Welcome to Creative Writing Dunedin

Creative Writing Dunedin offer a range of face-to-face or zoom creative writing courses designed for beginning and more advanced writers and covering Fiction, Writing Your Life and Poetry. Award-winning poet, novelist and memoirist, Diane Brown is the designer and tutor for most of the courses. Much published and award-winning writer Philip Temple draws on his vast experience to act as a consultant and occasional tutor. We also offer occasional literary assessing services.

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Testimonials

I have loved this course. (Tools for Storytelling) It has given me structure and practical ways forward with my writing.  It has helped me to try new things, and get them to work, such as dialogue and point of view.  It’s helped my writing to become more concise and to leave some things up to the readers’ imagination. It’s helped me to see that conflict is actually essential; I have shied away from that before.

I felt very vulnerable sending in pieces of work, and was ready to be told it was all rubbish, but your comments, Diane were so incredibly helpful.  You only give credit where it’s due, and where you can see a way to make some writing better you throw that suggestion in, and it really does make it better. This is validating for me. Sue Roberts-Blyth, 2022

Tools for Storytelling and the previous course with Creative Writing Dunedin has put me on the path towards fulfilling a life-long dream-to write convincing fiction. The courses have taught me so many technical aspects of writing and what the power of commitment to writing consistently can achieve. I now know there is always another level up if I put my mind to it.  I feel so much more confident in my writing, in fact, I’ve been encouraged to begin work on my first novel. With Diane’s suggestions and the tit-bits from authors throughout the workbooks, I’m inspired to write more, to enjoy the writing, and to experiment. Wilma McKay

I feel as if a light switch has been thrown on inside me. Gill Caradoc-Davies

I have noticed since taking the courses offered by Diane, is that I have grown in confidence in the pieces of writing that I produce. As writers know, writing can be too solitary a profession at times, especially for a novice, who has no idea of how their work is progressing without feedback from peer support. I cannot stress enough that through Diane’s excellent teaching style, my experience has not been a solitary one. The peer support that Diane offers through her courses, both online and face to face is exemplary and through constant constructive feedback and encouragement, she has allowed me to gain the confidence I need to take the next step and submit my work. Julie Brocket

Diane’s course was absolutely vital in giving me confidence and skills in my writing and editing career, and the critical feedback of the group process contributed directly to the success of my novels. Raymond Huber

Diane’s Creative Writing classes covered principles and techniques of creative writing in an engaging and entertaining way. Diane has a wealth of practical experience to share and it was rewarding to see how dramatically my writing improved as the year progressed. I relished each and every lesson and unreservedly commend this course and Diane’s teaching style to anyone keen to develop creative writing skills. William Visser

With her enormous talent, intellect, diplomacy and good humour, Diane created a safe and vibrant workshop environment. She helped me plan and develop the skills I need to push forward with my writing project beyond my cloud of ideas, snatches of unstructured scenes and underdeveloped characters. Chris Carrell

I guess I also just wanted to say that one can be oneself in your writing group. Which is a pretty wonderful thing, really. Great achievement on your part as a teacher. Which also means that when one is given an exercise to do, it frees one up to focus on / give oneself freely to the task in hand.  Bernard Thornton

A huge thank you for the course which I have enjoyed immensely. Without me realising what was happening, you have developed my creative writing skills and given me a wonderful platform from which to move forward.
Fran Farrant

The course and tutor are both wonderful. The information you offer within the course has been a valuable and useful thought provoking resource that I will use over and over .I feel challenged and am learning heaps, and wished I had done this earlier. Margo Townsend

There is one thing I often mean to write and tell you because it makes me smile and means so much to me.
During your courses we often focused on minimising words, or writing in ways that could portray things without being too verbose. I have gone back to mucking around with music and wrote a song “Better than Even.”  I was aware that when I was writing I was doing the Diane and shaving back words. I write in ways that are different because of the things you taught us.I just want to say thanks.  I’m always grateful.  Meeting you and opening my mind to a different aspect of being creative remains a highlight. Rachel Cavanagh