It’s not just you.
Motherhood is hard.
Bafflingly, mind-bendingly hard - and yet beautiful, enraging, overwhelming...
How can we understand our experience when we can't find the words?
The New Mothers’ Writing Circle is here to help you find fluency in the language of matrescence.
"Quietly life-changing."
What is the programme?
Bringing in memoir, non-fiction, poetry and prose, this live, 8-week programme will hold your hand as you explore some of the core experiences of mothering.
“When a mother can’t explain her day, she is very unlikely to say to herself, maybe the right words are missing. Who has the energy to be insightful at the end of a demanding day? No, a mother who has little to relate usually assumes that this is because there is really very little worth telling.”
Naomi Stadlen, What Mothers Do (Especially When It Looks Like Nothing).
The 8-week programme, taught on Zoom, will support you in this transformational stage of life using reading, discussions and writing.
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Journaling and life-writing
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Constraints to allow you to write in the gaps, write in the naps
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Encouragement to grasp at words in the ‘white heat of the moment.’
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An invitation to share your writing; fiction, poetry, non-fiction; all of your #shittyfirstdrafts
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A small community of mothers to witness and champion you.
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It's not therapy - but it is therapeutic.
For two of the 8 weeks, each cohort is co-led by a rotating mix of award-winning writers, journalists and poets.
Chitra Ramaswamy
Liz Berry
Leah Hazard
Saima Mir
Each bringing their own writing, wisdom and feedback to inspire, encourage and galvanise. Read about them here
"It's not a course, it's a movement."
We explore the "Who am I?" identity shift and “Whose body is this?!”
The "But what do I do all day?! I achieve nothing!" *(You work ALL THE TIME - it’s mostly invisible).
The rage and the shame.
The awe and the bliss.
The push and pull of: "I love my child but I hate motherhood."
The loneliness of "Why am I finding this so hard?" (Psst. We are ALL finding it hard).
The New Mothers' Writing Circle is built around 4 core ethoses:
Non-advice giving. Non-judgemental. Anti-perfectionist. Experimental.
This is not a recorded course you won’t finish.
It isn’t a set of PDFs which will languish in your inbox for another time.
This is accountability and permission, week in week out.
This is a closed WhatsApp group to encourage, champion, hold your hand as you rant and rave about the invisible load and ultimately see you in all of your you-ness.
*On this website, the use of the word ‘woman’ is intended as inclusive of any person who ‘births’ or identifies as a ‘woman’, ‘mother’ or ‘gender non-conforming parent’. All people who are gender diverse and identify as 'mother' are welcome to participate.
What will I get from the course?
Over 18 hours of live sessions, taught on Zoom by award-winner Catrin Kemp.
Permission to write, to share, to listen.
A confidence boost.
Laugh and cry your way through this topsy-turvy experience.
Find a sense of genuine community and belonging.
Catch glimpses of the new person emerging in her matrescence (it’s you, by the way, only not like you used to be).
Not a social media version of motherhood, but your own version.
Your own story.
The mess, the muddle.
Freedom from the dominant narratives of motherhood.
Feel seen for all the million invisible tasks you’re doing.
Find beauty in the tiny miracles of your child or children
Find poetry in the juggle of the mundane and domestic –
without having to revert to people pleasing, perfectionism or toxic positivity.
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird.
Genuine community
Experience what it is to belong (it feels NOTHING like the anonymity of social media and EVERYTHING like hanging out with a few soulful, deeply connected sisters).
This is not a membership.
These are real communities.
In a small, closed group, find genuine solidarity and connection – empowered mothers at the centre of their own stories.
Max. 12 places on each cohort.
Who is this programme for?
Every mother with a young child (under 8).
Let the mask slip.
Let yourself be seen and held.
Explore your metamorphosis.
Experience what can be written in 3 minutes, in 7 minutes - in the gaps, in the naps.
Come face-to-face with the new you emerging from the gunk.
Sign up to the project's Substack to hear the latest news.
FAQs
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What if I am not a writer?
You don’t need to be. You already have a unique voice and this programme will help you rediscover it. Nurses, artists, full-time carers, academics - you name it - have developed a deep and enriching understanding of their matrescence through this award-winning programme.
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Who am I to write? I feel like such an imposter!
Imposter syndrome is a sign you’re moving outside of your comfort zone into a place of learning.
Sharing your writing - which you'll do in the cohort - is vulnerable. You may not have written since school. So many of us have been told we’re “good at other things” and pursued careers elsewhere, nowhere near the arts or creative industries.
But within the space of your cohort you will tend to this other, creative side of yourself.
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I'm part of the LGBTQI+ community. Can I join?
Yes, you are very welcome. On this website, the use of the word ‘woman’ is intended as inclusive of any person who ‘births’ or identifies as a ‘woman’, ‘mother’ or ‘gender non-conforming parent’. All people who are gender diverse and identify as 'mother' are welcome to participate.
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Is it OK if I'm looking after my young child during the calls?
Yes of course. Many mothers join the calls whilst caring. The beauty of the programme is you can join from bed, from the kitchen table, from a meeting room at work (if you're back at paid work following maternity leave).
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What if I have older children?
You will be in good company! Many mums who take part have primary-school aged children.
Drop us a line if you're not sure which group is better suited to you: newmumswriting at gmail dot com
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I am living with the affects of birth trauma / PTSD / PND / I have poor mental health. Can I join?
Yes, and you will be in good company. It's estimated up to 40% of mothers in the UK have experienced birth trauma, and are living with the repercussions of this.
The 8-week programme does not cover birth stories, although you will be shown some writing techniques to support your recovery, and signposted to people and organisations working specifically in this area.
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What is the cost and do you offer payment plan?
The cost of the course is £405. This is an investment in the person you are today but equally in the person you are becoming in your matrescence. Speak to your employers about covering the cost as part of your PD.
You are welcome to pay in instalments - just drop us a line newmumswriting at gmail dot com.
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What if I don’t like the course?
Over 200 mothers from across the world have taken part so far, with 1 person dropping out. That's less than 1% attrition!
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My English isn’t great – can I still take part?
Yes! You are welcome to write in whichever language works for you. The programme content is share ahead of each call.
Still have questions? Drop Catrin a line: newmumswriting at gmail dot com
Inspiration. Reflection. Motherhood.
Thank you to Creative Scotland who funded The New Mothers' Writing Circle between 2020 and 2023.