novel writing courses uk

The Novel Studio

Short course

The Novel Studio offers 15 selected students the unique opportunity to work exclusively on their novels for a year.

No starting dates

Testimonials

I just wanted to say a thank you. I've grown so much as a writer since joining the Novel Studio. The feedback I've received from the tutors on the course gave me the confidence to write the short story and enter the contest. Getting feedback from my peers was a welcome bonus.

Former student, shortlisted for The Guardian 4th estate books BAME short story prize.

Applying for The Novel Studio was one of the best decisions I've made. The structure of the course allowed me to fit it around my job, but also gave me the space to focus on my writing. The classes were engaging, informative and helped me to shape my idea into a fully-fledged novel. I've recently signed with an agent, who I met due to the anthology we sent out at the end of the course.

Bethan Moore

I benefited enormously from being able to develop my novel in an environment that was both demanding and supportive, and my writing improved considerably over the course. The tutorial guidance is excellent and sensitively applied. The standard of students is very high, and one of the best benefits was forming a long-term relationship (and friendship) with such talented fellow-writers.

Penny Rudge

Former student, author of Foolish Lessons in Life and Love, Little Brown.

Course overview

What will I learn?

Assessment and certificates, how to apply, eligibility, recommended reading, the novel studio course overview.

Six modules, taught by professional writers and editors, guide students through the tricky terrain of novel writing, from plotting, planning and researching a novel, through to character development, pacing, narrative voice and style, revisions and editing.

By the end of this year-long novel writing course, students will have developed the skills needed to draft their novels and the necessary materials to interest an agent in their work: three polished chapters, a professional-standard synopsis and a blurb.

Students are also trained for public readings, culminating in a prestigious showcasing of their novels-in-progress to industry guests. See our Novel Studio Anthology 2022 .

Students are also prepared for the presentation of their work to agents and publishers.

Who is it for?

Those who have always wanted to write a novel, who want time to develop their writing in a supportive, professional environment and those interested in establishing links with agents and publishers.

Find out more about our Fiction writing courses

Fiction writing at City, University of London

Taught over 30 weeks (two evening classes a week), The Novel Studio offers you the opportunity to learn through an exciting and diverse teaching methodology.

With visits from established writers, agents and editors, the course has strong links with the publishing industry and an impressive publication record. Take a look at our array of published alumni .

The Novel Studio Scholarship

Generously supported by Novel Studio alumna and best-selling crime author, Harriet Tyce, The Novel Studio scholarship supports a talented writer from a low-income household who might not otherwise be able to accept an offer of a place on course.

Apply for the Novel Studio Scholarship .

The Novel Studio competition

In a rare opportunity to bypass the slush pile, all applications to the Novel Studio will automatically be considered for our City Novel Studio Competition.

The best three applications will be passed on to Christine Green, literary agent at Christine Green Authors' Agency, with a view to representation.

The competition is open to unpublished novelists writing in any fictional genre for adults, including literary fiction, women's fiction, science fiction, young adult fiction, chick-lit, fantasy, crime fiction, thriller, historical fiction, but not non-fiction or fiction for children.

Read the full competition terms, conditions and information .

Term 1: Autumn Term

Term 2: Spring Term

Term 3: Summer Term

Transferable skills

Classes take the form of group activities workshops, masterclasses and tutorials.

One-to-one tutorials with the tutors are offered at designated times throughout the course. Students can use this time to discuss their work in progress, share their ideas and plans and consider the deadlines set for their work.

Assessments

The assessment for The Novel Studio is based entirely on course work, which covers aspects of all work undertaken throughout the year. Each module has its own assessment, which is marked by the relevant tutor and overseen by the Course Director. Assessments will include:

Certificates

Certificates are awarded to all students who attend 70% of the classes and complete all the module assessments.

Applications will open on 1st February 2023, with a deadline by 5pm on 29th April 2023 .

If you want to be considered for the Novel Studio Scholarship, please mark your email subject heading: Novel Studio Scholarship Application.

Interviews will take place on 12th, 15th and 16th June 2022, unless otherwise stated. Successful candidates will be notified by 10th June 2022.

To apply, please email the course director, Emily Pedder with:

Prospective students must be willing to have their writing workshopped as part of the group and to engage actively in critiquing the work of their peers.

Ideally students will also have completed at least one creative writing course.

Acceptance onto the course is determined by interview and a novel extract of no more than 2,000 words.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.

This is a background reading list. It is not prescriptive, so students can dip into any of these books at any point in the course. The tutors will refer to a range of novels throughout, as and when it is key to the course and the students' own writing.

Emily Pedder

Course Director

Emily Pedder’s short fiction has been published widely and has won several prizes, including a Commonwealth short story award and a Ruth Rendell short story award.

Emily has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam, where she founded Matter , a literary anthology. She is a firm believer in the importance of mentoring emerging writers and the power of a good edit, and has worked extensively with writers across the UK for the past decade. Emily course directs the Novel Studio, which she co-founded, as well as heading up the writing short courses at City. More recently she set up an editorial consultancy: The Book Edit .

Rebekah Lattin-Rawstone

Novel Studio Tutor

Rebekah is a prize-winning writer, editor and creative writing teacher currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing at the Open University with a fully funded Open-Oxford-Cambridge Studentship. Her novel Home about a corrupt care home, was published by Red Button Publishing, and her short story chapbook Glitches, is published by Acorn Books. Rebekah has worked as a creative writing lecturer in several settings for over ten years, devising and delivering workshops for City, University of London, City Short Courses, Bishopsgate Institute, Emmanuel College Cambridge, Pembroke College Cambridge, The Guardian and the Graham Greene Festival. Rebekah founded City Writes, a termly event set up to showcase the creative writing talent of students and alumni of City, University of London's short creative writing courses.

Kiare Ladner

Kiare Ladner’s first novel, Nightshift, was published by Picador (UK, 2021) and HarperCollins (USA, 2022). A story of obsession set in London’s liminal world of nightshift workers, the book explores ambivalent female friendship, sexual attraction and lives that defy easy categorization. Her short stories have been published in anthologies, journals, commissioned for radio and shortlisted in competitions, including the BBC National Short Story Award 2018.

Kiare completed The Novel Studio in 2010 (then the Certificate in Novel Writing). She went on to get funding from David Higham towards an MA (Prose Writing) at the University of East Anglia. After that she received funding for a PhD (Creative Writing) at Aberystwyth University. She was given Curtis Brown’s HW Fisher Scholarship in 2018. In addition to writing, she tutors and mentors other writers of all levels. Now at work on her second novel, you can find her in cyberspace here .

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Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning)

Course content, entry requirements, student work, staff profiles, student profiles.

Apply for this course

Writing a novel is on most bucket lists, but very few people make their dream a reality. Our fully flexible online MA enables you to develop your novel at your own pace, at times to suit your lifestyle, from anywhere in the world. You’ll be supported throughout by acclaimed novelists, who are experienced creative writing lecturers with valuable industry links.

Why study the MA Novel Writing* at Middlesex University?

Our practical and contemporary approach to novel writing ensures you are able to hone your writing skills and develop your book while also identifying gaps in the market and how to approach agents and publishers.

Through our online campus you can access the support of our experts, while interacting with others on the course, at a time to suit you, and you can choose to complete the course in one year (full-time) or over two (part-time) starting in October. From idea generation, to developing character and plot, to pitching your novel to publishers, this MA equips you to master your novel.

Course highlights

This course is subject to review*

Find out more

What our students say

Through the course, I stepped outside my comfort zone and found a writing voice I did not know I had. The support of my peers and tutors made that possible.

Lynn Bradshaw, MA Novel Writing student

What will you study on the MA Novel Writing?

This course is divided into five modules taken over three terms (if studied full time) which take you through the full process of writing a novel. While exploring in depth such key techniques of fiction as plotting, narrative voice, characterisation and background research, each module is also designed to be flexible and to allow you to bring your own writing interests and projects to the assignments, extending the boundaries of your current practice through self-reflection, research, analysis, and creative exploration.

Writing as a Novelist - 30 Credits - Compulsory

This module explores key writing techniques such as narrative, setting and characterisation, with reference to literary examples and the different methods used by writers in the creative process. This is an opportunity for you to explore the scenes and characters of your planned novel or develop a variety of ideas and approaches if you have not decided on the content of your story.

Reading as a Novelist - 30 Credits - Compulsory

Building on the 'Reading as a Writer' concept (most famously explored in Francine Prose's book), this module explores how published writers handle the technical and ethical problems which are likely to present themselves in your writing. Through a combination of weekly 'practical criticism' exercises and an online 'book group' you will develop the analytical skills to improve your own writing and the problem-solving techniques to overcome any obstacles in your approach.

Research: Writing, Markets, Audiences - 30 Credits - Compulsory

This module explores the methods fiction-writers employ to research elements of their stories, as well as investigating the reasons why research is necessary – to provide authenticity, to avoid error, to create verisimilitude, and even to get inspiration. You will also learn about researching the possible markets, audiences and publishing outlets for your creative work.

Developing and Publishing the Novel - 30 Credits - Compulsory

This module moves on from the 'portfolio' focus of earlier modules to deal with the challenges of working on a specific novel. Through a series of writing exercises you will begin to evolve characters, explore themes and refine settings for your planned novel. This is an opportunity for you to begin the sustained prose narrative that is expected in the following dissertation.

Major Project - 60 Credits - Compulsory

Your final dissertation is an opportunity for you to take all the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the preceding modules and apply them to 20,000 words of an original novel with a synopsis for sending to an agent or publisher and an accompanying critical commentary.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification . Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

How is the MA Novel Writing taught?

This course is an online distance learning programme, so all teaching and learning is done online.

You will meet, work and study with your fellow course participants and tutors in a virtual space which provides you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, in your own time. Our Virtual Learning Environment encourages you to share your writing, interact, question, and participate with others on your course, ensuring you never feel as if you are studying in isolation.

You will learn through

Assessment is on the basis of creative work, including a 15,000-word final submission, along with reflection on the writing process in the form of discussion posts, on-line learning journals and critical commentaries.

