Content Writing Workshops

You have valuable expertise to share with the world, but how do you get your ideas across confidently in writing, in a way that connects and drives action?

The writing challenge

Creating and sharing valuable content is central to every effective communications and marketing drive, a powerful way to build good relations with clients and other stakeholders and get your story out.

It takes a team effort across the organisation - a consistent flow of interesting, informative content (blogs, newsletters, papers and guides) written by marketing and business development teams, but also by leaders and subject matter experts.

People may be keen to contribute their ideas but struggle with writing confidence, clarity - and time. Many struggle to convey complex ideas simply, to hook their reader’s interest and write succinctly. They grapple with perfectionism, imposter syndrome or an overwhelming fear of the blank page, which can stop them in their tracks.

Writing valuable content is different to academic and professional writing. It can be taught and all these worries can be overcome.

Writing workshops for experts, leaders and marketers

I design and deliver supportive group content writing workshops, tailored for client-facing teams. Informative, enjoyable and motivating, the aim is to help build writing confidence and inspire better writing practices, so you share valuable content that connects with your intended audience and gets your story out with more widely, with real impact.

Workshop feedback.

  • “The workshop has focused my mind on what I need to write and simplified the writing process. I now have a much clearer idea of my audience. I learnt new writing skills and started to enjoy my writing and editing again.”

    — Academic, Birmingham City University

  • “Thanks for today Sonja - it was a really fantastic writing session, and just what the bid team needed. I really enjoyed myself, and could tell everyone else did too. It was really great to have the space to discuss our own challenges, practice together and share writing tips."

    — Lois Hall, Business Development Manager, WithYou

  • “One of the best workshops I have been on - a chance to reflect on the audience we are trying to reach and what they actually want. I feel more confident about tackling our content now and I have a set list of immediate actions to work with.”

    — Feedback from GW4 University Alliance

How it works

I’ll design and deliver a tailored, focused writing workshop for your team - a mix of skills development, structured writing time and group discussion to share ideas.

Delivered in person or online over Teams or Zoom, this is an upbeat, thought-provoking environment for your experts to come together to learn and practice the core principles of planning and writing the type of content that connects.

My workshops are fun and interactive, with plenty of examples and powerful exercises to get people inspired and equipped to make a difference when they get back to their desks.

Tailored to meet your team’s needs

In the design phase, I’ll work with you to craft the right workshop to meet your goals.

I’ll review examples of previous writing (good and not so good), and send out a short questionnaire to your team to understand their needs and concerns about writing. I’ll use this evidence to structure the mix of writing tips and exercises to meet their needs.

Typical writing workshops include:

  • A creative writing exercise at the kick off of the session and get people in the zone.

  • Skills development: a mix of writing tips and practical exercises, aligned to your team’s needs e.g. Writing for your reader; How to get complex ideas across in a way that connects; How to structure your article; Crafting powerful headlines to hook your reader.

  • Structured writing time, divided into 25 minute writing sessions (using the Pomodoro technique to maximise writing productivity on the day - a useful technique to boost productivity in the future).

  • Group reflection and discussion to share writing ideas and inspire closer group working in the future.

  • Action planning to agree on how to build on the experience and deepen learning for the future

Valuable writing tips and tools

This is a practical content writing session as well as training. Everyone comes with something to write on the day. I’ll send everyone a copy of my Valuable Content Planning Sheet before the workshop, so they think and plan in advance. There will be time in the session to write and edit their article, using the ideas shared.

After the workshop, your team will receive a Valuable Content Guide, collating ideas from the workshop alongside additional tips for writing and structuring their content in the future.

Ongoing coaching:

After the workshop, I offer ongoing writing mentoring and editing for your team. This helps to turn the insights into on-the-job writing practices, to embed the skills and improve the content further. 

About me

I’m a consultant, trainer and speaker, helping leaders and teams to unlock what it is they want to say and showing them how to create valuable content to get the word out.

I’m co-author of the award-winning book, Valuable Content Marketing - how to make quality content your key to success (Kogan Page 2013, 2015).

My teaching is drawn from 20 years of research and successful on-the-ground strategic content writing projects and training programmes, delivered for organisations large and small, including the Met Office, Google, Sustrans, Nationwide Building Society and universities across the UK.

Workshop feedback.

  • “I am so much clearer on what I’m writing after the writing retreat. I am in love with writing again. I don’t want to stop!”

    — Dr.Mersha Aftab, Senior lecturer in design management, Birmingham City University

  • “I love the Content Writing sessions. I can happily say they've been a game changer for me, and I highly recommend it for all content creators out there.”

    — Lou Johnston, Box PR

  • “Thanks so much for the ‘How To Create And Write More Valuable Content’ workshop yesterday. EVERYONE found it valuable and on point and it’s all been very worthwhile.”

    — Calvin Lau, Product Marketing Manager, Google

Thinking about a writing workshop?

If you and your team want to improve your writing I’d love to see if I can help. Get in touch by email and we can arrange a time to talk it through.

“A professional writer is just an amateur who didn't quit.”

- Richard Bach