Upcoming events
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 7 May - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
Reading Retreat guest author
Saturday 9 May - Evening - The Somerset Reading RetreatI will be the guest speaker at the Somerset Reading Retreat, sharing the story of my career to date and reading from my latest book. Find out more about the Reading Retreats throughout the UK below.
Creative writing for improvers
May - July 2026 - The Albemarle Centre, TauntonThis seven week course is ideal for people who already have some writing experience and want to improve their words. We’ll look at structure, pacing and how to build tension and conflict through your story as well as the magic of line editing.
The Friday Murder Club
Friday 22 May - 7pm to 9pm - The Brewhouse, TauntonIf you always find yourself shouting at the TV watching Death in Paradise then this is for you! The Friday Murder Club is an interactive, escape-room-in-a-box style murder mystery evening where participants become detectives for the night. Each event centres around a bespoke cold case crime dossier packed with clues, evidence files, character profiles, maps, and timelines. There will be a fresh case to solve each time and stamps to collect for every crime you solve.
Creative writing workshop
Wednesday 28 May - 10am to 12pm - The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-SeaThis monthly creative writing group is a welcoming, supportive space to focus on your own creativity and get into the habit of writing regularly. Each two-hour session offers a mix of guided writing exercises, playful prompts and time to write, think and explore ideas without pressure or expectation. Come as often as you like!
Meet the author event
Monday 1 June - 5.30pm - 6.30pm - Street LibraryJoin me at Street Library to hear more about my writing journey so far, how I plot my books and what I have planned for the next couple of years. I will have books available to buy and sign.
Contact Street Library for more information on 0300 123 2224
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 4 June - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
How to plan a murder - one day
Saturday 6 June - 10.30am to 4.30pm - The Brewhouse, TauntonHow to Plan a Murder is a one-day masterclass designed to help you build the bones of a compelling crime story. By the end of the day, you will leave with a clear working outline for your own crime novel or short story, plus a toolkit of practical techniques you can keep using as you continue to develop it.
How to plan a murder - six weeks
Starts Monday 8 June - 10.30am to 12.30pm - The Brewhouse, TauntonHow to Plan a Murder is a lively, supportive six week crime writing course designed for anyone who wants to develop a compelling mystery from the ground up. The course guides participants through creating a victim, an investigator, and a pool of credible suspects, before shaping these into a satisfying crime story.
Writing from art
Saturday 20th June - 10am to 12pm - The Bridgwater Arts CentreWhat happens when you let a painting tell you a story? In this masterclass, you’ll explore how art can unlock new ideas, images and voices in your writing. Using the gallery at Bridgwater Arts Centre as our starting point, we’ll look closely at selected artworks and use them as inspiration for a series of guided writing exercises
Creative writing workshop
Wednesday 25 June - 10am to 12pm - The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-SeaThis monthly creative writing group is a welcoming, supportive space to focus on your own creativity and get into the habit of writing regularly. Each two-hour session offers a mix of guided writing exercises, playful prompts and time to write, think and explore ideas without pressure or expectation. Come as often as you like!
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 2 July - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 6 August - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 3 September - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
Hestercombe haiku - an autumn poetry walk
Tuesday 14th September - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Hestercombe Gardens, TauntonThink you can’t write poetry? You can definitely manage 17 syllables. This gentle, guided walk through Hestercombe’s formal gardens invites you to slow down, notice the details, and capture them in words.
The Friday Murder Club
Friday 18 September - 7pm to 9pm - The Brewhouse, TauntonIf you always find yourself shouting at the TV watching Death in Paradise then this is for you! The Friday Murder Club is an interactive, escape-room-in-a-box style murder mystery evening where participants become detectives for the night. Each event centres around a bespoke cold case crime dossier packed with clues, evidence files, character profiles, maps, and timelines. There will be a fresh case to solve each time and stamps to collect for every crime you solve.
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 1 October - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
The art of words
Tuesday 6th October - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Hestercombe Gardens, TauntonStep inside Hestercombe House and discover how art can unlock new ideas in your writing. In this relaxed, practical workshop, you’ll respond directly to pieces from the collection, using guided exercises to explore character, voice, and atmosphere.
Through Bampfylde’s eyes – a writing walk
Tuesday 3rd November - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Hestercombe Gardens, TauntonHestercombe’s landscape gardens were designed as a sequence of carefully composed views - a form of storytelling through place. In this immersive writing walk, you’ll explore the gardens as intended, stopping at selected viewpoints to take in the scenery and respond through guided exercises.
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 5th November - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
The Friday Murder Club
Friday 11 December - 7pm to 9pm - The Brewhouse, TauntonIf you always find yourself shouting at the TV watching Death in Paradise then this is for you! The Friday Murder Club is an interactive, escape-room-in-a-box style murder mystery evening where participants become detectives for the night. Each event centres around a bespoke cold case crime dossier packed with clues, evidence files, character profiles, maps, and timelines. There will be a fresh case to solve each time and stamps to collect for every crime you solve.