Life at Middlesex

Qualifications

Further requirements

To be accepted to study on the MA Novel Writing, we are particularly looking for writing promise, ambition and dedication. All applicants are required to submit 2,000 words of recently written work as part of their application. This should be as a Word document. It is likely to be creative writing in prose form, e.g. an excerpt from a short story or novel, or it could be an essay or piece of creative non-fiction, for example. Applicants will then be required to attend a short on-line or telephone interview.

Eligibility

UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.

Academic credit for previous study or experience

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page .

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

Entry onto this course requires a portfolio. Please view the how to apply tab for more information.

We accept the equivalent of the below qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification:

To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the relevant Support in your country page . If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest Regional office for support.

Visas and immigration

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our Visas and immigration page for further information.

International students who require a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. If you are on any other visa for the duration of study, please contact our admissions team to discuss possibilities of studying on a part-time basis.

English language requirements for international students

You must have competence in English language to study with us. IELTS must have minimum 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and a minimum 7.0 in Written component for 202310. We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications.

If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course .

Entry onto this course requires an interview and a portfolio. Please view the how to apply tab for more information.

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. Please visit our Postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.

Portfolio and interview

In addition to the application form you will be required to submit 2,000 words of recently written prose fiction (a short story, or extract from a novel).

You will also be asked to take part in a short on-line or telephone interview of about 15- 20 minutes. We use the interview to allow us to find out more about you, in particular what you like to read, what you like to write and why you have applied for this programme. We want to better understand your aspirations and interests and also give you the chance to learn more about us. There will be no trick questions, so don't be too nervous. This is just to make sure the course is right for you.

Did you know?

Help with your application, eu / international students.

The fees below refer to the 2022/23 academic year unless otherwise stated.

UK/EU/International students*

Full-time students: £7,800 Part-time students: £52 per credit Part-time students: £26 per dissertation

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page .

Course costs

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

As an undergraduate alumnus continuing postgraduate studies at Middlesex, you are eligible for an alumni bursary worth 20% off your fees.

Scholarships, fees and bursaries

Students on the Novel Writing MA have been involved in creating a set of podcasts which gave them invaluable hands on experience of scripting and producing radio pieces. They had the opportunity to showcase an example of their work as part of Middlesex’s literary festival, the North London Story Festival, both via the NLSF website and on the day through a podcasting hub was set up during the festival.

On the Crest of a Wave by Jonathan Payne

The Urge by Shauna Lupaschuk

A Portrait of the Artist as a Not So Young Pretender by Russell Che Parke

A Beginning, a Middle and an End by Nabeel Mohan

Dr Adam Lively Programme Leader

Adam has published four novels and in 1993 was on the Granta list of “Twenty Best Young British Novelists”. He is also the author of Masks: Blackness, Race and the Imagination (1997) and was the co-editor of Democracy in Britain: A Reader (1995). He spent ten years as a researcher/producer/director of documentary films, including Jihad: The Men and Ideas behind Al Qaeda (PBS/Channel 4), which was shortlisted for an International Emmy and awarded the DuPont-Columbia Prize for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. His doctoral thesis examined narrative fiction from the perspective of contemporary psychology and philosophy of mind, and he continues to research and publish in this field, in addition to writing fiction.

Dr Adam Dalton

Before joining Middlesex University, Adam lectured in English Literature and Creative Writing at both Manchester Metropolitan University and Falmouth University. He writes academically on English Literature, and publishes both genre and literary fiction under the author name A J Dalton.

Lynn Bradshaw, London

I began from the premise that I wanted to be able to do two things after the course: write a a reasonably "good" novel and move into teaching creative writing. I am happy to say that I have already embarked on both.

The programme has given me the tools, confidence and contacts to start to make a career out of writing.

Throughout the course, I stepped outside my comfort zone and found a writing voice I did not know I had. The support of my peers and tutors made that possible.

The best things have been: contact with other supportive trainee novel writers via the forums and working with professional writers to polish my writing.

I cannot emphasis enough how much I have gained from the tutors. Their insights, questions, challenges, enthusiasm and empathy have made the course a really great experience.

Divya Menon, Malaysia

I am so glad and grateful to have had the opportunity to be on the MA Novel Writing programme. What an awesomely compact and precisely structured course, nurturing future novelists with all the right ingredients. This course has literally flung the door open for my dream of writing a novel to take shape. A big thank you to the course leader and to the tutors who have not only shared their knowledge and expertise with insight and foresight, but also have been excellent and encouraging mentors in the craft. The very fact this course is online is simply a gift to aspiring novelists like myself who can't get to the UK physically.

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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Ultimate Novel Writing Course UK Europe

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The creative writing course for serious writers

Write a publishable novel in a year with The Ultimate Novel Writing Course. A flexible course for serious writers. Applications for the Spring 2023/24 course are now open.

Ultimate Novel Writing Course | UK & Europe

This year-long course combines online mentoring, weekly tutorials and editorial feedback, literary agent feedback and an exclusive online networking event. Start with a work in progress – end with the tools and contacts you need to get published.

This course at a glance:

A One Year Course

April 2023 – March 2024

Online Learning

Combined with opportunities to get your work seen by agents

Flexible Payments

Pay upfront or in instalments

Course Overview

Key information.

Date: April 2023 – March 2024

Duration: 1 year

Price: £4,950 paid upfront or split into 11 monthly instalments of £495 (totalling £5,445).

Entry: By application only. Download a prospectus to find out how to apply.

Location: Online (open to students worldwide, with all calls taking place at GMT/BST).

Questions? Contact our courses today via email or phone us on 0345 459 9560

Our connections are now yours

We’re partnering with top literary agency Peters Fraser + Dunlop to give them an exclusive first look at our Ultimate Novel Writing Course students’ hard work and submissions. If you have a finished novel by the end of the course, we’ll send your submission pack to Peters Fraser + Dunlop for you, with the guarantee that an agent will read your work.

You’ll receive personal feedback to help you refine your manuscript and give you a head start on your agent search.

Get your work discovered

Make sure your words are seen by the right people! At the end of the Ultimate Novel Writing Course, a sample of each student’s work is sent to our database of top literary agents, including Peters Fraser + Dunlop, Madeleine Milburn, The Soho Agency, and more.

Last year, more than 30% of our students received a full manuscript request from the anthology alone, so what are you waiting for?

21/22 Anthology

ultimate novel writing course uk anthology

Applications are now open

Download our prospectus to find out how to apply

A flexible course for serious writers

We built this course to give you everything you’d get from an MA plus much, much more. Alongside weekly online tutorials, you’ll receive one-to-one support, editorial feedback, networking opportunities, and peer-to-peer feedback.

One-to-One Mentoring

Connect with your personal mentor every month. They’ll be on hand to offer feedback on your work as you write, and available to answer specific questions about how to get your novel to where you want it to be.

Editorial Feedback

Your personal mentor will provide a detailed, full-length manuscript assessment on the first 100,000 words of your novel, and support you as you implement any changes.

Weekly Tutorials

You’ll learn the craft of professional writing in detailed weekly tutorials – from plotting, to self-editing. You’ll also hear from special guest tutors throughout the course, such as top authors and literary agents.

You’ll be part of an exclusive group for Ultimate Novel students in our online community. You can exchange feedback, ask questions, or just hang out with new friends in your own private chat room. You’ll also get access to all Jericho Writers exclusive membership content – for life.

Networking Events

You’ll attend an online networking event with handpicked agents, plus have your work featured in our end-of-year anthology which is sent to our database of top literary agents.

Publication Support

We’ll introduce you to literary agents through one-to-ones and guest webinars, and teach you how to self-publish successfully. You’ll also get a lifetime of ongoing publication support from our team after the course comes to an end.

Your year at a glance

April : planning your novel.

This month, you’ll learn how to plan and structure your novel and put this into action for your own work.

MAY : Point of view

We’ll explore all the different kinds of point of view; from omniscient and third person limited, to first person, and see how each one can inform our own work.

JUNE : Setting

It’s time to start writing your novel. This month, we’ll look at how you can maximise the potential of your setting.

JULY : Character

You’ll learn the techniques and tools you can use to strengthen and develop your characters.

AUGUST : Emotion and senses

This month, you’ll study the art of transferring weight of emotion onto objects and atmosphere.

SEPTEMBER : Pacing and tension

How do you keep your reader engaged? We’ll discover the importance of building tension, no matter the genre.

OCTOBER : Voice and style

A well-developed style is like a fingerprint: what can you do to practice yours, and to make your words flow?

NOVEMBER : Writing a great ending

By now, you’ll have a working manuscript and be aware of all the techniques that shape your world – so it’s the time to draw upon everything you have learnt so far and nail that ending.

DECEMBER : Self-editing

This month, we’ll look at your manuscript in its entirety and learn how to turn that first draft into a masterpiece.

JANUARY : Getting published

Through detailed tutorials, we’ll learn the art of perfecting your submission package and how to find the best agents for your work.

FEBRUARY : Author-led marketing and self-publishing

Learn the core tools of self-publishing – which also form the basis for any author-led marketing campaign.

MARCH : End of course networking event

Join us to celebrate your achievements! Meet your peers and tutors for our end-of-course online reading, where you will get the chance to showcase your work to top literary agents.

Meet Your Tutors

Get to know your tutors.

One tutor will be your personal mentor and will guide you through the course, providing monthly one-to-one sessions and regular feedback on your work. (You will have the opportunity to select your preferred tutor during the application process.)

You’ll also get to know the other tutors throughout the course during the various modules across the year.

Anna Vaught

Specialisms: Anna loves working with writers of literary and commercial fiction (particularly gothic, magical realism and historic), and short story collections.

Anna is the author of eight books, most recently the novel Saving Lucia (Bluemoose 2020 & 8tto, Milan, 2023) and short fiction collections Famished (Influx Press, 2020) and Ravished (Reflex Press, 2022). She writes regularly for The Bookseller (where she has also been a columnist) and has had opinion pieces and features, reviews, short fiction, memoir, and creative fiction published in various literary journals and in the national press and she is currently a columnist for Mslexia.

