Developing Writers

Women Speak Volumes – memoir writing at The Box

8th November 2023

Literature Works have partnered with The Box and Speaking Volumes on a second phase of Women Speak Volumes: an ongoing exploration of older women and creativity. We’re looking for older women* (41 and over) to join us over two weekends – December 9th & 10th, then January 6th & 7th – at the Box, Plymouth, to explore and develop their creative voices and tell their stories through life-writing and memoir.

The workshops will be led by acclaimed memoirist Cathy Rentzenbrink and local poet and playwright Helen Thomas. Cathy and Helen will guide you through different writing techniques to support the sharing of life experiences through different creative writing forms. We will also have access to the fantastic Moving Image collections held at the Box, an archive of South West Film, to use as a jumping-off point and inspiration for your life-writing.  

The workshops will run over 5 sessions, including 4 teaching sessions and one sharing session. We ask that you attend all 5 sessions, if possible, but you are able to book for a minimum of one weekend if you’re not able to attend all dates. There are options to indicate your availability when booking your place – follow the link below.

This is the second installment in our work with partners at Speaking Volumes to amplify the creative voices of older women as part of the Women Speak Volumes project. There is also the opportunity for participants’ work to be featured at a final national event in London, bringing together different voices from the project.


* By ‘older’, we mean over the age of 41 (based on half the average life expectancy for a woman in the UK from the Office of National Statistics). We welcome those who identify with our aim of celebrating and supporting women telling their stories in ways that reconcile with their understanding of their own gender identity. This includes trans women, non-binary and cis women. We do not require any statement beyond a woman’s self-identification and interpret a booking or expression of interest as confirmation of that identification.