The Writing Workshop – Authorship and Creative Writing
Apply for a place at school now
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and processed in the order they are received. It is always a good idea to be early.
The Writing Workshop - Fees
Full Year 2027 - 2028
NOK 158 300,-
Half Year Fall 2027
NOK 67 300,-
Do you want to become an author, or explore your writing voice?
The Writing Workshop is the place for those who want to develop their writing voice and see tangible results from the writing process. Here you get to follow your own texts from idea to publication! You will experience your text performed by students from the revue and theater program, and in collaboration with students from the animation program, your text will gain a visual life.
Course content
- Creative writing
- Writing Technique
- Writing Community
- Genre Studies
- Creative Collaboration
- Writing Mentoring
- Book Publications and Editorial Work
Study Trip: Ireland
In the spring semester, we go on a study trip to Ireland – the country with the most Nobel laureates in literature relative to its population and a highly vibrant storytelling tradition. Dublin was founded by Vikings 1200 years ago, and today it is a perfect starting point for exploring the country’s proud literary traditions. We spend the first half of the trip on literary tours, museums, and pubs in Ireland’s fascinating capital.
After our days in Dublin, we embark on an exploration of this charming, unique country. The itinerary is influenced by the students’ choices. Perhaps we’ll spend a couple of days in a monastery, at the beautiful Mt. Melleray Abbey in the south? Or perhaps we’ll head north to Belfast, where street art and political divisions characterize the cityscape? In any case, we end up in the west: Galway is often called Ireland’s cultural capital, but it also offers magnificent nature on a boat trip to the exotic Aran Islands and the iconic Cliffs of Moher.
Ireland is both an exciting and safe country to travel in. In various contexts, we encounter authors such as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker, and many more.
Along the way, time is set aside for writing and independent exploration. Don’t be surprised if you encounter fairies and leprechauns too.
The teaching
The school year is divided into different genre periods, all of which involve varied instruction, exercises, excursions, writing time with guidance, and thorough feedback rounds. We aim to cultivate genre diversity and literary awareness, language sensibility, and the joy of writing, to bring forth unique writing voices. During the year, you will debut as an author with the school’s own publishing house, where the class publishes two books.
Periodically, we receive visits from other authors and guest lecturers, and we take advantage of Bergen’s vibrant literary scene with more festivals and events than we can attend. If you wish, there may be a place for you on some of these stages. For example, the student association Immaturus at UiB has in recent years invited us to perform on stages at poetry evenings and Mikrofestival. Reading aloud is part of everyday life at The Writing Workshop, and especially in preparation for release parties for our publications, we also practice performance and voice usage.
The Writing Workshop collaborates closely with the other creative programs at the school. Among other things, we write stage texts for the students in the revue and theater program, and get to experience our texts performed on stage. We also collaborate with the animation program, where we magically get to experience our short scripts visualized on screen.
Guest Instructors and Excursions
- Visits from exciting guest lecturers, including author and journalist Rolf Enger. He has published several short story collections and inspires with his unique writing style.
- We visit Bergen Public Library and our local library in the Åsane district. Both are atmospheric, beautiful rooms full of inspiration. They also offer many events throughout the year. The Main Library — Bergen Public Library
- We visit the student theater Immaturus at Det Akademiske Kvarter in Bergen, which organizes Poetry Evening and Open Stage. Here we often meet former students from The Writing Workshop.
- The Bergen International Literary Festival is held at Litteraturhuset in Bergen from February 4-8, and we participate in the experiences. Here we meet authors from all over the world and from Norway. Read more about the festival here: Bergen International Literary Festival
- In April, there is a Literary Festival in Galway, and we get to experience the atmosphere. Read more here: Cúirt International Festival of Literature 2026 in Galway
Genre Periods
The genre periods usually last 3-5 weeks. We adapt to the interests of the students each year, but always try to work with a broad spectrum.
Sensory Exploration
The first period at The Writing Workshop is about observing and utilizing all senses in the writing process – to write sensually: See, smell, listen, feel. At the same time, the first weeks are about getting to know each other and coming together as a group. Among other things, we go on our own little program trip to a remote, bare island.
Stage Texts
Short Texts
Prose
Essay
Editorial Team
Latest Book Publications
Ut
(2024) Anthology
Ni badeender
(2024) Anthology
Kort applaus
(2023) Anthology
Under
(2023) Anthology
Du au
(2022) Anthology
Over
(2022) Poetry Collection
Mot
(2021) Anthology
Under ombygging
(2020) Anthology
Til
(2020) Poetry Collection
Det koker
(2019) Anthology
Fiks faks ferdig
(2019) Children's Book
Han må leve
(2018) Anthology
Bli barnebok
(2018) Children's Book
Så...
(2017) Anthology
Du er søt når du synker
(2017) Stage Texts
Kule noian
(2016) Anthology
Teacher Finn I. Birkeland
Finn is one of the teachers at The Writing Workshop. He is a warm, socially engaged, travel-loving, and writing person. He is the school’s philosopher with a master’s degree in philosophy, and has a great commitment to guiding others’ writing processes and reflecting on texts together with the students. Finn also teaches the elective subjects Philosophy, Debate Club, and Boating License. You will also meet him in the common subjects Bubble Burst and Common Focus.