2023 sees publication of her memoir These Envoys of Beauty (Reflex Press), novel: The Zebra and Lord Jones (Renard Press, UK & Commonwealth), and The Alchemy (Renard Press), her first book about writing, with a focus on gentle productivity.

Gavin James Bower

Specialisms: Gavin enjoys working with writers of contemporary fiction, crime, thrillers, short story collections, and creative non-fiction.

Gavin James Bower BA (Hons) PhD FHEA was born and grew up in Lancashire. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sheffield, before modelling in Paris and later working as an editor and publisher in London. The author of two novels ( Dazed & Aroused and Made in Britain ) and one nonfiction title ( Claude Cahun: The Soldier with No Name ) – for which he received a Society of Authors award – his journalism has featured in the Guardian, the Independent, Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and BBC Radio 5 Live. He joined EastEnders in 2014, writing five episodes. He now lives in Somerset and teaches Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.

Emma Cooper

Specialisms: Emma loves working with writers of contemporary fiction, crime, thrillers, literary, book club, women’s fiction, and romance.

Emma is the author of highly acclaimed book club fiction novels and is known for mixing humour with darker emotional themes. Her debut, The Songs of Us , was snapped up in multiple pre-empts and auctions and was short-listed for the RNA contemporary novel of the year award. Her work has since been translated into seven different languages.

Writing came to Emma later in life. As a mother of four, she had little spare time and wrote her debut during her lunch hour while working full-time. She went on to run her own successful manuscript appraisal service, where she has worked with traditionally published authors, as well as new aspiring writers. Emma is a passionate advocate for working-class writers and loves to help others on their road to publication.

She has had four books published so far: The Songs of Us , The First Time I Saw You , If I Could Say Goodbye and It Was Always You .

Emma is currently working on her fifth novel, as well as working as a creative writing tutor and mentor.

Testimonials

We helped Jack go from first draft to published book

I loved everything about the UNWC. The tutorials were thought-provoking, the group sessions were fun and the mentoring in particular was absolutely top-notch. This was the first time anyone had taken me seriously as a writer — my mentor both encouraged and challenged me. And when I had my manuscript ready, Jericho’s support was instrumental in my agent search. I’m hugely thankful that I had the chance to take this course!

UNWC student 19/20 and author of ‘London in Black’ (Pushkin Vertigo, 2022)

The course has been amazing so far..

I have never studied any form of creative writing past school, as I was afraid of turning it into a chore, so I was apprehensive about starting knowing I might be swimming in the deep end. On the contrary I’ve really enjoyed it and my writing has excelled dramatically, with feedback, the exercises and reading set and making time for my MS.

Verity H, UNWC student 20/21

Get your writing discovered.

Download our prospectus to find out how to apply.

We’ve helped hundreds of authors achieve their goals

I signed up for the Ultimate Novel Writing Course in 2019 and this proved to be one of the best decisions of my writing career.

Carol Lupton

Unwc student 19/20 and author of ‘red dirt girl’ (the book guild, 2022), frequently asked questions, who is this course for.

This course is perfect for anyone serious about writing a novel and seeing it traditionally published, or successfully self-published. Ideally, students on the course have already working on a draft they’d like to write and polish. This is truly one of the best novel writing courses available. The mentoring aspect of the course will be completely personalised to you, so we’ll work from whatever your starting point happens to be.

Do you handle all genres? What about creative non-fiction? What about children’s and Young Adult?

We warmly welcome writers in almost every genre, from very literary to commercial. Our tutors work across a diverse list of fiction and creative non-fiction genres. We certainly also welcome YA writers. If you write for much younger children, the course may be less suitable – but feel free to ask.

What is the application process?

We invite writers from all backgrounds to apply to this course, whatever their educational backgrounds or prior achievements. We do however ask that all applicants are genuinely committed to a career as an author.

If you feel this best describes you, please download our course prospectus here and follow the links to the application page. This page will ask you to describe your idea, your personal goals, and upload a sample of your work.

We aim to respond to all applications within 15 working days. All work will be forwarded to the course tutors who will make the final decision on entry according to which writers they feel show commitment and commercial viability.

If you have any questions about the application process, you can email us on [email protected], or call us on UK: +44 (0)345 459 9560, or US: +1 (646) 974 9060.

Where can I get a complete course outline?

You can find the full course outline in our prospectus .

I have a full time job / family commitments. Can I do this course in my spare time?

Yes. We purposely designed this course to fit in around your other commitments; flexibility is one of the many benefits of online novel writing courses. Bear in mind that we will be asking you to write (or rewrite) your novel, as well as engage with teaching material and other online/offline events throughout the year. If you think you can manage that, we’ll be happy to accommodate you – and of course we’ll be as flexible as we can be.

Do I need to be available at set times every week?

For the most part, you’ll be able to work to a schedule that suits you. There will be at least two monthly zoom calls. All calls will be recorded, so if you can’t make the live session, you’ll be able to watch the replay. The only truly fixed part of the calendar is the in-person event at the end of the course. While access to our live events is included, students will be required to pay for their own travel to and from live events, including any additional expenses incurred.

Will the online elements of the course be easy to use?

We use an easy-to-navigate online teaching platform to provide our virtual classrooms. It’s incredibly user-friendly and you’ll have no difficulty understanding what to do. The course will also have its own private space within Jericho Community, and we’ll maintain that group permanently, so your course friendships can long outlast the end of the course. If you do need help at any stage, we’ll be on hand.

Do you have bursaries available?

While we don’t have a full bursary available for this course, we want to help great writers get published, and if your personal circumstances make it impossible for you to fund the full price of this course, please get in touch. We can’t make any promises, but we’ll always do what we can.

Is this course suitable for international students?

Yes. We have a very international client base already and we welcome applications from anywhere in the world. It’s open internationally for writers from all over the world, and all online calls and live events will take place at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

If you’re based in more international time zones, our Ultimate Novel Writing Course (North America & Australasia) will take place at Eastern Time (ET).

Ready to apply?

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Ultimate Novel Writing Course Success Stories

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Novel Writing .

Novel Writing

Agatha Christie once said "The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes"

Whether writing simply for the pleasure of seeing your thoughts take shape as words on paper or writing to achieve publication, this course is for you. The course is structured to help you achieve each goal in the novel writing process one step at a time.

Our combination of course materials and guidance from your personal tutor succinctly takes you through each phase-from developing a powerful, saleable idea to creating unforgettable characters and a potent structure.

Create memorable characters, gripping plots and vivid settings with the course in Novel Writing.

On completion of your course, you will receive a certificate:

Stonebridge Associated Colleges: Novel Writing Diploma

Novel Writing Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, to view a sample of the college’s award, please click here.

Requirements for Entry

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Professional Membership

On completion of this course you will be eligible to join the following Professional Associations(s):

On successful completion of your course your qualification is awarded. You will receive an attractively presented Diploma or Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, this will also allow you to use the letters SAC. Dip. or SAC. Cert. after your name.

Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the leading (and biggest) distance education colleges in the U.K and internationally. We have many thousands of students studying with us at any one time from locations all over the world. Our diplomas will always count towards your future, and will improve your prospects of future employment or higher level study etc. by proving that you have studied to a certain level, that you have proficiency in your chosen subjects and that you are interested in your field of choice. Education is always an investment in your future and you will find this to be the case with our qualifications in your jurisdiction.

Fiction Fundamentals

The Way to Characterize

Emotions, Theme, Viewpoint

Dialogue, Style

Structure, Chapters, Publishing

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

Course Description

Qualification, payment options.

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Call us now on 0121 392 8288

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Guided learning hours

Notional learning hours, technical requirements.

To run our online learning platform users will need:

On submission of this enquiry, one of the learner support team from will contact you within 24 hours and help you enrol on this diploma.

🎉 Congratulations to our 3 writers published this week! Read more 👉

The Finished Novel Writing Course

Comprehensive care with feedback towards a finished manuscript.

The fully supportive career path perfect for seasoned writers and beginners.

The Novel Writing Course To Get Published

Our comprehensive novel writing program. With structured, carefully paced course content, writer coaching, intensive feedback and a full manuscript assessment. Available as a one-year or two-year program.

Writers find it hard to enter the publishing world, or access routes beyond self-publishing. Many can write but few get published. You may be asking yourself: why? What do you need to do to meet the standards required of literary agents and publishers? The answer is story, story, story .

With The Finished Novel Course, you’ll develop the advanced creative writing skills you need to complete a work of fiction to get published; step by step, in safe hands, with professionals and experts. Even if you ’re a complete beginner.

What’s more you’ll discover a community where writing is serious fun, and writing your novel in the company of fellow students worldwide brings new joy to your writing life on a daily basis.

We’ll take you from creating the initial idea for a story through to a finished draft, teaching creative writing techniques and skills along the way. You’ll work with a professional editor to complete a novel or memoir to publishing industry standards.

We’ll open the closed doors of the publishing world to you and you’ll see, as we do, that it’s open to debut authors with their first novel – if they understand how stories work and present their work with professional flair.

The program combines our 3 short courses in a supportive VIP pathway that students can take at their own pace to cover the bases of writing a novel from a cracking concept through to polished prose on the page. Unlike many courses, you can look forward to a campus like experience of camaraderie with our thriving community and a practical outcome; your novel finished and ready for the publishing process.

Along with the creative writing classes, it includes constructive feedback on your work in progress from professional editors to achieve your ambition.

Our creative writing courses are suitable for all, from returning students to those new to writing fiction. It’s certainly the right course for those who are keen to secure a traditional publishing deal. The Finished Novel Course offers so much more than other courses, including a Masters in Creative Writing, and is focused on a tangible achievement: to hold in your hands a finished manuscript of a standard that will enable you to enter the publishing process with our submission of your novel to our trusted literary agents.

The Novelry is here to help you fast-track your journey to a traditional publishing deal. We offer affordable instalment payment plans for writers worldwide available in every currency.

When ’ s the start date? Today! Enrol below to become one of our exciting success stories.

The Finished Novel Course

Enjoy the buzz of a campus-style experience from your own home – with a practical career outcome.

The complete career path to becoming a published author combines course materials from our world-famous, flexible online novel writing courses to help you learn creative writing techniques from award winning authors to progress and develop your writing as you complete a novel.

