If you live in Cardiff and you like creative writing, whether it’s poetry or prose, then you’re in the right place – there are plenty of regular writing groups, workshops and activities on offer, to suit a range of interests. NB. This post has not been updated since Covid. Please check details of workshops as some of them will have changed. See below for a list of everything creative writing in Cardiff…   

Roath Writers Group

A community writing group run by Christina Thatcher which meets on the first and second Tuesday of the month at The Gate Arts Centre. Sessions involve discussing a published piece of poetry or prose and writing for 20 minutes to a set prompt, followed by reading work aloud and receiving feedback. Discussion is often continued in the pub. Suggested donation of £3. Contact Christina for details –  christinathatcher@gmail.com.

Cardiff Museum Writers

A writing group which meets fortnightly during the Autumn and Spring school terms to encourage each other to enjoy the creative buzz of writing, sharing short prose and poetry in response to objects chosen from exhibits in the museum. Tuesdays 2-4pm. Read this blog post about the group, and contact Anne Bryan for details: a.bryan7@ntlworld.com

Cardiff Writers Circle

This writing group meets at YMCA (Plasnewydd Community Hall) 2 Shakespeare St, Cardiff CF24 3ES on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Monday of the month 7-9pm. See more details on the Literature Wales website.

Bryan’s Writing Group (aka Bryan’s Angels)

Organised by local writer Bryan Marshall, this group used to take place in Cardiff Bay, but has just moved to meeting upstairs in the Owain Glyndwr pub in Cardiff City Centre from 6.15pm every Monday. Sessions are free. See the Facebook group for more details.

Word Ward

This group meets at the Wales Millenium Centre and is aimed at people with a long term health condition, providing an opportunity to write about their experience. It’s organised by Rhian Elizabeth, a novelist and poet who writes about living with MS, alongside Katrin Cean and psychotherapist Fizzy Oppe. The first session is on Wednesday 6th September, and it will take place every other week. See the Facebook page for more details.

The groups mentioned above are either free or take a small suggested donation. There are also several organisations which run regular courses / writing workshops for a fee, including:

Cardiff Rural Skills Centre – Three writing workshops a year, along with other arts and crafts

Cardiff University Centre for Lifelong Learning – usually 10 week courses

Creative Writing in the Park – including courses on writing for children

And more…

If you know about other regular creative writing groups or workshops in Cardiff, please let me know, or add the details yourself via the comments below.

And if you’re keen on attending poetry performances, spoken word events, open mic nights, book launches or anything else of the literary variety, then see my post on regular literary events in Cardiff.