Follow-on course

for people who've completed the 12-week course and are committed to writing a particular novel

The novel writing group supports people working on a novel, with feedback and with 3 strands of input: practical nuts and bolts, masterclass writing, and keeping the creative well stocked. Each batch of sessions includes a guest speaker, such as a psychologist, an agent, and an artist. It uses the same activities-based approach to learning as the 12-week course and workshops.

The group is ongoing and runs fortnightly, so people have time to write. Students sign up for 6 sessions at a time, over 3 months, for as long as is appropriate for them.

Feedback
Each week, 2 people receive feedback from the whole group, with me leading the discussion. Writing is sent in a week in advance, so everyone can read it carefully, and the author specifies what kind of feedback they'd like. For the first 20 minutes, the author keeps quiet, and then joins the discussion for the last 10 minutes.

Input

The second half of each session is input, treating each of the three strands in turn. The topics vary according to each group's needs.

Practical nuts and bolts
This is the practical and business side of writing. Topics include: goal-setting and managing your progress; document layout, styles, and formatting; writing synopses, blurbs, and cover letters; submitting to agents, publishers, magazines, and competitions; finding your genre's tribe & contacts through magazines, conventions, and societies; websites & your online presence; and tax, ALCS, and money matters. Guest speaker: literary agent.

Masterclass writing
This extends topics covered in the 12-week course and introduces other aspects of writing. As well as the elements of novel building from the 12-week course, topics include: making it literal to show not tell; writing dialogue; editing your work; making time pass; using flashbacks; pruning dead space and filler scenes; choosing section breaks and chapter breaks; orientating the reader. Guest speaker: psychologist.

Stocking the creative well
As you start writing more, and using more of your free time to write, it's important to keep your creative well of ideas stocked. If creativity becomes all about product, it dies – it's important to enjoy process and to play. Activities include: playing with language; using lyrics to generate ideas; trying out other genres and forms of writing; mixing writing and art; developing one's other creative outlets; valuing "non-time"; exploring the creative process. Guest speaker: artist.

More photos & larger versions