Available as a one-year or two-year program.

Meet your fellow writers at the online membership community with live fiction writing classes and instant access to a vast library of recorded writing classes with bestselling authors.

Begin by creating a big, bold story with the Classic Course and 55 self paced lessons (2 months suggested).

Then, write a first draft of your novel in a season with the Ninety Day Novel with 100 self paced lessons and 6 writer coaching sessions (3 months suggested).

Edit your novel with The Big Edit and 50+ self paced lessons with coaching guidance from publishing editors and 3 feedback sessions on large chunks of your novel (6 months suggested).

Get a full assessment of your entire manuscript with a detailed line by line report from a top-flight editor formerly of a Big Five publishing house.

Enter our literary agency submission process to aim for representation with leading literary agencies in the US and the UK representing writers worldwide.

An image of a snowglobe containing an open book, a globe and other bric a brac representing our Classic creative writing course

1. The Classic Course

A great story begins here. Most writers can write, but few are naturals at storytelling. Our foundation online course will ensure your plot includes the building blocks of successful novels with our secret storytelling code. We’ll help you create book ideas for all genre fiction, including literary fiction, young adult and children’s fiction.

Relax! We do the heavy lifting for you. With our ‘mind-blowing ’ approach we will dig deep into your unique life experience, the first stories you loved, the things most important to you in life and pair your passions with the biggest moves in storytelling from the all-time bestselling classic novels. We ’ ll plunder the treasures of the storytelling code with insights into archetypes like the portal , the garden , the sacrifice , the homely friend , and show you how to create wonderment. You ’ ll discover how when it comes to fiction writing, you can be yourself, only more so.

You can come to the first of our courses with an idea you ’ d like to develop or no idea at all and before you start writing, you ’ ll have a story you ’ re excited to write.

Meet your fellow students at our friendly community for online writing classes covering a broad range of topics across all genres of fiction writing.

2. The Ninety Day Novel

Learn how to write a novel with daily lessons by video from a Booker-listed author.

Relax and take your time over the early lessons for inspiration and preparation. You won ’ t start writing until you ’ re ready, and before you do you will be very well prepared with wise guidance from the daily writing classes on the essentials of the novel writing process: character development, the importance of setting, the key drivers of reader engagement, plot structure.

You ’ ll forge a personal connection with our writing mentors who are bestselling authors. Before you put pen to paper, you ’ ll get instructor feedback on your plan so you can start writing your novel with confidence. Your writing coach will not only guide you on creative writing practice, but keep you motivated as you write your novel. You ’ ll be able to check in with your mentor on your work in progress with online coaching sessions scheduled at times to suit you, available in all time zones.

You ’ ll work alongside a supportive community of fellow writers as you complete a first draft of your novel, learning to make writing time a part of your daily routine in good company.

Discover how to meet the requirements for writing genre fiction or literary fiction for the big publishing houses.

Image of a snowglobe containing a home office representing our ninety day novel writing courses

3. The Big Edit

A novel happens in drafts. Knowing this takes the pressure off the first draft. You can look forward to revising your novel and editing your own writing with the cool, clear logic of The Big Edit. Now you have written a first draft and know your story, it ’ s time to reconsider everything from pitch to prose. Learn some expert in-depth character development techniques to create truly memorable characters and polish your line by line style with exciting creative writing techniques such as our own Lucid Compression ® .

With help from editors, you ’ ll overhaul the story structure of your plot to move beyond the basic three acts to apply The Five F ’ s , the five part structure of successful novels. You ’ ll receive feedback on your new chaptered outline for a plan for revision from editors who have an expert understanding of the current market. They ’ ll guide you to prepare the book proposal that ’ s most likely to get a book published and onto the bookstore shelves.

What ’ s more, you ’ ll glean an understanding of your target audience and hear what your fellow students, your beta readers, think about your sample chapters in our workshop.

When your novel is ready you ’ ll receive feedback in detail from our editors, who will review your chapters and help you prepare your query letter, synopsis and pitch package to meet the submission guidelines of literary agents.

4. Writer Coaching and Editor Feedback

Throughout the program, you’ll get coaching from successful authors to help you stay on track.

Learn how to write from a seasoned writer with an exciting track record of publishing novels worldwide.

Find out more about our award winning authors and bestselling writing coaches here .

Additionally, you’ll receive feedback on your written work, in three chunks of 5000 words from our team of editors , each of whom has experience with more than one publisher comprising almost every publishing company: Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Bloomsbury and many more famous publishing houses.

Photos of the writing coaches from our novel writing courses accompanied by book covers of their bestsellers

5. The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment

The editorial team at our creative writing school has acquired novels from most of the world’s leading literary agencies.

Your editor knows first-hand how to get a book published and will evaluate every aspect of your story and writing: from the overall narrative arc of your plot to each character, from pace and momentum to prose and dialogue.

You will receive a fully marked-up manuscript and a comprehensive report that looks at your work, sentence by sentence, with clear guidance for final touches, as well as a pitch-perfect synopsis and query letter.

Our team of book editors have published bestselling novels worldwide for the major traditional publishers. Their editorial experience and relationships with literary agents make our creative writing courses unrivalled by any other courses worldwide and give graduates of our courses a distinct advantage.

6. Literary Agents

The Novelry works with the world’s leading literary agents who present writers’ novels to acquiring editors at major publishing companies. Writers seeking a career as a published author will want to find the very best agent to represent them for book, TV, audio and screen rights worldwide.

Our trusted literary agencies represent bestselling and award-winning authors like Philip Pullman, Michael Ondaatje, Hilary Mantel, Marilynne Robinson, Madeleine Miller, Celeste Ng, Gail Honeyman, Richard Osman, Paula Hawkins, J.M Coetzee, Jacqueline Wilson and many more famous names.

Literary agents are keen to see the high standard of debut authors publishing their first novels after graduating from The Novelry. We offer a carefully managed submissions process. Our editorial team will make a plan with each author to submit to the agents who are just right for their novel. We have an enviable success rate securing representation for writers (even beginners) from all over the world.

A great agent can get you a traditional publishing deal as well as TV and film rights too.

An image of the logos of the literary agencies that partner with us and represent members of our creative writing courses

7. Community and Classes

Our Writers Group is the jewel in our crown. It ’ s our writers who make The Novelry an all-singing and all-dancing experience!

Weekly live writing classes are taught by fiction writing bestsellers from around the world. Our guests have written in all genres, from science fiction to children’s fiction, from romance to crime fiction. They’ll talk to you about writing a novel and getting it published, from the query letter that got their foot in the door of the publishing industry to the ins and outs of working with a traditional publisher, from book title to book cover to royalties, rights, intellectual property, marketing and public relations.

You will enjoy a vast collection of recorded classes with authors like Val McDermid, Paula Hawkins, Sophie Kinsella, Meg Rosoff, Jessie Burton, David Nicholls and more.

You can meet your fellow writers for regular online writing workshops hosted by a writing coach, and you ’ ll find friendly smaller groups in the community where you can make new writer friends. Our online community is always open, always on, and it ’ s a hive of activity buzzing with warm-hearted writerly encouragement.

Come along to Team Chat with our Founder on a Sunday and say hello over a drink to other writers worldwide. You ’ll be warmly welcomed!

8. Certificate

You’ll receive a certificate of completion for your courses and all the skills they’ve imparted, as overseen by our founder and course director, Louise Dean.

Louise Dean is a bestselling author who has won The Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize, Le Prince Maurice Prize, been nominated for The Guardian First Book Prize, longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Award and The Booker Prize. Her own books have been deemed the top books of their year by the Guardian, the Observer and Publishers Weekly. Her fourth novel was an Oprah Book Club pick. She was a finalist for the Costa Coffee 2020 Short Story Award.

Louise has been widely praised as a writer from the Wall Street Journal to the Sunday Times and by the Nobel Laureate for Literature J. M. Coetzee.

Image of the certificate of completion we award for our novel writing course

Sign up for our most popular plan today.

Includes a welcome call with our Founder.

All courses, coaching and access to our community of other writers are yours either as a one-year or two-year program.

Save 30% on the cost of the individual courses, feedback sessions and manuscript assessment with this VIP plan.

Choose your preferred currency from the tabs below. But don’t worry, we accept all currencies and your payment will be converted at today’s rates without extra charges. You have a 7-day money-back guarantee should you change your mind.

You can select from our affordable instalment payment plans here .

The Finished Novel Course One Year Program

The Finished Novel Course Two Year Program

Instalment Payment Plans

✨ If you are seeking The Finished Novel Course (without The Classic Course) you can find it here .

Our Creative Writing Course Reviews

“The Novelry’s creative writing courses are unique – intelligent, surprising, more than a little magical – and I can’t recommend them highly enough. The result was my debut novel, For When I’m Gone , which was published by Orion Fiction.”

—Rebecca Ley

“A wonderful organisation for aspiring writers, and we’re thrilled to work with them!”

—Madeleine Milburn, Director of Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency

“It took me 66 years to get an agent. And it’s been worth the wait. I joined an amazing online writing community called The Novelry. Up until then, I’d got to the point where I’d lost momentum and couldn’t finish anything. I wailed to Louise at The Novelry that I had no ideas and she assured me that after the first week of the course, I’d have something. She was right.”

—Susie Bower

“These creative writing courses have changed my writing life and I can’t recommend them highly enough.”

“Within a short time of starting the lessons, I had my idea sorted and 90 days later I had my first draft. After taking the editing course and taking advantage of all the wonderful author chats and workshops offered by The Novelry, I secured a two book deal and it has been optioned for development into a six-part TV series.”

—Tracey Emerson

“These courses have changed my writing life and I can’t recommend them highly enough.”

— Tracey Emerson

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time will i need to set aside.

We suggest an hour a day. You can take the courses at your own pace and spend as much time as you like writing after the lesson, of course. Writers love the lessons and binge them, but we suggest one lesson a day which will take from 20–30 minutes. The lesson is given by video and text with downloads online and it’s timed to coincide with where you’re at in your writing process. You’ll need to set aside an hour a day for your writing when you begin to put pen to paper. It’s one hour just for you and you’ll come to love this special time. One hour? You deserve it.

