English and Related Literature
- Department of English and Related Literature
- About us
- Writing at York
- Getting help with your writing
Getting help with your writing
The Department of English has developed a range of simple resources to help anyone improve the quality of their writing. The advice is intended not just to help with academic work but also fiction, journalism and all forms of prose.
There are also a range of other options available at the Department to help you improve your writing.
Writing Resources to help you improve your writing
Book an appointment with the University Writing Centre
The Writing and Skills Centre is a free service, based in the Harry Fairhurst Building (LFA/102), open to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students interested in discussing and developing their academic writing.
They offer one-to-one appointments during which they help you work on all aspects of academic writing. They are open throughout the Easter holiday period via online support.
Book an appointment
Support for students with specific learning difficulties
, 19kb)Royal Literary Fund Fellow
Maureen Lennon is a Yorkshire playwright. Her full-length plays include Mary & The Hyenas for Pilot Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre, Baby He Loves You for Middle Child Theatre, Dead Girls Rising for Silent Uproar, Helen for Theatre 503 and Terrain Theatre and Us Against Whatever for Middle Child Theatre. In 2020 her play Helen was shortlisted for the Theatre 503 international playwriting prize. She is a Sphinx30 playwright, and a BBC’s Voices 2024 writer. She is published by Nick Hern and Bloomsbury.
She has also written several large scale works for community casts, including GUTS! The Musical for Hull Truck Theatre, The Coppergate Woman for York Theatre Royal, and What About The Children for Hull Truck youth theatre. Her shorter theatre credits include work for Paines Plough, Sheffield Theatres, Pilot Theatre, Middle Child Theatre and Bellow Theatre.
Alongside her writing she has been a First Story writer in residence for the last five years and is passionate about teaching creative writing in schools and community settings. She has worked with Leeds Conservatoire and has led writing workshops for the Mary Wollstonecraft Society, Risky Cities, Sheffield Theatres and the Orwell Foundation. She is an experienced script reader and has read for Traverse Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Hull Truck Theatre and Middle Child Theatre. She is currently under commission to Mikron Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre.
Maureen is available to help students with their academic writing. Whether you’re not sure where to begin, or you want to finesse an almost finished draft, Maureen can help with planning, structure, grammar, analytical skills and more.
Semester 2. 2026/27
Please note that appointments will normally be face-to-face, but Maureen has some remote availability for students who have a compelling reason not to be able to come to campus.
The Royal Literary Fund Fellows' office is D/L/140, Derwent L Block.
Please note that there is sometimes a great demand for these meetings. Be sure that when you make an appointment you are able to keep it.
A student perspective
Hear from some students about how working with the Royal Literary Fund Fellows improved their writing.
FellowshipsStudentPerspective from Royal Literary Fund on Vimeo.