workshops
2Write offers writing and design workshops for individuals and groups. We enjoy sharing our skills with individuals, NGOs, small businesses and community organisations.
We can show you how to
- write creative non-fiction
- write newsletters and magazines: promote your organisation, inform your members and lift morale
- write media releases and manage the media: face your fears and get your message across
- write letters, reports and documents: be professional, get rid of jargon and fluff, and say what you mean in clear, simple language
- adjust your writing for the web
Our courses are tailor-made to suit your organisation, subject matter, style and audience. We provide written course material and ongoing support.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your training needs.
Online ethical storytelling workshop
Twenty people joined Pip’s ethical storytelling workshop in July 2020, part of an online writing workshop series run by the New Zealand Society of Authors during Covid restrictions. Participants discussed the unique ethical challenges of writing creative non-fiction, including the tension between courage and compassion. Pip’s TEDx talk on ethical storytelling can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHR8fWAr43k
2020 Kāpiti Writers Retreat
Pip was one of six teaching writers at the annual Kāpiti Writers Retreat in February 2020. In her two-day workshop on writing creative non-fiction, she explored key elements of ethical story-telling: courage, compassion and finding our voice.
Pip also gave a plenary address during the retreat on gathering oral history narratives and weaving them into our written stories.
Find out more about the annual Kāpiti Writers’ Retreat here.
'I greatly appreciated Pip Desmond’s sharing of her knowledge and experience in such a generous and inclusive way. Her workshops gave me much needed insight into an area of writing I’ve struggled with. Thank you, Pip and the Kāpiti Writers’ Retreat.” - Fleur Beale, participant, 2020 Kāpiti Writers’ Retreat
Other writing workshop testimonials
'Great session with Pip Desmond yesterday. We had several samples of writing which we worked on. Thank you, Pip.' - Peter Glensor, Hui E, Community Aotearoa
'Great feedback from the evaluation... learnt heaps in such a short time. I have been to many writing courses, but Pip's has to be the best. I looking forward to applying my new-found knowledge.' - Honey Winter, Te Wana quality programme review manager
Writing workshops in Timor-Leste
During a two-year VSA assignment in Dili, Timor-Leste from 2013-2015:
- Pat mentored local World Vision staff in story-writing, design and photography for print and web.
- Pip taught creative writing to local researchers who have gathered 800 women’s stories of resistance to the Indonesian occupation of Timor.
Pip’s Dili creative writing class. From left: Pip, Polan, Este, Fatima, Nunu, Justin, Alito.
Best first book of non-fiction, 2010 NZ Post Book Awards
2Write 