Teacher Eli Fossdal Vaage
Eli is an author and attended Skrivekunstakademiet in Bergen. In 2014, she debuted with the poetry collection Hekla myter. In 2019, Estalåni, her second poetry collection, was published. For these, she received the Booksellers’ Author Grant. In 2021, she published the short story collection Grå hoppe. In 2026, she will release Dei Vaksne, which is her first novel.
Guest Lecturers
The year will offer instruction from skilled teachers and inspiring guest instructors.
Rolf Enger, author and writing teacher. Born 1960 and residing in Bergen. He has written ten books in various genres. Latest book: The Short Story Code (2024), an essay and textbook on the art of the short story. He has been active in the literary field for a lifetime and has taught for many years at, among others, the Writing Academy in Bergen and Åsane Folk High School.
Magnus is a guest teacher at the Writing Workshop. He holds a Master’s in Anthropology from the University of Copenhagen and is a graduate of the author program in Bø. Magnus works as a literature communicator, teaches creative writing, and is a facilitator of reading circles. He writes poetry, prose, and drama himself. He has a great passion for meeting others through literature and supporting students in exploring the possibilities of writing.
What the students say:
At the folk high school, you get a rich year where you can challenge yourself within a safe environment. You meet lots of different people and make friends for life. In the Writing Workshop, you meet an engaged and skilled teacher who helps you bring out the best in your own writing. In this program, you learn about different genres and get to explore your own voice as a writer.
I always look forward to our classes because that’s where I meet my classmates and our amazing teacher Finn. We laugh and have a great time, and most importantly, we write a lot and learn about different genres. We also practice giving and receiving feedback – making our own and others’ texts better. It can be scary to share an unfinished text with others, but it’s incredibly educational. You get to hear if others understand what you’re trying to convey, and if not, they can help you express it in the best possible way. We help each other become better writers. The Writing Workshop was so great for me that I chose to stay for two years, and I’ll never regret it.
On our study trip to Ireland, we gained insight into a rich history, exciting adventures, and lots of great literature! At the same time, we lived close together and saw each other almost all day, every day. It could easily have become exhausting, but it didn’t. As classmates, we bonded well together and just had a wonderful time. It’s hard not to have a great time with such fantastic fellow students. You can just look forward to your year at the Writing Workshop!
The Writing Workshop at the Folk High School in Bergen is for those who love text. Whether you’ve never written before or have written a lot, you’ll join a positive environment where everyone works towards the same goal. Throughout the year, you’ll get to try out all genres, and you’ll learn to read others’ texts, proofread, and give feedback. You’ll receive valuable feedback from fellow students, but not least, also from teachers. And you’ll enter an environment that values you as a person and your writing style, where you’ll try to find YOUR path into the text, which creates a very good class environment and a solid foundation for friendships. And the coolest part is that you also get to debut as an author with the school’s own publishing house, where you and your class publish 2 books during the year, doing exactly what you want, and that’s a truly unique opportunity!
I was unsure if taking a writing course at a folk high school was the right choice. I was nervous that it would be a somewhat lonely course where you mostly just worked on your own texts and were hardly social. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is very much a social course where you really get to know each other quickly. The classes are full of laughter and joy. We do so much more than just write! We had a class where we played with fruits and vegetables, we traveled to a deserted island, and we saw a play together. In addition, it is set up so that you get to be creative, and you really develop as a writer and a person. Also, the teacher is one of the coolest and most interesting people I have met, and he helps to make writing much more fun! This is a fantastic course with a fantastic teacher, and I am extremely happy that I chose this course.
Apply for a place at school now
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and processed in the order they are received. It is always a good idea to be early.
The Writing Workshop - Fees
Registration Fee
NOK 2 800,-Food and lodging
NOK 99 000,-Joint costs
NOK 12 000,-Group trip
NOK 5 500,-Line price incl. study trip
NOK 38 000,-
Total:
NOK 157 300,-
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the program for?
The program is suitable for those who find joy in writing! For those who want to collaborate with others and play with words and sentences.
What is the Writing Workshop?
The Writing Workshop is the program for those who like to write and want to develop as a writer. Here, you work creatively with your own texts, explore different genres, and learn to give and receive constructive feedback in a safe community.
Do I need experience?
The program is suitable both for those who have written a bit before and for those who are curious about writing and want to find their own language. The most important thing is that you want to write and learn.
What kind of texts do we work with?
You will get to try various forms of writing, such as:
- short stories and tales
- poems and lyric poetry
- reflective texts
- creative and personal texts
You will also have space to immerse yourself in what you like to write best.
How is the teaching conducted?
The teaching is workshop-based and consists of:
- writing assignments and exercises
- reading and conversations about text
- feedback from fellow students and the teacher
- reflection on language, form, and content
The focus is on development, not assessment.
Will I receive mentoring on my texts?
Yes. You receive both individual mentoring and feedback in groups. The teacher helps you see the strengths in your text and gives advice on how you can develop further.
Do I have to share what I write with others?
You are encouraged to share your text, but it always happens within a safe framework. No one is pressured to share more than they are comfortable with, and respect and trust are an important part of the workshop.
What can I use the year for going forward?
This year will give you:
- greater confidence in your own writing
- experience with creative processes
- better language and communication skills
- a good foundation for further studies or writing on your own
For many, this becomes an important year for both professional and personal development.