Mike has been commissioned to write for children, script writing – for CBeebies – Tiny Wonders, and writing 5-Minute Mysteries for 6-8 year-olds for BBC Radio Scotland’s Sonic Snackbox.

Charities have asked him to write on the experiences of young mums, young people with a family member in prison and a comic-book look at the life and changes during the Scottish Enlightenment in the 1700s. A university commission during COVID led to him writing and present Here is the News about the positive but highly emotional work of care home staff during lockdown.

Mike also offers residency experience, from writing with schools as part of Edinburgh International Book Festival’s ReimagiNation Project in Cumbernauld, and with children at Towerbank Primary School, Edinburgh to encourage interest in their new library. For five summers, Mike worked with The Haven, Circle Scotland in Muirhouse, Edinburgh on a storywriting week where families created, illustrated and presented a story based on a local walk.

“Mike brings passion, creativity and an engaging child-centred process to the week that ensures that children and parents have both a fantastic experience and are left with a completed story based on all their own ideas. Circle would recommend Mike to anyone that aspires to bring creativity and enjoyment to children through the mediums of storytelling and writing”.

– Alex Collop, Project Manager, Haven

“Having a writer join the longstanding Friday Walking Group in Broomhouse was wonderful. Mike came on three walks and delivered three creative writing workshops…During these some people expressed anxiety about writing. Mike welcomed their participation in whatever way that worked for them: talking, thinking, listening and writing. Mike prepared for each walk bringing reading pieces he had written and those from writers from Edinburgh and beyond. Mike invited attendees to write or speak pieces that had inspired them on walks and to think about their engagement with walking and the fellow members (friendships, memories)…this was very impactful. Mike created inspiration tables with photos from walks and writing from chats on each walk. It brought everyone together to celebrate the creativity from just three walks. It was really good fun and benefitted everyone’s wellbeing. I can recommend the positive impact of these workshops with older people. Mike has a respectful, professional and inspired regard for everyone’s participation, and buckets of fun.”.

– Lisa Jennings, Community Development Worker, B Healthy Together

“I have known Mike Nicholson for over 15 years, as a writer and through his work in using creative writing with a variety of community groups. I worked with Mike when I was at Edinburgh World Heritage, involved in a creative writing project with children from the Sunflower Garden group and on creating a resource for teachers on the Scottish Enlightenment. In 2022 and 2023 I commissioned Mike to lead a series of pilot events [creative writing walks] as part of the development of a community engagement strategy for Edinburgh City of Literature…. His enthusiasm and perseverance were important to the success of the pilot, along with his flexible and collaborative style of working.”.

– David Hicks, Heritage Consultant

Graphic recording by Jenny Capon of Mike’s TowerbankPS residency session on Same Title – Different Genre