WordLabs Out Loud

A resolution-free look back at the year that was and ahead to 2026. Includes gentle prompts for creative reflection. Please note this episode deals with topics that may be sensitive to some listeners. Approach with care.

Today we’re revisiting a suggestion from our character development episode in depth. Learn how to ask the right questions of your character to spark inspiration and add complexity and dimension to who they are.

Writers are often told to “show, don’t tell”, but how do you put that into practice? In this week’s episode, we’ll explore the five senses and how you can use them to add nuance and dimension to your work.

Everyone faces it, everyone dreads it. This week we look at the different causes of writers’ block, and strategies for navigating through it – and showing yourself a little more empathy along the way.

A strong story and compelling characters are great, but if you haven’t established a strong sense of place, you run into the problem of ‘talking heads in a white room’. How do you immerse your reader in your story’s setting, without going too deeply into the nitty-gritty?

We’re celebrating National Novel Writing Month with a month-long WordLabs writing challenge! In this final week, we are looking at your story’s bigger picture. How do you establish genre, theme, and structure? Tune in for writing prompts and research ideas.

We’re celebrating National Novel Writing Month with a month-long WordLabs writing challenge! In week three, we are working on character development. How do you make characters with dimension, complexity, flaws and interest? Tune in for writing prompts and research ideas.

We’re celebrating National Novel Writing Month with a month-long WordLabs writing challenge! This week, we explore the world of your story. Discover ways to research, develop, and test the setting of your story – and how to make your world support your story and propel your plot.

We’re celebrating National Novel Writing Month with a month-long WordLabs writing challenge! This week we talk strategy – how to prepare for an epic month of writing, how to determine the right approach for you, based on your writing style, and how do you decide on what story to tell?

Tips on how to tackle what can be one of the most intimidating parts of your story – the opening sentence and opening scene. Learn ways to develop, revise, and revisit your opening to create impact.

With work, exam season, the changing seasons and *life*, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. On this week’s WordLabs OutLoud, we’re talking strategies on how to ground yourself, reduce overwhelm, and to remain – or reclaim – your calm.

Aara offers advice and gentle prompts to help you ease into a creative headspace, and avoid the overthinking trap.

Bruce discussed the value of an intuitive practice that encourages you to let go of what you think you NEED to do creatively – whether you’re a writer or artist in any discipline, and start tapping into what your intuition has been trying to show you.

Airing part 2 a special panel held during the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, featuring poet and author Sadiqa de Meijer, musician and writer Rolly Pemberton (aka Cadence Weapon), and spoken word artist and poet Jermaine Marshall (aka J-Marsh). The artists discuss the differences between written poetry and spoken word, and how to move between them.

Airing a special panel held during the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, featuring poet and author Sadiqa de Meijer, musician and writer Rolly Pemberton (aka Cadence Weapon), and spoken word artist and poet Jermaine Marshall (aka J-Marsh). The artists discuss the differences between written poetry and spoken word, and how to move between them.

Learn more about the benefits of writing with peers, including increased engagement, inspiration, and the solidarity of showing up for each other. Enjoy some writing prompts inspired by the group!

In this episode, Aara chats with Ryan, the creator of Pocket Thoughts Zines about what zines are, why he loves making them, and why you should give them a try. We’ll also hear a writing prompt and some tunes.

This week we’re airing part two of our “Value of Creative Writing” talk with authors Adrian Michael Kelly, Aric McBay, Wilding, Bruce Kauffman, and Jermaine Marshall.

This week, we’ll be airing part one of our launch event conversation on the value of creative writing with WordLabs instructors Adrian Michael Kelly, Aric McBay, Wilding, Bruce Kauffman, and Jermaine Marshall.