Oxford Writing Mentors
an initiative by the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing & Words by Design
About Oxford Writing Mentors
The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing (OCLW) has been operating for over 10 years. During that time, we have nurtured a vibrant and rich community of writers. We have supported many of these writers with advice, feedback, and camaraderie — and it has been a joy to see so many ideas conceived at the Life-Writing Centre turn into fully-fledged auto/biography, family history, essay, memoir, and poetry.
So OCLW has decided to join forces with our good friends, Words by Design. Run by a Wolfson College alumni, Words by Design is a small publishing consultancy that specialises in memoirs, biographies and family histories.
Together, we founded Oxford Writing Mentors to help share our insights and offer support to other writers through online writing groups and individual mentoring sessions.
If you would like to become more involved with OCLW, consider signing up to our mailing list or joining our Friends scheme.
Testimonials
“For a creative masterclass that will leave you inspired, stretched and supported, I cannot recommend Sally more highly. Her attention to everyone in the group is always purposeful and uplifting. She provides an array of tools with time for self-expression and reflection. Always hugely enjoyable and educational in equal measure.”
— Alexandra Lewis, Family Mediator & Solicitor
“Kate is showing me how to restructure my memoir so that it works better as a story.”
— Helen de B.
“Our fascinating discussions have been even more valuable than I had hoped.”
— Michael Wetherburn
“Those of us who have had the guiding hand of Tony Gray can be grateful for their expertise in directing our ideas and thoughts to fruition for publication.
— Clemens N. Nathan, London
“Sally’s quiet and intellectual style make working together both enjoyable and productive, allowing her students to come to their own conclusions naturally. Having worked with her on memoir, fiction and academic essays, she can easily transition between genres, putting the same care and consideration into writing approaches as she does towards her students and their lives. Simply put, inspirational.”
— Tracei Akarlilar
I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for taking me on as your student, for putting up with my attempts to produce a coherent manuscript, and for your patience with me.
In these difficult times, filled with anxiety over the pandemic, the tutorial sessions under your expert and compassionate guidance are what keep me going. I mean this literally and most sincerely.
— Adlai Englard