“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal."
- Toni Morrison.
Welcome to the National Writing Project (UK) website
As teachers, education professionals and as writers, we all need a safe space.
To write. To learn. To wonder. To network.
NWP is a grass-roots project and a form of experiential professional development completely owned by professionals. It sets out to explore writing more fully and to find answers to the question, 'What happens when teachers gather together to share their writing?' Teachers of English enjoy regular, free opportunities to write. They are led by an experienced group leader and strengthened professionally by discussion with peers. NWP groups come to a fuller understanding of what it is that writing can offer themselves and the children they teach. NWP teachers find that their classroom practice is transformed. Young writers start their own stories in their own 'voices' and 'own' all parts of the writing process.
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LATEST
March writing prompts
This month, we delve into Jeni Smith’s library to find inspiration for children and adults.
Find ten minutes in your day
and follow Jeni Smith’s writing prompts for the month of February.
Riddle of the writing sphinx
Theresa Gooda explains why writing frames and rigid structures have limited scope to help develop ‘real’ writers.
What a line can mean
Rebecca Griffiths writes about developing talk and writing through journeys and familiar places.
no ideas but in things
Jeni Smith writes about the value of everyday things in writing.
A teaching journal
Jeni Smith writes about the power of a teaching journal
exciting writing
Jeni Smith explores what makes writing exciting, in the classroom and in writing groups.
Pause, and then write
NWP director Jeni Smith shares her new year writing reflections and advice
festive writing fun
Rachel Booth, Primary English Lead, and Emma Barker, Secondary English Lead at London Metropolitan University, discuss the launch of their new NWP group.
climbing into writing
Bertie Cairns writes about stairs as stimuli for writing.
National poetry day
It’s National Poetry Day on the 7th October and it is always worth taking a moment to mark the day. This year’s theme is ‘Choice’ and there are plenty of activities to celebrate poetry, and give everyone opportunities to make choices about poetry writing.
Gathering the clans
NWP secretary and Wembley group convenor Alison Jermak explores the different ways that writing can be performative.
ON Morning pages
Helen Atkinson reflects on how writing Morning Pages has helped her through changing jobs, studying part-time for her MA and surviving a pandemic.
Training to teach,
forgetting to write
Secondary English teacher and NWP South Downs group convener Theresa Gooda reflects on her writing journey from childhood to teacher.
NWP co-founder Simon Wrigley reminds us of the strengthening of professional agency that NWP group membership provides.
No cigarette breaks
Jenny Corser explores moving from facilitator to writing participant through NWP, and the joy of writing outside the curriculum.
A LIFELINE FOR POETRY
NWP Free Spaces Group Convener David Marshall explains the challenges of running an NWP group - and why it’s worth it.
Alison Jermak explores her NWP journey and the benefits of belonging to a writing group.
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Loving this! ✍🏼 https://t.co/r0USZD8iUt -
RT @alwriting: The sharing and modeling of writing and how a more experienced writer uses a notebook to support a writing life is… https://t.co/1bovu5JFJz
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Poetry competition! Thanks to @TheWritingWeb for sharing this. Note: competition is external to, and not affiliat… https://t.co/hiLMyyLnqC