Session 1: Ideas and Inspiration
In this opening session, we’ll look at where writers get their ideas and which types of ideas work best in the long form of a novel. There are practical ways to test whether your idea will sustain a full work of fiction, plus exercises to get your fiction motor running and help you assess which of your ideas are worth developing.
Live group webinar with the tutor.
Session 2: Character Is Plot
Some novel writers start with story. Others begin with a character. In a good novel both are interlinked. In this session we’ll focus on characterisation and those first steps in developing a protagonist your reader will care about, with practical exercises to help you uncover plot from character.
Q&A session with the tutor.
Session 3: Point of View and Tense
Which viewpoint should I choose and which tense should I use for my story? In this session we’ll look at two of the most common questions new novel writers ask, and try out first person and third, present tense and past. We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each, and work out which are right for this particular story.
Live group webinar with the tutor.
Session 4: Story and Structure
How do you develop a sustained narrative from the starting points you’ve established? In this session we’ll look at some of the basic rules of plotting and try out practical techniques novelists use to stitch together their narratives. We’ll also explore how much – and how little – other novel writers plan before getting stuck in.
Q&A session with the tutor.
Session 5: Write Your Synopsis
What is a synopsis and why do you need one at this early stage of writing? In this session we’ll look at the role of the synopsis as a touchstone at different stages in the novel-writing process, and try out formulas that work.
Live group webinar with the tutor.
Session 6: Your Opening Pages
Why are the first line, paragraph and page are so important for the novel writer? We’ll look at how different writers use their opening pages to set out what their novels are about and why the reader should care enough to read on, before you work on your own opening pages.
Final one-to-one tutorial with the tutor to discuss your story idea, synopsis and next steps.
Session 7: You the Novelist (two weeks)
Two weeks of quiet writing time as you focus on your final assignment: applying the ideas and techniques you have explored through the course to write the opening chapter (or sample) of your novel idea.
This session also features tips on establishing a writing practice, and on honing your craft and overcoming common writerly pitfalls: active vs passive verbs, adverbs, speech markers, formatting, etc.
Live Q&A webinar with guest novelist.