Claire Syder is a tutor of Creative Writing, offering online and classroom based courses, workshops, and residential weekends.
Claire obtained a B.A. in English Literature as a mature student at Cardiff University. She works as an Adult Tutor teaching Creative Writing and has previously worked for South Wales University as a Tutor and Development Officer.
Claire is an experienced performance poet who has read her work at many venues throughout England, Wales, Ireland and New York. Her first poetry was published in a chapbook, Witness, by Stonebridge, New Century Poets, 2001. Her work was included in the anthology This is Salem and World Book Day, published by Stonebridge, 2004. Her first poetry collection, Time Cracks Open the Universe, was published by Stonebridge 2004. Claire's latest Travel Poetry and Photography collection, Behind the Solid Stone Wall was published 2016.
New Creative Writing Courses
Poetry and Prose
starts Friday 16th September - 2nd December 2022
10.30am - 12.30pm
10 weeks £145
St. Edward's Arts and Community Hall
Penylan, Cardiff.
Also held at
The Cwtsh, Stow Hill,Newport.
Tuesday 20th September - 29th November
6 weeks course (held everyother Tuesday) £87
Creative Writing Courses starts each term September, January and April
Reading and Writing Poetry
This course will be looking at different forms of poetry. We will explore the ballad, free verse, persona poetry, the villanelle and Welsh poetry. The workshops will enable you to develop new pieces of poetry, that will be shared with the group in an enjoyable and informal atmosphere.
Reading and Writing Short Stories
This course will be looking at different ways of telling stories, looking closely at techniques and their effects; learning about beginnings and endings, plot, view point, characterisation and setting. The workshops will enable you to develop new short stories and discover your own voice in this genre. New pieces of work will be shared with the group in an enjoyable and informal atmosphere.
Creative Writing
This course welcomes everyone who has an interest in exploring their creative writing; developing their own voice through writing poetry, prose pieces and monologues. The group will sample and discuss various texts. Creative writing workshops will enable you to develop new pieces of work, that will be shared with the group in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere.
Travel Writing
The course explores writing creatively about travelling, and about place and developing your own voice in the genre. Extracts from contemporary travel writing will be discussed, drawing around issues of cultural and historical context. The creative writing element will be taught through workshops, in which you can respond to set tasks, and discuss new pieces of work.
Monologues and Persona Poetry
During this course we will discuss a selection of monologues and persona poetry. Through workshops we will develop full rounded authentic characters giving them a voice. New pieces of work will be shared with the group in an informal atmosphere.
For more information:
CONTACT
Creative Writing Day
Ogmore-by-sea
Craft Centre
Wednesday 4th September 2019
10.30am - 3.30pm
Come along and join in with other writers, for an inspirational day, at the Craft Centre in Ogmore by Sea. The first writing workshop will take place at the craft centre. The second writing activity will be exploring the wonderful coastal landscape and some historical aspects of the area. New pieces of prose or poetry will be shared with the group, after lunch, in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere.
Cost £25
Friday 7th September 2018
10.30am - 3.30pm
Come along and join in with other writers on an inspirational day, visiting Ewenny Priory, River Ogmore and Castle. Writing workshopswill draw from the historical sites and wonderful landscape.
Cost £25
Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff.
Creative Writing and Travel Writing
Thursday 7thJune 1.30-3.30pm
Come along and join us in the magnificent Reading Room, for an afternoon exploring Travel Writing.
Cost £15
St. Fagans: National History Museum. Cardiff
Come along and join us on the Creative Writing day workshops, drawing from Welsh history, inspirational historical buildings and discover the social history and stories of people from Wales.
Tuesday 13th June 2017
Time: 10am – 3.30pm
Cost: £25.00 per day.
Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve.
Enjoy an inspirational creative writing day. Explore the saline lagoon, wet grasslands and reed beds. The wetlands attract a wealth of wetland birds, butterflies, orchids, dragonflies and otter. Stroll through the reed beds over the floating bridge past the 120 year old lighthouse and look along the estuary.
The Black Mountains.
Enjoy an inspirational creative writing day, travelling through the Black Mountains, visiting the Skirrid Inn,Llanthony Priory and exploring the stunning landscape.
Six Bells.
The creative writing day will include a historical walk, exploring the beautiful landscape the Guardian overlook. We will visit the Ty Ebbw Fach, formerly the Old Coach and Horses public house, Bethany Chapel and the museum.
The National Museum Cardiff.
The creative writing day will be inspired by a tour of the Art Impressionists and Modern Art gallery. Various other exhibitions, for example the wonderful illustrations of Quentin Blake will explore new creative writing ideas around developing characters and mood.
St. Fagans.
The Creative Writing day will engage with Welsh history, drawing from the historic buildings and discovering the social history and stories of the people of Wales.
For more information:
CONTACT
Creative Writing residential weekend
Spring creative writing weekend 2023 tba.
St David’s Pembrokeshire
Friday 3pm until Sunday 1:30pm.
(residential weekends are arranged for one weekend in the spring and autumn)
Come along and enjoy a creative writing weekend. Explore St. David’s and its stunning landscape for the raw materials of new creative pieces of work. Creative writing workshops will take place each day to find new inspiration for your writing. There will be time to read and share new pieces of poetry and stories, in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
The accommodation is in the heart of St. David’s. Accommodation and Creative Writing workshops are included in the price.
Cost for the weekend is £180 (not including food, but food and drinks are brought to share, and an arranged group meal out on the last evening.)
For more information:
CONTACT
Testimonials
After attending three of Claire's courses in 2016 (short stories, travel writing and poetry and monologues) my writing confidence has benefitted from both the feedback from the group and from Claire's motivation and ideas. Her classes are well-structured and varied and inspire both new and experienced writers to put pen to paper.
Laura Long
I am really enjoying the classes which are varied, covering short stories poetry and monologues. Also, the summer school in West Wales was excellent. It has been interesting and stimulating hearing other people's work. The day course at Six Bells was very stimulating and I had an insight into a tragedy I had only heard of. The history was fascinating.
Elaine Millward
This course is very important to me. I am getting the inspiration I need to write more stories and poems, with the support of an excellent tutor.
Betty Lane
As someone who has been going to Claire's Creative Writing classes for some time. I thoroughly recommend them to new or more experienced writers. This is where you will find yourself in a warm, supportive environment that encourages you to discover and express your own voice.
Kristina Taylor
I have been on several creative writing days. They are useful, fun and inspirational days to give your writing a new perspective. It is interesting that they can trigger memories, or present you with new creative ideas.
Kristina Taylor.