Sunday Writing Workshops

If you have an idea for a book, short story or screenplay or if you’ve been writing for some time and need a creative writing expert and inspiration, do join my new workshops and I’ll teach you the techniques you need to make your writing sparkle.

Starting on Sunday 8th January at The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre, Whitstable, Kent.
It’s a great venue so I hope you’ll join me. 2pm – 4pm. 

Please email: writingunderwater(at)tiscali.co.uk or phone 07 96 905 1064 to book a place!

Student Feedback

I first met Linda James in 2003 when I attended her scriptwriting class (I actually wanted to join her novel-writing class but it was full and no one ever seemed to want to leave!).  I'd never tried scriptwriting before but had a really enjoyable time trying.  Linda was always encouraging and was somehow able to criticise without ever giving offence, offering really sound, helpful advice. She also distributed handouts and set interesting exercises for us to do.  I have an English degree so have plenty of experience of tutors commenting on my work but these classes stood out as great fun as well as being very helpful.

When someone finally left Linda's novel-writing class I moved across to that and spent several very happy years there. I was always impressed by the fact that, judging by her comments, Linda listened extremely carefully when people read out their work.  Even when something appeared to have little merit Linda was able to point out all that was positive before talking about what might be done to improve it. She understands people's embarrassment about trying to write and takes seriously their hopes and aspirations. Again, she distributed handouts and, if inspiration among the class was running thin, set us exercises to spark ideas.

Linda is very outgoing and makes friends easily.  Her classes are a joy to attend. I think she'd be terrific at running a writing workshop and would be a great asset to a writing centre.

Sarah Dawson, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Having studied writing with Linda over the last eight years, I can confidently say she is stimulating, thought-provoking, entertaining, challenging, inclusive, inspiring, warm, encouraging, imaginative and fun.

Peter D'Aguilar, Mayfield, E. Sussex.

Linda James was aninspiration to me when I attended her creative writing classes. I was new, nervous and not at all sure what to expect. We were very much a mixed bunch, in levels of ability and aspirations, but I was soon feeling comfortable, and inspired by Linda who was able to bring out the best in all of us. 

Her talent for listening, assessing and sensitively analysing work, whatever the skill level or subject, is wonderful. Her teaching methods are excellent. Writing anything from scratch, without knowing the methods, is daunting. Any writer faced with a blank sheet of paper will feel, at some moment...that awful 'block' that appears from nowhere like a dark shadow. Linda is able to dispel the shadows, and to excite and inspire in a way that is fresh and invigorating, giving help and advice on how to start writing, how to develop characters, how to add drama, interest and suspense, or not - depending on the subject.

Linda's skills extend to screenplays, drama for radio or television, prose, poetry and more. She is a gifted teacher and I am now lucky to count her among one of my closest friends. 

Roz Dace, East Farleigh, Kent

I have attended several scriptwriting courses run by Linda James, and I feel that my writing has greatly benefited from her instruction. Linda is very focussed on what does and does not work in a script, and is very clear in explaining why. She has a good ‘ear', comes quickly to the point and sticks to it. She is able to set out general principles in a straightforward way, but without being rigidly prescriptive. Her advice is always appropriate to the actual project under discussion, and she is good at tailoring her input to the experience and ability of the student. This invariably leads to a learning environment in which all group members contribute and support each other's efforts. In my case I progressed from having no scriptwriting experience to completing a film script and two radio plays, all of which received good reports from the BBC Writers Room.

Elwin Taylor, ex-Tunbridge Wells, now living in Switzerland

Having attended Linda's short story and script writing courses over several years, I can recommend her to anyone, whether they wish to write for pleasure or a possible career.  She has lots of inside knowledge on how to break into the publishing and broadcast world.  As well as having an inspired critical ear with constructive, spot-on editing advice, she combines this with an infectious enthusiasm.

Kate Wilson, Wadhurst, E Sussex