Writing the City
Creative Non-Fiction Workshop
with John Grindrod
Thursday 7 August 2025, 6.00pm - 8.00pm
8 Sunset Walk, centre:mk,
Milton Keynes MK9 3ES
Free event for people aged 16+
(places limited: pre-booking required)
'... Grindrod [...} astutely observes the landscapes we all live in, weaves them into his own life, researches them with the doggedness of a true geek, talks to those that know them better than anyone – the ones who live in those landscapes – and recounts their stories with wit, passion and a shot of anger, directed with perfect aim at those in power.’
Tom Dyckhoff
As part of our new project, Raising Voices, we’re running three workshops in centre:mk this summer for anyone aged 16+ to write about the city.
Do you enjoy observing and writing about places – be they your everyday surroundings or somewhere new and exciting? But could you do with some advice, structure and a bit of time to really concentrate on seeing what you can really do?
Join Milton Keynes-based writer John Grindrod for an inspiring, fun and productive creative non-fiction workshop. In the session you'll get advice about different approaches to writing about place, find new ways of tackling familiar topics, and encouragement to help motivate you in your writing. From countryside to cityscape, suburban streets to thundering motorways, the most spectacular view to the cosiest room, see Milton Keynes through new eyes with tips and techniques to get you observing, thinking and writing about your surroundings afresh – whatever they might be.
This two hour workshop will include writing exercises and prompts, and you will have opportunities after the event to submit writing that it has inspired to MK Lit Fest's Raising Voices Project, which is developing an online interactive audio-visual map of people's responses to and relationships with particular locations across our home city. Follow the link below to read more, download a free booklet, find out about our other in-person and online workshops, and discover how to submit your own writing.
About John Grindrod
John Grindrod is the author of several books on architecture and social history: Concretopia, about post-war Britain; Outskirts, about the green belt; and Iconicon, about our modern towns and cities. He spent many years working in publishing, is from Croydon in South London, and now lives in Milton Keynes. He also runs the podcast Monstrosities Mon Amour, where guests get to champion a place they love that everyone else hates.
More about John:
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This work is supported by funding from
MK Community Foundation
These events are supported by
