Chronic illness & creative writing - workshop/mentoring programme
By Centre for Medical Humanities - University of Otago | Posted: Friday Mar 06, 2026
The new Centre for Medical Humanities at the University of Otago is offering 8-12 people who have Long Covid or ME/CFS a free programme of creative writing workshops, in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Apply by 13 March 2026.
In 2026 we are offering people who have Long Covid or ME/CFS a free programme of creative writing workshops, in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Workshop timing and format will be planned with participants so that it can work within your needs and limitations as much as possible.
Led by expert local writers (but with no creative writing experience needed for participants) the goal is to help you develop a way to share your experiences of living with chronic illness, through short-form writing, and to facilitate this being shared.
Who is running/funding this?
The new Centre for Medical Humanities at the University of Otago. We are a research centre focused on understanding and communicating the human contexts of health, disability, and wellbeing.
Cost
The workshops will be free for all participants.
We have 8-12 spaces available. Please note that we are unlikely to be able to accept everyone who applies.
Who can apply
You must be in or near Ōtepoti Dunedin, and be someone who lives with Long Covid or ME/CFS, to apply. You don't need a formal diagnosis. You also don't need any previous training or experience with creative writing.
THE DUE DATE TO APPLY IS 13th MARCH
Timing and accessibility
Please submit your form by 13th March. Contact us at centreformedicalhumanities@otago.ac.nz with any questions. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of March.
Workshops will start in mid April, and run through May and June. Length, timing, and location of sessions will be based on the needs of participants, but aiming for approximately 3x sessions of 2 hours each, with Zoom options available, and online support/mentoring in between sessions. Just let us know what you would need to make the process accessible, in the form below.
Outcomes/outputs
The writing that workshop participants produce will be gathered into a small printed booklet, to be presented at the Art+Science exhibition in July. It will also be shared online, via the Centre's website. We will discuss other ways you might want to publish or circulate your work.
Goals
The goal is to help the wider public (including policy-makers, clinicians, etc) have a better understanding of life with chronic illness. We seek to do this by supporting you to develop your own unique ways to communicate about your experiences.