When it comes to the editing process you might prefer to work in chunks of time and at weekends rather than daily.

The staged process allows you to schedule and pause your efforts for major events. You’ll want to consider when is right for you to get your head down for an hour a day faithfully for the three months of writing the novel.

We suggest 1–2 months on The Classic Course. 3–4 months on The Ninety Day Novel Course (an hour of writing daily). We recommend you take a one month reading break before you edit. 2–6 months for The Big Edit.

Are all lessons available to me now?

Yes! The joy of The Finished Novel Course is that it’s entirely self-paced to fit in with your writing year ahead. You take the structured program in the following order: The Classic Course, The Ninety Day Novel Course, The Big Edit, The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment. The courses will guide you through the process step by step through the lessons. Take each phase at your own speed. Relax. Plenty of time, plenty of support. Our team will follow your progress and help you stay on track.

How does the writer coaching work?

Your coaching begins after the first 7 days of The Ninety Day Novel Course lessons in the second phase, after you have completed The Classic Course.

Before your first coaching session, we’ll guide you on how to create an outline for a novel. You’ll be nudged to submit it to us, and we’ll look at your planned storyline as a team. If we think another writing coach would be best suited to your story, we’ll drop you a line.

Every writing coach reviews your storyline in advance of the session with our brilliant online system which tracks your progress via a tool we call ‘The Plan’.

Your first coaching session begins with your writing coach understanding your intentions and aspirations for your book and writing career. That’s your brief to us and allows us to give you the dedicated and personal guidance and support you need to achieve your ambition.

All sessions are recorded for you to keep and we keep abreast of your story progress with our interactive process.

The coaching sessions are 30–45 minutes by Zoom, and you’ll find it’s plenty of time to get help with story development and troubleshoot any problems to stay on track with your writing.

During the writing of a first draft, our focus is on your storyline and we work with you to creatively develop and expand the story together. We suggest you leave getting feedback on your work until after the first draft. A first draft should allow you to find the story, to be experimental and fearless. Unlike other writing courses we advise you don’t share, or workshop, the novel at this stage where your confidence and the story are still vulnerable. You can of course get feedback from one of our team – say for instance you’d like a ‘voice check’ at any stage of your year with us.

At The Novelry, we’ll keep you and your story safe within a one-on-one relationship of trust and care.

How do the feedback sessions work?

You have 3 feedback sessions included in your plan. The feedback sessions allow you to book in with one of our editors for a review and a report on 5000 words at a time. You’ll enjoy a 45-minute video debrief and have a chance to ask any questions. We recommend you reserve these sessions to the second half of the year when you’re more certain of the story and can apply the feedback to the written work you know you’re keeping. Use them during the third phase of the year, The Big Edit, to really sharpen and hone your chapters.

How does The Big Edit work?

The Finished Novel Course includes The Big Edit, the third and final phase of the program designed to raise your writing to publishing standards.

You’ll get to meet and discuss your work in two working sessions with one of our professional publishing editors.

The first Big Edit session happens before you start revising your first draft, so you can proceed with clarity and confidence, working to a solid and commercially viable storyline.

The second Big Edit session reviews your first three chapters and submission package in forensic detail to prepare you for our submission service to our literary agency partners.

In between those milestones, you’ll have lessons to guide you, chances to seek feedback on your chapters from your fellow writers and beta readers at our online members’ community, and enjoy live sessions with bestselling authors, literary agents and publishing professionals.

What happens if I don’t finish in my year (or 2 years)?

This is a flexible self-paced writing course you can take at your own pace around your other commitments. We suggest you consider taking 1–2 months over the first phase, The Classic Course, then setting aside 3 months in which you’ll be writing for an hour a day for the second phase, The Ninety Day Novel Course. The remainder of the year will be spent raising your novel to publishing standard with The Big Edit process in which you’ll want to work in longer chunks of time, when convenient to you.

The time it takes to complete a book depends on the time you can set aside, but with an hour a day we know it’s possible to complete your book. You might like to give yourself more time and more coaching support with our two-year program which includes 12 coaching sessions.

We fully understand that sometimes, life can get in the way – so if you need more time, you can extend your course and roll over your writer coaching sessions with our affordable extension plans.

Relax and enjoy the courses at your own pace, knowing you can get on with the writing without the worry of losing access to the course. You have as much time as you need.

What’s included in Membership?

You’ll love the live writing classes included in the membership of our writer’s group and enjoy taking your course in the company of other writers worldwide. Our online community is a hive of writerly activity, open 24/7, with specialist genre groups for you to join and a workshop to get feedback on your work from beta readers. We offer live writing classes with bestselling authors, literary agents and publishing professionals, monthly genre fiction workshops, and a twice-weekly Story Clinic with a writing coach where you can get answers to any questions arising in your writing in the week. You’ll get access to our vast Membership Library of resources and our Catch Up TV collection of videos with the big names of fiction sharing their creative process and writing tips. You’ll thrive with encouragement and support from other writers worldwide. Don’t miss membership!

How does the 30% discount work out?

If you choose The Finished Novel Course you will save 30% on the cost of the courses as sold separately.

Here’s how:

🇺🇸USD$: The Classic Course ($599) + Ninety Day Novel Course ($1497 total) + The Big Edit ($999) = $3095. Add 3 feedback sessions at $275 each at a total of $825. Add the Ultimate Manuscript Assessment at £1825 = $5745. (The Finished Novel Course is $3999.) Saving you $1746.

🇬🇧 UK £: The Classic Course (£499) + Ninety Day Novel Course (£1197 total) + The Big Edit (£799) = £2495. Add 3 feedback sessions at £299 each at a total of £897 = £3395. Add the Ultimate Manuscript Assessment at £1499 = £4894. (The Finished Novel Course is £3250.) Saving you £1644.

You will save even more with the two year program which includes 12 coaching calls.

Is the course accredited?

The courses are not accredited in the sense of counting towards academic qualifications as accredited academic institutional units. We offer our writers the career path towards a vocation as a published author, with a very practical outcome. We’re focused on publication rather than academic qualifications.

Our graduates get course certificates issued by the Course Director, Louise Dean, as a recognition of their achievements having been overseen by practising professionals who are of recognised standing in the publishing industry.

Leading literary agencies worldwide recommend The Novelry. So if you are seeking to be published traditionally via a literary agent (the route recommended by major publishers) then being a graduate of The Novelry may give your submission extra standing.

Do you take commission on successful submissions?

We neither ask for nor receive any commission from the literary agencies to whom we submit your work with your full prior agreement. Our relationship with our literary agency partners is based on excellence, reputation and trust. Other companies may ask for a commission (check the small print). We wouldn’t dream of it!

Our Admissions and Refund Policy

We operate a ‘people before profit’ policy as a way of maintaining a happy and supportive community for all of our writers. You’ll find The Novelry a safe place.

See our terms and conditions here .

Happy Writing Guarantee. We offer a 7-day no questions asked refund policy on all courses.

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Write Your First Novel

Financial aid available

About this Course

WRITE YOUR FIRST NOVEL

From Inc.com - The 30 Most Popular Online Courses of 2020 "Write Your First Novel" made the list at #15 https://lnkd.in/gZqscmn If you’ve ever had the dream, the desire or even just a vague notion that you would like to write a novel, this course is for you. Whether you are a full-time student, have a full-time job, a family to take care of or all of the above, you can do it. Really! And I will help you get there. In this Course, you will write your first novel. Many people say they have often thought about writing a novel and are planning to do it someday, but very few ever actually do. However, in this course, you will do it. You will learn how to form a basic idea, any idea, into a structure and discipline that will allow you to create, write and complete a fully-realized novel ready to submit for publication. If you have any concerns regarding the protection of your original work, Coursera's privacy policy protects the learner's IP and you are indeed the sole owners of your work. Here is a link to a trailer for the course. To view the trailer, please copy and paste the link into your browser. https://vimeo.com/385761391/c5e7f873cf Learner review: "It was a great experience, I really enjoyed it." In Write Your First Novel, you’ll learn to break down your creative endeavor into components and you’ll discover a process that will allow you to do what few have done: produce and complete a full-length work of fiction in the form of a 50,000-word novel. Learner Review: "You teach storytelling like no other teacher. I cannot put in words how much I appreciate it. This daily writing, and the product that comes with it, have been a great mental support during the pandemic time. Art is a support for life, as Stephen King said, and thanks to you I experienced it first-hand during this time. I think I will keep writing 500 words per night for the rest of my life. I owe it to you. You taught me how to write a novel, and it works every time. Huge thanks, and wishing you all the best." I am a proponent of experiential learning (also known as active learning). My lectures are short and to the point, designed in a step-by-step process essential to your success as a writer. I will guide you, I will show you how to get there, hopefully I will inspire you. You will learn through your own activity - which is writing! I firmly believe that the only way to become a writer is to write, write, write! Learner review: "As a published author, I took this course to relearn the skills. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every lecture and quiz. This course was very, very helpful and the videos were very well executed. Cheers!" Writing fiction is a truly beautiful thing. Putting your own words on a page to tell a story which enters your readers minds and allows them to share the thoughts, emotions and lives of your characters is a very satisfying, rewarding experience. Learner review: "BEST TEACHER EVER! LOVE THE COURSE."

No experience necessary, just a passionate desire to write a novel.

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

What you will learn

You will learn how to write and complete a full-length novel of 50,000 words. You will have a finished manuscript in hand at the end of the course.

Skills you will gain

David Wheeler

Michigan State University

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.

One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week one: creating the idea for your novel.

In Week One you will create a concept for your original novel, your own Intellectual Property (IP). You will write up a pitch document, post it and review the pitches of five of your peers. You will also create a Logline and a Dramatic Question for your novel, post those documents, review the work of five of your peers and revise your own work with the feedback you get from your peers

Week Two: Create your character profiles and outline Chapter One

In Week Two you will create profiles for your major characters and write up an outline for the first chapter of your novel.

Week Three: Write Chapter One

In Week Three you will begin writing your novel.

Week Four: Write Chapter Two

In Week Four you will write the second chapter of your novel.

