About Us
Launched in 2021 by Sheffield writer Beverley Ward, and registered as a company limited by guarantee in December 2023, The Writers Workshop is a creative hub for emerging, developing and established wordsmiths. Members living in the Sheffield area can enjoy writing, learning and networking in our space in Sheffield’s Orchard Square. But members who live further afield, or have mobility issues, can participate in our online opportunities.
Vision & Mission
Our vision is that everyone in Sheffield can experience the joy and power of creative writing, regardless of background.
Our mission is to be a leading provider of creative-writing opportunities in the region, supporting people to express themselves, share their lived experience, or imagine new stories at our central hub in Sheffield, or with our partners across the region, or from anywhere in the world online.
Who We Are
Who is a writer? Perhaps you’re thinking of a celebrated author who has won several awards. Or perhaps it’s the tortured, unpublished wordsmith alone in the attic, slowly eking out the book that will change the world.
At The Writers Workshop, we believe we are all writers; we simply need the opportunity to create.
Our founder Beverley Ward had long dreamed of a space in Sheffield where anyone could come to write and be writers, to find their voices and share their stories, to remember and to imagine. A space where people can have fun with words, find community, or develop their writing skills. Finally, in 2020, a cosy corner of Orchard Square became The Writers Workshop and Beverley’s vision was born.
Supporting Your Writing Journey
A nonprofit social enterprise since 2023, we’ve supported hundreds of writers, from those writing for pleasure or healing to those whose ambition is to write for an audience.
Because there is no one way to write or to be a writer, our programme lets you choose your own adventure and get what you need for your journey, be it support and championing, coaching, constructive critique, idea generation, craft skills, or simply a cup of tea and someone to say, ‘Keep going; you’re doing great’. There is space for all of it here.
The Writers Workshop is not only a place but also a community comprising occasional dabblers, keen hobbyists, and committed authors. We know that, to some people (even our friends and family, perhaps), our world of words might seem ‘weird’, but at the Workshop, weird is always wonderful. So, there’s no worry about fitting in – you’re in the right place.
An Evolving Story
The Writers Workshop is in its infancy but growing. Having consulted with our members (and many non-members) in 2024, we have a clear mission to introduce more people to the joy and power of creative writing, both within our beloved Sheffield and beyond. But whatever the future holds, we will always be laser focused on serving our membership.
The Writers Workshop invites you to join our warm community where inspiration sparks, confidence blooms, and the magic of creativity casts its spell. Whether you dream of writing your story or a bestselling novel, or whether you simply want to try a new creative activity, we’re sure we have something to offer you.
So come on in, let’s put the kettle on and open a new chapter, together.
The Writers Workshop Location
The Writers Workshop has a cosy space, where many of our sessions take place, located on the upper level of the Orchard Square retail complex, Sheffield (near the Waterstones bookstore). The room can accommodate up to 12 people.
Unfortunately, it is not currently accessible to wheelchair users or anyone who cannot manage stairs. We are building partnerships to address this issue. In the meantime, we offer as many online events as possible to ensure everyone can participate in our activities. We also request that anyone who has been excluded from our programme due to accessibility restrictions to inform us so that we can understand the scale of the issue.
The space is available for hire for writing activities, and it is used by groups such as the Sheffield Novelists and the Sheffield Sci-Fi Writers. For more information about our affordable pricing, contact hello@thewritersworkshop.co.uk
A Note about Ticket Pricing
The Writers Workshop is funded only by membership fees and ticket sales. In our pricing of events, we aim to strike a balance between providing affordable events for writers and also supporting our associates (self-employed professionals) to make a living. We hope you find plenty to participate in! Check out our What's On page or the Join page for more information.