Learners across North Wales are not just attending creative writing classes with Adult Learning Wales; they’re actively defying personal challenges to pursue their passion for storytelling. Under the expert guidance of Dr. DeAnn Bell, these aspiring writers are proving that dedication and a love for the written word can overcome significant obstacles.

DeAnn is a lecturer in creative writing, a professional member of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) with a fellowship in the Higher Education Academy. As an established author of multiple novels and short story collections, she is well placed to share her knowledge and offer her support to her learners as they develop their creative writing skills. Her courses, including popular offerings like “Write Your First Novel,” “Welsh Poetry and Place,” and “Creative Writing,” run weekly in various locations across North Wales, fostering a vibrant literary community.

Two learners from DeAnn’s courses, Sue Wilson and Jill Pritchard, share their stories, revealing their determination to progress on their courses despite going through difficult circumstances.

DeAnn on Sue said, “Sue Wilson completed her first novel over the age of 75. She wrote the first draft of her novel in 19 weeks despite losing a very close friend during the session. When the Bangor Novel 2 Class didn’t have enough students to run, she made arrangements to get to Llanfairfechan to continue her learning journey. Her novel features WW2 spies and a woman’s journey from a crushing career disaster through the exploration of her grandmother’s involvement as a French Resistance fighter.”

And on Jill’s learning experience and the wider impact she makes within her local community:

“Jill Pritchard brings humour and kindness into our classes. She inspires her colleagues to show up with their best work, arranges coffee meetings and other outside group learning activities, and is happy to share both her successes and her mistakes. She talks to her community about joining classes and makes our group more like a family than a class.  She has health issues that confine her to a mobility scooter, but she never lets that stop her from engaging in an activity. This year, she attended and performed in her first public poetry event. She is truly inspirational. She joined not one but three classes, Welsh Poetry and Place, Creative Writing, and My First Novel, completing the first draft of her first novel this year.”

Both Sue and Jill embody the vibrant creative energy present in the North Wales region, demonstrating that age and physical limitations are no match for a determined spirit and a love for the written word.

Adult Learning Wales offers a wide range of creative writing classes, both online and in the classroom, across Wales. If both Sue and Jill’s stories have inspired you to put pen to paper, why not consider joining a Creative Writing course here.