Week Five: Write Chapter Three

In Week Five you will write the third chapter of your novel.

Week Six: Write Chapter Four

In Week six you will write the fourth chapter of your novel.

Week Seven: Write Chapter Five

In Week Seven you will write the fifth chapter of your novel.

Week Eight: Write Chapter Six

In Week Eight you will write the sixth chapter of your novel.

Week Nine: Write Chapter Seven

In Week Nine you will write the seventh chapter of your novel.

Week Ten: Table Read Chapters One to Seven

In Week Ten, you have the week off from writing. This week, you will get together with a few friends and read Act One, the first seven chapters of your novel,

Week Eleven: Write Chapter Eight

In Week Eleven you will write the eighth chapter of your novel.

Week Twelve: Write Chapter Nine

In Week Twelve you will write the ninth chapter of your novel.

Week Thirteen: Write Chapter Ten

In Week Thirteen you will write the tenth chapter of your novel.

Week Fourteen: Write Chapter Eleven

In Week Fourteen you will write the eleventh chapter of your novel.

Week Fifteen: Write Chapter Twelve

In Week Fifteen you will write the twelfth chapter of your novel.

Week Sixteen: Write Chapter Thirteen

In Week Sixteen you will write the thirteenth chapter of your novel.

Week Seventeen: Write Chapter Fourteen

In Week Seventeen you will write the fourteenth chapter of your novel.

Week Eighteen: Table Read Chapters Eight to Fourteen

In Week Eighteen, you have another week off from writing. This week, you will again get together with a few friends and read chapters Eight through Fourteen, Act Two of your novel.

Week Nineteen: Write Chapter Fifteen

In Week Nineteen you will begin the final Act of Your Novel

Week Twenty: Write Chapter Sixteen

In Week Twenty you will write the sixteenth chapter of your novel.

Week Twenty-One: Write Chapter Seventeen

In Week Twenty-One you will write the seventeenth chapter of your novel.

Week Twenty-Two: Write Chapter Eighteen

In Week Twenty-Two you will write the eighteenth chapter of your novel.

Week Twenty-Three: Write Chapter Nineteen

In Week Twenty-Three you will write the nineteenth chapter of your novel.

Week Twenty-Four: Write Chapter Twenty

In Week Twenty-Four you will write the final chapter of your novel.

Week Twenty-Five: Table Read Chapters Fifteen to Twenty

In Week Twenty-Five you will take another week off from writing and table read the final act of your novel.

Week Twenty-Six: Submit Your Finished Novel

In Week-Twenty Six you will submit your completed, polished novel. You will also write a prologue for your novel and a synopsis to submit to agents.

TOP REVIEWS FROM WRITE YOUR FIRST NOVEL

This course provided the structure and accountability I needed to write my first novel. It was low pressure and fun. I loved reading the comments from my fellow writers and reading their submissions.

Great format. I'm already making progress. Some discipline to write certainly helps but I like the presenter's style.

Davids minimalist approach to instruction was very amusing and motivating. He provided a shove in the right direction at the right moment and it was very helpful. Highly recommended course!

This course helped me write my first novel- in a matter of 7 months. I am so proud and so happy.

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Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Taking an online writing course can help you sharpen your writing skills, whether you’re just starting out or have been dabbling in writing for years.

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Writing is a craft. While some writers are born with an innate natural ability to weave together plot, setting and character into a story, even the most established writers can benefit from brushing up on their craft once in a while.

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At BBC Maestro we offer a range of online writing classes from some of the world’s best writers.

Learn how to write children’s books with the author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson . Or take tips from bestselling children’s author David Walliams . Find out how to craft timeless children’s stories and create characters that kids (and their parents!) will never forget.

Acclaimed novelist, Malorie Blackman , shares all her writing tips and tricks in her course. This comprehensive course covers the writing process, structuring your story and how to write convincing dialogue.

Master storyteller, Alan Moore , takes you on a wild and enchanting ride through his creative process. From inventive language and world-building, to crafting unforgettable characters, you'll learn all the tools you need to become a maestro of the written word.

Or if you prefer to write for the screen, Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio teaches a masterclass in screenwriting . In his course you can learn everything from creating a TV pilot to techniques to build tension and suspense.

Ready to learn how to write like a professional? Sign up for an online writing course and kick start your writing journey today.

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Free online English Literature / Creative Writing courses

Creative writing and critical reading

This free course, Creative writing and critical reading, explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development at the postgraduate level. You will gain inspiration and ideas from examining other writers’ methods, as well as enhancing your critical reading skills. Examples will cover the genres of fiction, creative ...

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Writing what you know

Do you want to improve your descriptive writing? This free course, Writing what you know, will help you to develop your perception of the world about you and enable you to see the familiar things in everyday life in a new light. You will also learn how authors use their own personal histories to form the basis of their work.

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Start writing fiction

Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and settings. You will also be able to look at the different genres for fiction.

Exploring books for children: words and pictures

Many people have fond memories of the stories they encountered in childhood, perhaps especially of those wonderful picture books and illustrated tales which fired our young imaginations and transported us to magical worlds. To an adult’s eye, some picture books may seem remarkably simple, even oversimplified. However, in this free course, ...

Level: 2 Intermediate

Reading Shakespeare's As You Like It

Do you enjoy watching Shakespeare's plays and like the idea of finding out more about them? This free course, Reading Shakespeare's As You Like It, will guide you through some of the most important speeches and scenes from one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies.

Icarus: entering the world of myth

This free course, Icarus: entering the world of myth, will introduce you to one of the best-known myths from classical antiquity and its various re-tellings in later periods. You will begin by examining how the Icarus story connects with a number of other ancient myths, such as that of Theseus and the Minotaur. You will then be guided through an...

Sam Selvon, The Lonely Londoners

This free course concentrates on Sam Selvon's twentieth-century novel, The Lonely Londoners. It considers the depiction of migration in the text as well as Selvon's treatment of memory as a vital part of the migrant's experience.

Introducing Virgil’s Aeneid

This free course offers an introduction to the Aeneid. Virgil’s Latin epic, written in the 1st century BCE, tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and his journey to Italy, where he would become the ancestor of the Romans. Here, you will focus on the characterisation of this legendary hero, and learn why he was so important to the Romans of ...

Exploring Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd

This free course, Exploring Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd, is designed to tell you something about Hardy's background, and to introduce you to the pleasures of reading a nineteenth-century novel. Why do we believe in fictional characters and care about what happens to them? You will discover some of the techniques that Hardy ...

John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi

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Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

What does Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus tell us about the author and the time at which the play was written? This free course, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, will help you to discover the intricacies of the play and recognise how a knowledge of the historical and political background of the time can lead to a very different ...

Approaching poetry

Do you want to get more out of your reading of poetry? This free course, Approaching poetry, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, poetic inversion, voice and line lengths and endings. You will examine poems that do not rhyme and learn ...

Approaching prose fiction

Do you want to get more out of your reading? This free course, Approaching prose fiction, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about narrative events and perspectives, the setting of novels, types of characterisation and genre.

Approaching plays

Do you want to get more out of drama? This free course, Approaching plays, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary plays. You will learn about dialogue, stage directions, blank verse, dramatic structure and conventions and aspects of performance.

Approaching literature: reading Great Expectations

This free course, Approaching literature: reading Great Expectations, considers some of the different ways of reading Great Expectations, based on the type of genre the book belongs to. This is one of the most familiar and fundamental ways of approaching literary texts. The novel broadens the scope of study of a realist novel, in both literary ...

The poetry of Sorley MacLean

Sorley MacLean (1911-1996) is regarded as one of the greatest Scottish poets of the twentieth century. This free course, The poetry of Sorley MacLean, will introduce you to his poetry and give you an insight into the cultural, historical and political contexts that inform his work. MacLean wrote in Gaelic and the importance of the language to ...

Exploring Virginia Woolf’s Between the Acts

This free course introduces Virginia Woolf’s last novel, Between the Acts (1941), with the aim of understanding how she writes about time, memory, and ideas about identity. It also considers why Woolf’s fiction is often considered difficult. Selected extracts from her essays on writing help to clarify some of these perceived difficulties, ...

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Whether you’re looking to develop your own writing skills and editorial practice for your profession or for purely personal interest, our creative writing courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of qualifications.

Creative Writing Degrees Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

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Creative Writing Diplomas Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Creative writing certificates certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study creative writing with the open university.

Since 2003, over 50,000 students have completed one of our critically acclaimed creative writing modules.

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Our range of courses in creative writing can help you start or progress your career as a:

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Writing Courses by Writing Magazine

Welcome to the Writing Magazine's writing courses, you're in the right place, so let's get started.

About our writing courses

Our writing courses are run by award-winning authors, professional novelists and industry experts, best-selling writers, poets and journalists, university lecturers and academic leaders.

Wherever you are in your own writing journey, just getting started, about to publish, looking to sell your work, or taking the next step in your career, we offer the training, support and guidance you need to help you achieve your writing goals.

Get writing today

The saying goes that “everyone has a novel in them” and it's our mission to help you get yours out! Brought to you by real writing experts who were once exactly where you are now.

We all start from somewhere. Our writing tutors are true experts that know what it takes to get published, to get paid, to get noticed, to get read. Join us today , let us help you to get where you want to be in your own writing career.

Our Writing Courses By our expert tutors

Starting out, becoming a successful writer.

Suitable for: ✔ Writers starting out

Are you new to writing and wondering how to go about breaking into print? If so, this course can almost certainly help. It will help you find the field for which your own writing talents are best suited, and will show you how to produce the kind of material that editors and publishers in that field demand.

Full Writing Course

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Highly Rated Polish Your Writing Style

Suitable for: ✔ Writers starting out ✔ Improving writers

How should you structure paragraphs? What factors should influence your sentence length? What is the difference between a topic sentence and a what-next sentence and when should you use these sentences? These are typical questions your course addresses and will give you a flavour of the kind of work you will be tackling.

Saving £72

Making the Most of your Life Experiences

A unique, purposeful and enjoyable course to tell you how to best capitalise on what is probably your most prized possession: your stock of personal memories. The course will guide you through what is likely to work well and warns you of obvious dangers. It is full of tips gained from practical experience which you can apply to telling your memories, whether you do so for occasional pleasure or as the basis of a business.