A Vintage Murder Mystery Workshop
Tuesday 2nd February 2027 - 10.30am to 3.30pm - Hestercombe Gardens, TauntonSpend the day immersed in the world of classic crime, using Hestercombe House as the inspiration for your own vintage-style murder mystery. Through a series of guided, practical exercises, you’ll begin to build the foundations of a compelling whodunnit, from intriguing characters to cunning methods and motives.
Previous events
If you’ve missed any of these but would like something similar for your own group or organisation, just get in touch.
Creative writing workshop
Wednesday 23 April - 10am to 12pm - The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-SeaThis monthly creative writing group is a welcoming, supportive space to focus on your own creativity and get into the habit of writing regularly. Each two-hour session offers a mix of guided writing exercises, playful prompts and time to write, think and explore ideas without pressure or expectation. Come as often as you like!
Writing cosy crime
Tuesday 21 April - 7pm to 8.30pm - Online with Writers & ArtistsWhether you want to be the next Richard Osman or Janice Hallett, I will guide you through the key things you need to know to write successfully in the genre in this evening masterclass with Writers & Artists. The session will include top tips on creating believable suspects, clues, and motives and will end with a Q&A.
Taunton writers’ social
Thursday 2 April - 7pm to 9pm - The Library, TauntonFriendly, informal social group for writers. Come and join us for a drink and a chat about writing and books. First Thursday of every month at The Library, Taunton. (The pub, not the actual library!)
Editing: Make your writing shine
Feb - March 2026 - The Albemarle Centre, TauntonA seven-week course covering the full editing process. From redrafting early ideas to capture their essence, through to polishing individual lines so they really shine, this course will guide you every step of the way. Strengthen your writing by understanding the key ingredients that make it work.
Creative Writing Workshop
Wednesday 27 March - 10am to 12pm - The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-SeaThis monthly creative writing group is a welcoming, supportive space to focus on your own creativity and get into the habit of writing regularly. Each two-hour session offers a mix of guided writing exercises, playful prompts and time to write, think and explore ideas without pressure or expectation. Come as often as you like!
Introduction to comedy writing
January 2026 - OnlineLaughter is one of the most beautiful - and powerful - tools in a writer’s toolkit. Whether you're inspired by the sharp wit of stand-up, the clever twist of sketch, or the heartwarming hilarity of sitcoms, this four-week course is your backstage pass to learning how to make people laugh on the page.
Raw Writing live writing club
Tuesday 9th December 2025 - OnlineJoin us for a light-hearted hour of laughter and creativity in this intro to comedy writing session. We’ll warm up with a few playful, imaginative exercises to get your funny bones firing, explore what makes great comic writing work and you'll have time to share your own witty words with the group. Perfect for anyone who loves to make people laugh or just wants to have a fun, confidence-boosting hour of writing
The seven story archetypes
October - November 2025 - The Albemarle Centre, TauntonA seven-week exploration of the classic story archetypes, this course invites writers to play with the building blocks of narrative, from quests and comedies to tragedies and rebirths. Each session focuses on a different archetype, using a mix of inspiring texts, discussion and imaginative exercises to help you understand how these timeless patterns shape the stories we tell. Whether you’re starting something new or looking to strengthen a work in progress, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of structure, fresh ideas and the confidence to experiment with form in your own writing.
Exploring genre
July - August 2025 - The Brewhouse Theatre, TauntonA six-week course exploring genre as a playground rather than a set of rules, this series invites writers to experiment with different styles and forms, from vivid travel writing and personal memoir to playful interactive fiction. Each session offers a fresh lens on how stories can be told, combining practical exercises with discussion and examples to spark ideas and stretch your range. Whether you’re discovering what suits you or shaking up your usual way of writing, you’ll come away with new techniques, greater versatility and a stronger sense of your own voice.
Improv your way to a killer story
February 2025 - Words in Watchet Festival, WatchetUnlock your inner detective and unleash your creativity in our two-hour Murder by Improv workshop. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just looking for some spontaneous fun, this session is for all abilities. You'll be given props and intriguing prompts to help craft a murder mystery story on the spot. With no preparation required, the only limit is your imagination. Collaborate, improvise and solve as you explore the twists and turns of a whodunnit that unfolds in real time. Come for the mystery, stay for the laughs and leave with a story idea that’s killer.
Writer in residence
Jan - March 2024 - Bridgwater Arts Centre, BridgwaterI was Writer in Residence for three months at the historic Bridgwater Arts Centre, the first ever arts centre to receive Arts Council funding in 1946. The residency explored the idea of community and identity in Bridgwater and included a short series of workshops and a weekly drop-in session for local writers.
Write every day
July - August 2023 - The Brewhouse Theatre, TauntonA six-week course designed to help you build a joyful, sustainable writing habit, Write Every Day is all about taking the pressure off and getting words on the page. Through playful, imaginative exercises and low-stakes prompts, each session encourages you to write little and often, discovering that consistency matters more than perfection. Whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to get back into a rhythm, you’ll leave with a toolkit of ideas, renewed confidence and a daily practice that feels creative, flexible and genuinely enjoyable.