Course unlocks Sunday 1 March 2026.


Continue your writing journey, or start it here, with The Writing Life Vol. 2!

Set aside 15 minutes a day to explore and play with writing, find new ways to work on your craft and find your voice as a writer.


Let’s make writing a part of your daily routine!

£30 for the full course, yours forever.

For just £1 a day, you’ll receive…


  • 30 original writing tasks, each taking no more than 15 minutes to complete
  •  Friendly advice and supportive teaching from Holly Ainley, our Head of Programme and lover of stories
  • A mix of written, video, audio, and visual content
  • Suggested further reading from some of the great writers, past and present
  • Tailored, supplementary resources from our extensive digital library, The Writing Hub
  • Recommendations for your next steps, along with an exclusive discount on other NCW Academy products.


Please note that the course content is subject to change.

The Writing Life Vol. 2 prompts: Unlocked daily

  Welcome
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  Day 0: Reading
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  Day 1: Play
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  Day 2: More Play
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  Day 3: Journey, where?
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  Day 4: Journey, who?
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  Day 5: Journey, what?
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  Day 6: Mapping
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  Day 7: Reflection
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  Day 8: Encounter
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  Day 9: Detail
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  Day 10: Metaphor
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  Day 11: Inhabiting
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  Day 12: Action
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  Day 13: Point of view
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  Day 14: Speech & dialogue
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  Day 15: Read like a writer
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  Day 16: Heartlands
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  Day 17: Emotional journeys
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  Day 18: Plot
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  Day 18: Plot, continued
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  Day 20: Structure
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  Day 21: Time
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  Day 22: Animation
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  Day 23: Reading
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  Day 24: Editing
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  Day 25: Revisiting
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  Day 26: Rhythm & pace
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  Day 27: Style & tone
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  Day 28: Theme
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  Day 29: Reading
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  Day 30: Reflection & next steps
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  Day 31: Bonus! Reading for pleasure
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  Thank You!
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Daily prompts include...


  • Play: Discover yourself as a writer and start experimenting with playful, creative writing.
  • Journeying: Explore the idea of going on a writing journey and setting out on your path.
  • First encounters: Take your first steps and dive deeper into craft including character, setting and story.
  • Visiting the heartlands: Stretch yourself and immerse fully in the heart of your writing.
  • Re-visiting: Return to earlier work to experiment with language, form, and new possibilities.
  • Mapping: Reflect on your journey and plan inspiring next steps for your writing practice.