Words by Nici West.
Have I told you about Mummy Writes before? Seriously, it feels like I’ve been talking about this little project for ages, and in a way, I have! But as we slide into that cosy, chaotic end-of-year blur, I wanted to tell you the real, messy, beautiful story of how Mummy Writes came to be.
Mummy Writes is essentially a baby-friendly creative writing workshop. It was actually born out of my own desire for something that would tantalize my creative brain when I was on maternity leave.
Becoming a parent is, of course, a profoundly wonderful experience. But let’s be real, it’s also isolating, identity-stealing, and often leaves you feeling like a sick-stained mess (because, yeah, you probably are). I truly craved a space where I could socialise, exercise those rusty creative muscles, and not have to spend 45 minutes trying to look “put together” before leaving the house. I just wanted permission to turn up, exactly as I was.
So, I decided to build that space myself.
It started life as a series of in-person workshops, right before COVID hit. I was incredibly lucky – I managed to secure funding through Natwest’s #BackHerBusiness campaign, which matched what I crowd-funded. This support was the absolute lifeline that allowed me to develop the material, book a venue, buy resources, and do my own scrappy marketing. The result? My very first course sold out! It was proof this need wasn’t just mine; it was shared by so many new parents trapped in the beautiful, blurry haze of leave.
And then came the great destroyer of all in-person plans: COVID. Obviously.
It meant the sudden death of the physical Mummy Writes workshops, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me. Like everyone else, I moved to Zoom. But I quickly realised what was missing: the vital, unifying sense of community. That feeling of shared struggle and camaraderie that came from being in the same room. The energy just wasn’t there.
It took a lot of luck, a few deep breaths, and meeting the right people (shout-out to Do It Like A Mother!), but I eventually transformed Mummy Writes into the flexible, high-quality online course it is today.
This course is designed specifically for the tired, time-poor, but creatively keen parent. It’s a series of writing exercises that you can tackle in your own space, at your own pace. Everything is broken down into short, achievable chunks. We look at different elements of storytelling – character, plot, setting – until eventually, you look up and realise you have a full, cohesive short story.
It’s filmed beautifully by a former ITV/BBC shooting editor, and – get this – features me in all my heavily pregnant glory (with my second child), which, let’s be honest, just adds to the whole “real life” charm. This format means you can tap into that creative brain you miss so much, even if you only have a 15-minute nap window or a late-night feed slot free.
If you’re feeling creatively restless, need a new identity tag beyond just “Mummy,” or know an overwhelmed but brilliant person who deserves a non-baby-related gift this Christmas, take a peek. It’s genuinely fun, and I promise you’ll be proud of what you create. (Just try not to cringe too much if you know me and have to see me on screen, okay? We’ll pretend that part never happened!)
Ready to give your brain something to chew on besides teething gels?
Check out the Mummy Writes 6-Week Creative Writing Course here!