WRITING MIGRATION STORIES - ONE-DAY WORKSHOP OF CREATIVE WRITING

21 MARCH 2026

Migration - physical, emotional, spiritual, conceptual - is rich territory to explore through narrative. What happens when we move from one kind of life to another?

Different identities lead to different perspectives. Transitions generate story. Inspiration and metaphor spring readily from the contrasts between different worlds.

In this workshop we’ll embrace storytelling with attention to language, memory, character and place. The migration stories may be fiction, non-fiction, life-writing or memoir.

Drawing on 20+ years of writing and teaching, award-winning author Elise Valmorbida has designed this unique one-day workshop to explore migration stories. You can expect plenty of discussion, writing exercises and supportive critical feedback.

We will work on inspirations, point of view, narrative structure and style. You’ll gain a fresh understanding of how to craft your material. You’ll approach your migration story (or stories) with a greater sense of confidence and direction.

Do feel free to apply even if you’ve attended other writing sessions with Elise Valmorbida.

This creative writing workshop is suitable for both beginners and experienced writers of any heritage or background.

About the Tutor:

Elise Valmorbida grew up Italian in Australia, and lives in London. She is a graduate in English language and literature, an experienced teacher and multi-published author. In 2019, she won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for her fourth novel, The Madonna of the Mountains. Published internationally in several languages, The Madonna of the Mountains was a New York Post ‘must-read’, an Edward Stanford Awards nominee, and one of the Walter Scott Prize 'Academy Recommends' List. For her work as script consultant, producer, and author of SAXON: The Making of a Guerrilla Film, Elise won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Trailblazer award. She teaches creative writing with Central Saint Martins, Faber Academy, Writers Victoria, Arvon, Guardian Masterclasses, literary festivals and community-building organisations. Her latest non-fiction, The Happy Writing Book, is an inspirational guide to creative writing and wellbeing. ‘There are many guides to good writing but none as valuable as this.’ —Oliver Kamm, author and columnist for The Times. You can follow Elise on Instagram @elisevalmorbida and find out more at www.elisevalmorbida.com