Memories Unearthed Writing Workshop: Sensory Memories

Suitable for all levels of writing experience.

We’ll try out writing using the senses, and take inspiration from texts by Mariama Bȃ, Deborah Levy, and Raymond Antrobus to explore how writers use the senses. We’ll ask: do writers use all the senses when they write? If not, what do they do instead?

The Memories Unearthed workshops are based on prompts which encourage participants to explore a memory. We’ll dig up, delve into, and capture memories which may be dormant or fragmentary. The workshops suit those who are interested in trying out methods of memoir writing, and those who would like to use writing to help shape or preserve memories. They are also useful to fiction writers who want to draw on lived experience in their writing. The pieces you develop in each workshop may form the basis of a short piece or may be threaded together to form a long-form project, such as a memoir or novel.

You will have the opportunity to share what you write, but there is no obligation to do so. Feedback is based on the feelings the writing evokes.

The workshops are designed to work either as one-off sessions or as part of a series.

Delaina Haslam is a creative nonfiction writer and a translator. She’s written for arts and entertainment publications in Madrid and London and translates sociology for academic journals. She has also worked with the Poetry Translation Centre translating francophone African poetry. She’s writing a memoir about baby loss and brain disease, memory and loss, extracts of which have been shortlisted for the Northern Debut Award and the Plaza Memoir Prize, and reached the second stage of the Bridport Memoir Prize. Through writing this book, she’s developed techniques that she’s keen to share with others.

The Writers Workshop’s space in Orchard Square, Sheffield, has no step-free access. However, accessibility is important to us, and we have partnered with a nearby venue to facilitate access to our events.

Step-free access tickets are available to purchase until 3 working days (Monday to Friday) prior to the event.

Tea and coffee will be provided during the workshop and refreshments are also available to be purchased from the Waterstones cafe next door (with a discount available for Writers Workshop members who show their digital membership card).

This event is online advance booking only: no walkups on the day.

Refunds: Refunds up to 48 hours before this event.

The Writers Workshop is a nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to enable everyone to experience the joy and power of creative writing, both at our venue in Sheffield and online. Members of the Writers Workshop get a discount on all our events and other perks. For more information, visit .

Please bring a pen and your favourite notebook.

We are located on the upper level of the Orchard Square retail complex, next to Waterstones.

We very much look forward to welcoming you to the workshop.