Alight Writing Academy

Alight Writing Academy Creative writing for every age & stage
• Workbooks for kids | Courses for adults
• All with expert feedback
• Editing & critique on Fiverr
Explore ⬇️

02/09/2026

FREE Creative Writing Course – Beta Testers Wanted
Have you been thinking about trying creative writing, but aren’t quite sure what you want to write yet?
Our new beginner course, Start Writing: An Introduction to Creative Writing, is designed to give you the chance to explore.
Across the course, you’ll try several different forms of writing – including fiction, poetry, memoir and script – with guidance and personalised tutor feedback along the way.
You don’t need any previous writing experience. This is for people who are curious about writing, returning to it after a long break, or simply want a supportive place to begin.
We’re currently looking for a small group of adults to beta test the course before its public launch.
Because this is a beta test, your place is completely free. We simply ask that you work through the course and give us honest feedback about your experience.
• Fully online
• Suitable for complete beginners
• Personalised tutor feedback
• Explore several different forms of creative writing
• Limited free beta places available
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally give writing a try, this could be it.
To apply, comment below and we will send you a registration form.

27/08/2026

“I never said I was leaving,” Maya said. She folded the letter in half.

Could become:

“I never said I was leaving.” Maya folded the letter in half.

The action already tells the reader who is speaking, so adding “Maya said” is unnecessary.

Using action instead of a speech tag can make dialogue feel more natural and reveal something about the character at the same time.

Try this where it works – while still varying the way you present dialogue throughout the scene

As you can see, i don’t only leave hundreds of comments for my students - I also use red pen all over my own work.- Chri...
26/08/2026

As you can see, i don’t only leave hundreds of comments for my students - I also use red pen all over my own work.
- Christina

25/08/2026

Do you have a trick for cutting adverbs… or do you prefer to keep them?
Tell us your approach in the comments.

And if you’re editing your novel right now… save this for later!

20/08/2026

At the moment, I’m working through edits on a YA novel, Spectrum. Even after years of writing, a PhD in Creative Writing, and professional editorial feedback, I’m still rewriting scenes, sharpening dialogue, and making hundreds of small decisions.

Good writing is about being prepared to revisit your work and keep making it stronger.

So if you’re editing your own story and wondering why it still needs work, don’t be discouraged.
It’s simply part of the beautiful writing process.

✍️Still rewriting the same scene for the tenth time? You’re not alone.
What’s the hardest part of editing for you? Let us know in the comments. ⬇️

The kiss is the payoff. The connection is the story. Build the relationship first then let the romance follow. What’s yo...
19/08/2026

The kiss is the payoff. The connection is the story.
Build the relationship first then let the romance follow.

What’s your favourite way to build chemistry between characters?
Let us in the comments ⬇️

We’re excited to announce that our brand new website is now live! If you or anyone you know is looking for help with the...
18/08/2026

We’re excited to announce that our brand new website is now live! If you or anyone you know is looking for help with their creative writing, or is starting their writing journey from scratch, (or even just fancies a peek!) please pass on this link.

A massive thanks to Sherwin Martin at ArtXtreme for doing such a wonderful job. :-)



13/08/2026

“Turned away” and “smiled” do not describe the way the words were spoken. They are separate actions, so the dialogue needs a full stop.

A useful test is to ask:
Can someone actually say, shout, whisper or hiss the words?
If not, you may have spotted a speech-tag imposter!

“Said” is usually all you need.
12/08/2026

“Said” is usually all you need.

Address

Exeter

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Alight Writing Academy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Alight Writing Academy:

Shortcuts

Share