The authors discuss ways in which nurses speak to older people. Research shows that the words nurses use can have a powerful effect on the wellbeing of older people. An experimental project developed at the University of Hull is described in which creative writing techniques were used to increase nursing students' and staff's sensitivity to the importance of language in care. The project enabled participants to co-create a body of work that was subsequently displayed in the faculty reception, and it showed how trusting relationships could be developed between participants. The authors are working to extend the project by finding ways to embed creative writing in the undergraduate nursing curriculum.