CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY, and WELLBEING for new mothers
Mothership Writers is a groundbreaking creative writing programme for new mothers. First born in Bristol in January 2019, the initial pilot was funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England; over 12 months, nearly sixty new mums – and their babies – met for fortnightly workshops led by novelist and Mothership founder Emylia Hall. Many hadn't written for years. Every single one had a story to tell.
Following the huge success of the pilot, Mothership Writers Online launched in 2020, giving new* mothers everywhere the chance to join our writing crew. The eight-week courses are designed to spark your imagination and get you writing. It's an opportunity to nurture your creative side and carve out some time for you — while feeling the benefits of putting pen to paper. Our next 2025 course for mums with children aged two and under will run from September - and is now open for booking.
Meanwhile NEW for spring 2025 is the Mothership BEDTIME DISCO! This five-week course is for mums with children of any age, and is all about exploring motherhood through song-title writing prompts. We can’t wait to hit the dance floor with you (or … do some writing!). Book your spot for the spring sessions, or the autumn sessions here.
Our workshops are supportive, rejuvenating and inclusive spaces. We passionately believe that creativity is for all, so we aim to make our courses as accessible as we can by offering them for the lowest possible fee. For every workshop group we also offer two fully subsidised places, for those who couldn’t otherwise afford to take part: do get in touch to find out more.
Our MOTHERSHIP WRITERS NOTEBOOK was released in October 2022 and the response to this one-off project was amazing. We’ve since created a revised edition that we’re excited to offer for sale on an ongoing basis. Introducing … TIME TO WRITE. Beautifully illustrated by Esther Curtis, and written by founder Emylia Hall, this 32 page booklet is the spirit of Mothership between two covers. With tips, advice, and inspiring words, you’ll be encouraged to tell your story of motherhood. For every copy sold, we’re donating £1 to the amazing charity Project MAMA and their work with migrant mamas.
In November 2020 we launched BORN IN LOCKDOWN, a collaborative writing project for new mums with babies born in 2020. An incredible 277 mums took part, and the finished work is a 20,000 prose piece, offering a remarkable record of these unreal times. BORN IN LOCKDOWN is free to download here on the Mothership website. Within just a few weeks of its launch our book had already been downloaded more than 5,000 times and raised over £6,500 for Sands. Our book and some of its amazing contributors were featured on BBC News and Positive News. Thank you to everyone who supported this very special project.
Here’s to creativity and maternity!
*With a baby aged two or under at the start of the course.
“The Mothership course has helped me to find my voice as a writer and a mother.”
“Mothership writers was a pair of huge arms that held me tightly. I found my voice here. I found a passion here. I found likeminded people here and I found creativity and reflection here. It should be compulsory for all new mothers!”
“The absolute best thing you can do for your mind.”
“Mothership Writers brought me peace, joy, and self-confidence at a really difficult and exhausting time. I cannot speak highly enough of every aspect.”