Novel Writing Bootcamp

The essential skills of building and writing your novel. Based on the popular 'Start your story with Writing Magazine' workshop, this course details everything you need to get your novel off the ground.

Saving £84

Trending Poetry writing course

Poetry can be the most creative and the most satisfying of all forms of writing. Most people who enjoy words have within them the ability to create poetry, if only they knew how. Our course teaches where and how to find inspiration, how to translate the inspiration into words, and how to craft your words into lines of poetry.

Saving £78

Writing for Children

Our online writing for children course covers everything you need to know as a children's writer from finding your style to marketing your work. Work with a published children's writer and find out for which age group your writing style suits best. The course can cover everything from picture books for toddlers through to series reads for teenagers.

How to Write Crime

Fancy yourself as the next big crime writer? Study the key ingredients to writing a successful crime novel with our online writing course.

Creative Non-Fiction

Suitable for: ✔ Improving writers

Whether you are a newcomer who has a particular interest in non-fiction, or a more experienced writer who wishes to transfer your skills into a different genre, the Creative Non-Fiction course will give you a thorough grounding in this fast growing and popular genre.

Most Popular Short Story writing course

Work alongside a professional short story writer to find out what it takes to write a publishable story. Our online short story writing course teaches you to create credible plots and structure your story as well as showing you how to present your work ready for publication.

Scriptwriting

Successful scriptwriters come from all backgrounds. The main requirement for success is a passion and curiosity for people and their stories. The next step is to take that passion and transfer it to the page in the correct form. This is where our scriptwriting course comes into its own.

Inside Scoop Article Writing and Freelance Journalism

The inside scoop on getting editor noticed - learn to write what the publishers are looking for and sell your work with our online article writing and freelance journalism course. We start with a review of the editorial policies and requirements of the various market sectors open to you. For each, you will see their needs from an editor's-eye view and see exactly where there are opportunities for the freelance writer.

Saving £90

Fiction (novel-writing)

Suitable for: ✔ Improving writers ✔ Advanced writers

Have you always wanted to turn your ideas into a novel? Our online fiction writing course will help you get started, taking you from the basics through to submitting your manuscript to publishers. Your course starts with guidance on choosing the subject matter and treatment of a novel that will be saleable in today's marketplace. You are shown how to analyse publishers' requirements and how to structure your novel to meet these requirements. You will also be guided as to

Getting Published

How to make money from your writing.

There are lots of ways to get paid for your writing. With this course you will learn different methods to help you get the most from your writing to start earning income.

Mini Course How to promote and sell your book

Are you ready to show the world your hard work? Make sure you do it right with this two-part course and gain practical tips and advice to ensure your book is a success.

Two part mini course

Saving £15

Ghostwriting

Turn your writing talent into a valuable source of income - perhaps even a new career - with this brand new course from WM Creative Writing Courses. As a ghostwriter, you need skills that not every writer has. Opting to write professionally for somebody else introduces a different approach to writing than you have used before.

Every course is personalised for you

More than a course - these are personalised journeys designed around you.

Our courses start with a personal profile of you plus two fixed assignments. These are designed to challenge and develop your writing, but combined with your profile, helps your personal course tutor to understand where you are in your writing ability, your style and your aspirations.

All further assignments are personalised for you , to target the areas of your own writing that could be polished, improved and finessed to help you become the writer you want to be.

No deadlines Work at your own pace

"Really, how can that be?" I hear you asking. Because our courses give you up to two years to complete your assignments. Why two years? Because we know that it can be difficult to find time to write, juggling many of life's demands, finding time to focus can be difficult and writing to a high standard is not easy.

So whether you are working part time or full time, only writing at weekends or when time permits, a parent, a student or you simply enjoy the challenge and art of writing as a hobby, we understand that being time poor is part of modern life. So no deadlines to stress about, no completion dates to worry over, no rushing to complete a task.

You work in your own time, when you can, at a pace that suits you. After all, these courses are there to help you to fulfil a passion, not add to the daily grind, but enhance, guide and develop one of the oldest and most beautiful art forms, the craft of writing.

Webinar based complete novel writing course

Perhaps you would prefer to learn from our webinar video series. Our complete webinar writing course is available on demand!

This 12-part, 8.5-hour course has been created to provide apprentice novelists will all of the essential tools and information they need to produce a polished novel. It starts at the very beginning of your project with the idea and takes you through to the submissions and publication process.

Our webinar modules are available both individually and as a complete course.

All 12 Modules: £175

Individual modules from £17.50 each

Even more great writing resources

Novel mentoring.

By James McCreet

Our novel mentoring service is for people who need one-to-one supervision with the construction of a new work, the refinement/repair of work in progress, or help with refining craft.

James says: "I try to understand what the writer wants to achieve in their work and what effect they want to have on their target readership. Then we work together to produce the best possible reading experience. I like to create a balance between personal expression and the highest standards of craft. Good writing is my goal."

Critique Service

Have your writing critiqued by a professional writer

Why have your writing critiqued?

If you have writing ready to send to an editor or publisher or you simply want professional guidance on how your writing is progressing, Writing Magazine Reading and Critique service is here to help.

Our critique service is for all types of writing including novels, poetry, short stories, scripts and many more writing styles.

Do you really need a tutor? Can you do it alone?

Almost certainly you will already have tried writing, maybe even selling a few pieces. You may even have submitted a novel for publication. When starting out, you probably discovered you hardly knew where to start, or having started off with enthusiasm you hardly knew where to stop. Perhaps, having completed a writing piece to your own satisfaction, you were met only with rejection slips when you tried it out on publishers, but had no idea what was wrong with it.

Perhaps you have started to feel you haven't got what it takes to become a professional writer, that you were born without the ability to tell great stories and produce a marketable product. This is simply not true. Do not listen to those voices. What you need is some guidance, perhaps some fundamentals are missing from your writing, perhaps you have made some common mistakes. Do not let your writing journey end here, you do not have to write alone. Some of the greatest authors of all time were in your position once, and they all did the same thing to succeed, they sought help.

Taking the next step together - you are not alone.

We offer courses for writers starting out, for improving writers reaching for the next stage in their writing career, and writers that are advanced in their writing but reaching hurdles they cannot cross alone, such as getting published, being recognised or adding that marketing polish to get their books sold. Together, you and your tutor will work to make you the best writer you can be, to achieve your writing goals and to make your writing a rewarding, fulfilling and successful part of your life.

Meet your course tutors

So how do i get started.

Take a look at our courses, choose the most relevant course for you and dive in. Once your payment is received, you will receive a welcome pack, a personal profile form to complete and a course pack containing your initial assignments. From then on, everything is at your pace, personalised to your particular needs and focussed on one thing, making your writing great.

We can't wait to hear from you, so please join our community of writers and maybe you could be our next success story. We look forward to working with you. You deserve this, don't hesitate any more, pick a course and start today.

Course extensions

A course extension is ideal for you if you have just completed either a six or eight-assignment Writing Magazine creative writing course. A course extension allows you to extend your writing studies with us to include an additional six assignments for just £140.

Your extension assignments will be personally set by your professional writing tutor and will provide you with essential advice on how to improve your writing even further and help you achieve your writing ambitions.

To book your course extension, call 01778 392 492 or email us. Please have your student reference number to hand.

Q&As with our tutors and alumni, reading lists and deep dives into all aspects of creative writing – and lots more.

Whether you're stuck on dialogue, plot, character or something else, we've got a whole range of exercises to help and inspire you.

Here you'll find all of our past, ongoing and upcoming writing competitions, plus details of any others we think you should know about.

Popular Categories

Fiction Writing Courses

Whether you're just starting out or an experienced writer looking to take their fiction to the next level, our courses – led by acclaimed authors and industry experts – will give you the tools, insight and support you need.

Our fiction writing courses: an overview

We offer a range of fiction workshops, from those suitable for absolute beginners up to our most advanced classes. Whether you’re a student in our London offices or in our bespoke online classroom, you’ll benefit from the unique insight of taking a course within the UK’s leading independent publisher, as well as the expertise of your tutor and the support of your classmates.

Some of our fiction writing courses are selective, meaning you’ll need to apply.

Many of our online fiction writing courses are flexible, designed to fit in around your other commitments. Some feature regular live elements with guest speakers and your tutor, while others are entirely self-paced for maximum convenience.

Who are these courses for?

Aspiring writers.

Never tried writing fiction before? We have courses and workshops suitable for total beginners – gain the essential tools, experiment with form and start finding your voice.

Writers in need of inspiration

If you've been writing for a while but feel you're lacking motivation or confidence, brush up on some of your technical skills and re-invigorate your creative process with a group of likeminded writers.

Writers looking to begin a career

Been writing as a hobby but ready to move to the next step? Our more advanced fiction writing courses include valuable industry insights as well as practical advice on writing, editing and pitching your work.

Our advanced courses in fiction and poetry offer the next step for the committed writer – serious writing time, industry advice and expert guidance, along with a close-knit group of fellow writers to keep you on track.

Fiction Writing Courses ( 8 )

Writing a Novel (Online)

What do these levels mean?

Writing a Novel (Newcastle)

Preti Taneja

Tuesday 21 Mar 2023

15 spaces left

Writing a Novel (Evening)

Richard T. Kelly, Sarah May, Joanna Briscoe, Nikesh Shukla

Wednesday 04 Oct 2023

Sunday 17 Sep 2023

45 spaces left

Writing a Novel (Daytime)

Shelley Weiner, Sabrina Broadbent

Thursday 05 Oct 2023

The Advanced Fiction Workshop

Gillian Slovo

10 spaces left

Start to Write

Richard Skinner, Sarah May

Saturday 25 Mar 2023

Image of a laptop left on a picnic table on a sunny terrace with blue railings

Marcel Theroux

Getting Started: Beginners' Fiction

Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Monday 27 Mar 2023

14 spaces left

Woman in yellow jumper writing with her laptop on her lap, late at night

Finish Your Draft

Natasha Bell

Monday 06 Mar 2023

Image of a woman at large kitchen table, writing notes on a pad of paper with her laptop open in front of her.

