Do you want to establish a regular writing practice?
Do you want to join a writing community and enjoy a weekly Zoom get-together where you can discuss your writing week?
If the answer to any of the above questions is ‘YES!’ then please sign up for the Raw Writing August 31 Day Challenge.
This is how it works:
You’ll receive your first Raw Writing prompt on Friday 1st August.
You’ll be encouraged to set a timer for five minutes and then just write!
There’s no pressure to go beyond five minutes, although if you want to write for longer, go for it.
You’ll continue to receive a Raw Writing prompt every morning in August.
Raw Writing will host optional live Zoom sessions each week (Fridays 10-11am, or Sunday 18.00-19.00) so you can come along and discuss your writing week with everyone else who signed up.
Friday 8th August (10-11am)
Sun 10th August (18.00-19.00)
Friday 15th August (10-11am)
Sun 17th August (18.00-19.00)
Fri 22nd August (10-11am)
Sunday 24th August (18.00-19.00)
Fri 29th August (10-11am)
Sun 31st August (18.00-19.00)
When you write regularly, you get better at it. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. The more we encourage ourselves to view the world differently, think in new ways and create a discipline, five minutes at a time, the more inspired we’ll feel.
Some of the best writing I’ve produced has been in response to writing prompts that initially made me feel deflated, annoyed, or uncomfortable!
This Raw Writing August Challenge gives you the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and experiment with your writing.
You will build a great portfolio of writing that you can then come back to and develop further.
It is just £30. This is a one-off payment for 31 days of writing prompts, and the chance to attend four live Zoom sessions (choose Friday or Sunday).
If you’d like to take part but find cost is a barrier, there are some funded places available.
I would love you to be part of this Raw Writing challenge and take your writing to the next level!

Writing Crime Fiction Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom
With its criminals, cops, and everything in between, crime fiction is this country’s best-selling genre. But what makes it so popular? And why?
What sets it apart from any other genre? And more importantly, how can you write it?
Bestselling, award-winning novelist Martyn Waites would love to meet you at this free taster session.
Why not come along and discover for yourself that killing has never been such fun . . .

Friday 8th August 14.00-15.30

Introduction to Screenwriting ZOOM Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-14 14:00 - 14:45 | ZOOM
Have you got an idea for a Film, TV drama or animation?
Have you ever wondered how TV dramas get made and what goes into distilling drama into compelling, revealing moments?
If you’re curious and would like to explore some of the key elements to writing drama for the screen, then sign up for this free taster session on Thursday 14th August 14.00-14.45
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Screenwriting course starting in September
Introduction to Screenwriting

Writing Sci-fi, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction ZOOM Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-14 19:00 - 19:45 | ZOOM
Are you interested in writing imaginative and speculative fiction? On this six-week Zoom course, award winning writer Nick Hunt will teach you techniques for world-building and peopling different realities; imagining utopias, dystopias and possible futures; how to write strong characters and structure your storyline; and how to make the worlds you create vivid and alive.
Come and meet him at this free taster session and ask any questions you may have!
Thursday 14th August 19.00-19.45

Please email carla@rawwriting.co.uk after booking so you can be sent the ZOOM link before the taster session.
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Sci-Fi course starting in September

Writing Sci-fi, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction

Writing Crime Fiction ZOOM Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-15 14:00 - 14:45 | ZOOM
With its criminals, cops, and everything in between, crime fiction is this country’s best-selling genre. But what makes it so popular? And why?
What sets it apart from any other genre? And more importantly, how can you write it?
Bestselling, award-winning novelist Martyn Waites would love to meet you at this free taster session.
Why not come along and discover for yourself that killing has never been such fun . . .
Friday 15th August 14.00-14:45
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Crime course starting in September

Writing Crime Fiction

Writing for Children Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom
10.30-12 Tuesday 26th August
The last decade has marked a new Renaissance in children’s fiction. In an era of unprecedented multi-media competition, learning how to write books that capture and keep a child’s attention is more important than ever.
Come and meet Adam Shackleton, the course tutor and he’ll provide you with some exciting writing prompts and answer any questions you might have.
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Writing for Children course starting in September.
Writing for Children aged 8-12 (Adult Course)

Myths and Legends ZOOM Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-27 19:00 - 19:45 | ZOOM
Myths and legends are the stories that every other story is made of. At the core of each of the great and enduring stories of the past is a vibrant, timeless and human story. They are our oldest stories, dealing with our deepest concerns. But how can we make use of these ancient stories in our own fiction?
We have a great new course starting in September on Zoom – Myths and Legends and it will be taught by the inimitable Trevor Byrne.
Come and meet him at this free taster session and ask any questions you may have!

Wed 27 August 19.00-19.45

Please email carla@rawwriting.co.uk after booking so you can be sent the ZOOM link before the taster session.
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Myths and Legends course starting in September.

Myths and Legends

Memoir Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom
Thursday 28th August 10.30-12
Thinking about writing your memoir? Come and meet founder of Raw Writing, author and teacher, Carla Jenkins and she’ll answer any questions you might have.
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Beginners Memoir course starting in September.
Write Your Memoir – Beginners Course

There will be some short writing exercises, so bring something to write on!

Poetry Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom
14.00-15.30 Thursday 28th August
Riddle me this…
In this workshop we’ll go back to the earliest poetry in English, and look at some of the riddles from the Exeter Book, a collection of Old English poems in the archives of Exeter Cathedral. Everything will be translated, but you’ll have a chance to read and hear what English was like over a thousand years ago.
We’ll look at some expressions called kennings, enjoy and puzzle over medieval riddles, then write some of our own. Riddles are a great way of learning to look at things differently, from unusual angles, and they help us to develop our ability to think in metaphors. And they’re fun!
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Poetry course starting in September.
https://www.rawwriting.co.uk/event/poetry-reading-it-and-writing-it/
Places are limited so RSVP below if you would like to come!

Novel Taster Session - Free!
2025-08-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom
Friday 29th August 14.00-15.30
Thinking about writing your novel? Come and meet founder of Raw Writing, author and teacher, Carla Jenkins and she’ll answer any questions you might have.
This is a free session for anyone who is considering the Raw Writing Beginners Novel course starting in September.
Start Writing Your Novel Course (5:30PM)

There will be some short writing exercises, so bring something to write on!
