Workouts for your Word-count: The Writers’ Gym

Build your confidence and grow your creative life with workouts, courses, coaching and personal training at The Writers’ Gym.

Whether you’re joining us as a member at the weekly writing workouts and regular courses, or on the podcast, you’ve brought your writing and confidence to the right place.

All-inclusive events

Members receive unlimited entry to Writing Room Extra in addition to the Monday Writing Room which is open to everyone on our mailing list, as well as socials such as Coffee & Creativity and evening Cocktails & Creativity, Write or Draw, Drink & Chat and daytime and evening Writing Workouts.

Members also receive 30% off all courses, one-to-one coaching, proofreading and editing booked during membership. There’s also daily access to support from Rachel through the Voxer app (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm), plus a members-only Voxer group to keep in touch with your fellow writers.

Membership rates until 1 January 2025:
£35 per month for 12 months
£40 per month for 2-11 months
£50 per month for 1 month

To apply for membership or request a brochure including details of membership, founder membership and VIP membership, email info@rachelknightley.com
To sign up any individual writing workout, book here.

Your Personal Trainer

Dr Rachel Knightley formed the Writers’ Gym in 2014, having found many people in writing groups she attended left each session with good intentions but did little in between! As with the physical gym, Rachel recognised writers need to develop strategies to make, and keep, writing a regular healthy routine; that what goes on the page begins in our mindset. After her MA and PhD in Creative Writing, Rachel studied Teaching Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge (PGCert) and Business and Personal Coaching at Chester University and Barefoot Coaching (PGCert) to ensure she can give the best to every writer she supports.

This month at the Writers’ Gym


Friday 3 May
Writing Workout: 12pm-1pm

Monday 6 May
The Writing Room: 11am-1pm (free entry via Rachel’s mailing list)
Writing Workout: 6.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesday 8 May
Coffee & Creativity: 1pm-2.30pm
Friday 10 May
Writing Room EXTRA (Members-only session): 11am-1pm

Mon 13 May
11-1pm Writing Room (free entry via Rachel’s mailing list)
Tue 14 May
12.30-2pm Writing the Self
Wed 15 May
12-1pm InkCouragement Webinar
Fri 17 May
11-1pm The Writing Room EXTRA
Mon 20 May
11-1pm The Writing Room (free entry via Rachel’s mailing list)
Tue 21 May
1-2.30pm Writing the Self
Wed 22 May
1-2.30pm Coffee & Creativity
Fri 24 May
11-1pm The Writing Room EXTRA
Mon 27 May
11-1pm Writing Room (free entry via Rachel’s mailing list)
Tue 28 May
1-2.30pm Writing the Self
Wed 29 May
1-2.30pm Coffee & Creativity
Fri 31 May
11-1pm Writing Room EXTRA
5-6.30pm Cocktails & Creaticity

Become a Member

(For one to one bookings with 30% discount for Writers’ Gym members, visit the coaching page.)

Want to see if membership is right for you? Book a FREE call with Rachel right here to get to the heart of where your creative work and life are and where you want to take them.

The Writers’ Gym Podcast

Build your confidence and grow your creative life with Dr Rachel Knightley and BFSA-winning audio dramatist and author Emily Inkpen.

The Writers’ Gym podcast in association with Alternative Stories is a place to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence, technique and sense of fun to enhance, enjoy and explore your writing world. Series 2 launched on 4 March 2024, with The Writers’ Gym joining Alternative Stories podcasts and audio drama. Each episode gives practical support and creative exercises to keep you building writing muscles, enjoying the process and the results. Rachel co-presents with global top 3% audio dramatist and British Science Fiction Award nominated author Emily Inkpen. Episodes are released every Wednesday, including How Not to Give Feedback, Editing 101 and What’s Your Wessex? Check the bio for the latest episode or subscribe on your favourite platform.

Series 1: Take your word-count for a workout and build creative confidence at the Writers’ Gym. Fiction and non-fiction author, lecturer and writing coach Dr Rachel Knightley joins authors from across the genres; each episode explores an author’s unique mix of memory, imagination, observations and questions about the world, and how that translates into their unique stories. There may be only seven basic plots but there are infinite original voices: develop your creative curiosity, build your focus and explore the goals, exercises, tools and techniques to discover what you really want from your writing — and what your writing really needs from you. Rachel speaks to DJ, writer and editor Trevor Kennedy, journalist, author and speaker John-Paul Flintoff, writer and editor Dan Coxon, rock lyricist and academic Mike Jones and author, journalist and essayist Jennifer Steil.