Masterclass: Planning and Writing The Mirror

Richard skinner.

22 spaces left

Fiction Writing Tutors

Our tutors are all multi-published novelists and experienced teachers, hand-picked from Faber and beyond.

Arabel Charlaff

Arabel is an accredited and experienced psychotherapist. Before training as a therapist, she worked in publishing for over a...

Erica Wagner

Erica Wagner was born in New York City. She moved to Britain in the 1980s and now lives in London; she is consulting literary editor for...

Helen Shipman

Helen has been teaching people to write for thirty years. She has devised and delivered writing courses from adult classes...

Kathryn Heyman

Kathryn Heyman is the acclaimed author of six novels and the bestselling memoir, Fury. Her works have won and been nominated for many...

Keith Ridgway

Keith Ridgway is from Dublin. He is the author most recently of A Shock (Picador, New Directions, 2021), which was the winner...

Marcel Theroux is the award winning author of six novels: A Blow to the Heart , A Stranger in the Earth , The Paperchase (winner...

Richard Skinner is a novelist, poet and critic. His most recent book, The Mirror, was described as ‘beautifully written...

Sue Gee is a novelist and short story writer who ran the MA Writing Programme at Middlesex University from 2000 till 2008...

Totally reinvigorated my personal writing and reading practice. The content was inspiring and original [...] provided the motivation I needed to move forward.

Totally reinvigorated my personal writing and reading practice. The content was inspiring and original

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a fiction writer.

The short answer is: write. Write as much as you can, as often as you can! Reading – within your chosen genre, but also as widely as you can – is also one of the most important things you can do. You’ll learn best through practise, whether that’s as part of one of our courses or in your own writing time. Meanwhile, our beginners’ courses (those marked as ‘Starting out’ on the individual courses page) will give you all the technical tools you’ll need to get started, and a supportive group of fellow aspiring writers to cheer you on.

What types of fiction are covered by these courses? Can I write a script?

Most of our fiction writing courses focus on prose – short stories or longer form fiction, right up to writing a novel. We sometimes run workshops on other forms of fiction – our week-long Writing Audio Drama course, for instance – but most of our courses aren’t suitable for screenwriters. Having said that, some of the skills covered in some of our shorter courses will still be useful if you’re unsure of the form you want your story to take – get in touch with us to chat through the options.

Can't find the right course?

Get comprehensive editorial feedback on your manuscript from our experienced readers – whether it’s still a work-in-progress or you’re preparing to submit to literary agents.

We offer a range of mentoring options if you’d prefer to work one-on-one with an established writer to help you shape your project and realise your writing ambitions.

Browse the Reading Room

From author interviews and writing tips to creative writing exercises and reading lists, we've got everything you need to get started – and to keep going.

Writing a Novel alumna Ania Bas on writing the main character of her debut novel, published earlier

The author of Honey and Me (published by Scholastic Press) on how her book came to be

Recommendations from Faber

Sally Rooney

Normal People

An exclusive edition of Sally Rooney's modern classic, designed for Faber Members.

Conversations with Friends

A brand new Members' edition of Sally Rooney's celebrated debut and international bestseller, perfect for those who loved the book and those discovering it for the first time.

Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go

A striking new design, launched as part of our autumn Faber Editions collection.

Founded in 1929 in London, Faber is one of the world's great publishing houses. Our list of authors includes thirteen Nobel Laureates and six Booker Prize-winners.

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Course Level Guide

There’s something for everyone at the Faber Academy, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned writer or somewhere in between. To help you select the right course for you, this guide breaks down what the different levels mean.

These courses are ideal for those who are curious about writing and have little to no prior experience in the field. There are no pre-requisite for these courses – all we ask is that you come with an open mind and a keenness to learn. That’s not to say they aren’t suitable for someone with more experience, though – if you’re looking to refresh your skills or experiment with a new area of writing, you’re also welcome to enrol.

These courses are ideal for those who have some experience in writing – as a hobby, or perhaps through academic or professional work – and are looking for challenging courses to hone their skills further. These courses are also a good next step if you’ve already taken a beginners’ class but don’t feel ready to commit to an advanced course yet.

These courses are ideal for seasoned writers who are serious about getting published. Entry to most of these courses is on an application basis and writers will usually be asked to submit samples of their work-in-progress or a past project.

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The Ultimate Novel Writing Course
Write Here… launches £249 UK novel writing courses
Novel Writing 101 (Free Course)
10 Tips for Writing a Novel
Online Novel Writing Course
7 Best + Free Novel Writing Courses & Classes [2021 JULY]

VIDEO

Welcome home, writers
How To Write More
Creative Writing Course Reviews
Writing Lesson
Reading as part of the writing process
Lecturing English Literature

COMMENTS

Novel Writing course • City, University of London
Novel Writing and Longer Works Short course Aimed at anyone who wants to write a novel or novella, this course provides a solid foundation for developing and structuring longer pieces of fiction. 1 starting date Starting date: 24th April 2023 Duration: 10 weeks Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm Fees: £325 (no VAT) Occurs: Monday Location: Online
The Novel Studio • City, University of London
The Novel Studio Short course The Novel Studio offers 15 selected students the unique opportunity to work exclusively on their novels for a year. No starting dates Starting date to be confirmed Duration: 30 weeks (non-consecutive) (unconfirmed) Fees: £2,990 (unconfirmed) Location: Online (unconfirmed) Register interest Testimonials
Novel Writing Courses
Our novel writing courses are designed for writers who are serious about learning to write a novel, from initial idea to final draft. Our novel writing courses: an overview We offer a range of novel writing workshops, including our flagship Writing a Novel course.
Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning)
Novel Writing (Online Distance Learning) MA Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning) Register your interest Book an open evening Apply now Learn about the course below Code PGW803 Start September 2023 Duration 1 year full-time 2 years part-time Attendance Online distance learning Fees £7,800 (UK) * £7,800 (EU/INT) * Course leader Adam Lively
Ultimate Novel Writing Course
The novel writing course for serious writers This year-long course combines online mentoring, weekly tutorials and editorial feedback, literary agent feedback and an exclusive online networking event. Start with a work in progress - end with the tools and contacts you need to get published.
Writing Courses
Our online writing courses Take a world-class creative writing course from home to achieve your ambition to create, write, edit and complete a full-length novel. Get your words flowing with the online writing courses created by a Booker Prize-listed author, Louise Dean.
Starting To Write Your Novel course
It is followed by Write to the End of Your Novel and Edit & Pitch Your Novel - take the courses in succession or choose the right course for your current stage in the writing process. £220 6 weeks Online Get your novel off the ground - with our support, you'll develop your idea, plot and plan your story, and write a confident opening. Tutor
Ultimate Novel Writing Course UK Europe
Ultimate Novel Writing Course | UK & Europe This year-long course combines online mentoring, weekly tutorials and editorial feedback, literary agent feedback and an exclusive online networking event. Start with a work in progress - end with the tools and contacts you need to get published. This course at a glance: A One Year Course
Novel Writing Course
Our team of course advisors are keen to help. Call us now on 0121 392 8288. Alternatively, please complete the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Join over. 80,000 learners. Choose from over. 650 courses. Flexible learning,
The Finished Novel Course
The Finished Novel Course. Enjoy the buzz of a campus-style experience from your own home - with a practical career outcome. The complete career path to becoming a published author combines course materials from our world-famous, flexible online novel writing courses to help you learn creative writing techniques from award winning authors to progress and develop your writing as you complete ...
Online Novel Writing Courses
Online Novel Writing Courses Our online novel writing courses are here to support you, whether you have a novel idea you're burning to write, a work-in-progress you wish to move forward, or a completed manuscript to polish and refine.
Beginners' Writing Courses
Beginners' Writing Courses Whether you've always wanted to write fiction or are looking for an introduction to poetry, we offer a range of creative writing classes for beginners - from one-day workshops to longer twelve-week courses, online and in our London offices. Our beginners' writing courses: an overview
Write Your First Novel
You will learn how to write and complete a full-length novel of 50,000 words. You will have a finished manuscript in hand at the end of the course. Skills you will gain Creative Writing Novel Writing Story Telling Instructor Instructor rating 4.61/5 (105 Ratings) David Wheeler Creative Research Faculty, The Hub for Innovation Media and Information
Curtis Brown Creative
Writing Crime & Thrillers - Advanced. with Sarah Hilary. 9 weeks starting 20th March. Online. £960.
Online writing courses
Explore our online creative writing courses . At BBC Maestro we offer a range of online writing classes from some of the world's best writers.. Learn how to write children's books with the author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson.Or take tips from bestselling children's author David Walliams.Find out how to craft timeless children's stories and create characters that kids (and their ...
Creative Writing Courses
The Advanced Write a Novel Course Our Advanced Write a Novel Course builds on the manuscript that you wrote in the foundation course. Now complete your manuscript up to 70 000 words with one-to-one guidance from an award-winning writer. Course Details CONDITIONS APPLY The Advanced Poetry Course
Free online English Literature / Creative Writing courses
This free course introduces Virginia Woolf's last novel, Between the Acts (1941), with the aim of understanding how she writes about time, memory, and ideas about identity. It also considers why Woolf's fiction is often considered difficult. Selected extracts from her essays on writing help to clarify some of these perceived difficulties, ...
Creative Writing Courses
Creative Writing courses Whether you're looking to develop your own writing skills and editorial practice for your profession or for purely personal interest, our creative writing courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of qualifications. Creative Writing Degrees Stage 1 120 credits Stage 2 120 credits Stage 3 120 credits
Writing Courses
Webinar based complete novel writing course. Perhaps you would prefer to learn from our webinar video series. Our complete webinar writing course is available on demand! Suitable for: Writers starting out Improving writers. This 12-part, 8.5-hour course has been created to provide apprentice novelists will all of the essential tools and ...
Fiction Writing Courses
Our fiction writing courses: an overview. We offer a range of fiction workshops, from those suitable for absolute beginners up to our most advanced classes. Whether you're a student in our London offices or in our bespoke online classroom, you'll benefit from the unique insight of taking a course within the UK's leading independent ...