Writing Your Novel – Three Months
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Writing Your Novel – Three Months
This is a course for those with a strong idea for a novel who wish to take their writing seriously (whether you’re in the early stages of writing or even reworking a complete draft). You'll join a group of 15 writers taught by tutor Ali Shaw. Ali will lead weekly in-person writing workshops and deliver teaching sessions on key topics such as how to create memorable characters, write authentic dialogue and develop a strong arc for your story.
You will also have the opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals, with the opportunity to share the opening of your novel informally with the agent teams at Curtis Brown and C&W at the end of the course. Course runs from 15 Nov 2023 to 13 Mar 2024.
It was the smartest thing I could have done… I got to meet other writers.
Multi-million-copy bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
Tutor
Ali Shaw
Ali Shaw is an award-winning novelist, short story writer and creative writing teacher. His novels are The Trees, The Man who Rained, and The Girl with Glass Feet, which won the Desmond Elliott Prize, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. His books have been translated into fifteen different languages, and his short fiction has appeared in multiple newspapers, magazines, and on BBC Radio 4.
What does this course give you?
- Live teaching sessions in London: Ali will teach on a variety of novel-writing topics in dynamic in-person sessions on Weds evenings. He will also set homework tasks to further your learning.
- A community of writers: Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your novel in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
- Writing workshops: Across the course, you'll get two dedicated workshops centring on 3,000-word extracts from your novel-in-progress. These sessions offer in-depth feedback from your student group and tutor, and are also designed to help develop your self-editing skills.
- 1-to-1 tutorials: You'll get a 30-minute, one-to-one tutorial with Ali based on a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. Use the tutorial to address your specific concerns about your writing. Near the end of the course all students will also get a 45-minute one-to-one with an experienced CBC editor or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent. They will read a 6,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress plus your synopsis.
- 2 industry masterclasses: These special sessions will help demystify publishing. Leading literary agents, authors and publishers will discuss writing, editing and the submissions process – they will draw on their experience of real-life publication journeys. There will also be opportunities to ask questions.
- Synopsis & agent letter advice: We’ll draw on our expertise to give you the vital ingredients needed for a great synopsis and the all-important pitch letter. Individual feedback will come from experienced members of the CBC editorial team and/or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent.
- End of course celebration: To mark the course coming to a close, you will attend a special two-hour reception with tea, cakes and fizz. This celebration will give you a chance to mingle informally with your fellow students, the CBC team and literary agents from Curtis Brown and C&W.
- Submitting to agents: Ahead of the end of course celebration, all students will be invited to submit the 3,000-word opening from their novel, plus a synopsis, to be shared with the agent teams at Curtis Brown and C&W as well as a select group of agents from other UK-based agencies. This is not a formal submission but a chance to give the agents a taste of your work at this stage. When you are ready to formally submit – no matter how long after your course has finished – the CBC team will give you guidance and support with your submission to the Curtis Brown and C&W agents.
- Alumni services: You’ll be given access to a range of exclusive writing services, available only to the alumni of our selective courses, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include individual mentoring, editorial reports on your completed novel, and submission reports on your ‘pitch package’. Read more about the opportunities available to our alumni here.
Masterclass speakers
Join live masterclass Q&A sessions with top UK literary agents, authors and publishers.
Course schedule
All teaching and workshop sessions will take place on Weds evenings from 7pm to 9pm (unless otherwise stated below). Classes will be held in the Writers' Room of the new Curtis Brown offices (Cunard House, 15 Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4LR).
In extenuating circumstances, classes may be moved from London to Zoom, with prior notification to all concerned.
Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.
WEEK 1 – INSPRATION AND READING AS WRITERS
Weds 15 Nov, 7-9pmWEEK 2 – OPENINGS
Weds 22 Nov, 7–9pmWEEK 3 – WRITING FROM LIFE
Weds 29 Nov, 7–9pmWEEK 4 – STORY, PLOTTING & PLANNING
Wednesday 6 Dec, 7–9pmWEEK 5 – VOICE AND NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW
Weds 13 Dec, 7–9pmWINTER BREAK
WEEK 6 – SYNOPSIS – ONLINE
Weds 3 Jan – Tues 9 JanWEEK 7 – DESCRIPTION, TONE & STYLE
Weds 10 Jan 7–9pmWEEK 8 – CHARACTERISATION
Weds 17 Jan, 7pm-9pmWEEK 9 – DIALOGUE
Weds 24 Jan, 7–9pmWEEK 10 – BUILDING SUSPENSE
Weds 31 Jan, 7–9pmWEEK 11 – ENDINGS
Weds 7 Feb, 7–9pmWEEK 12 – EDITING AND REWRITING
Weds 14 Feb, 7–9pmWEEK 13 – AGENT LETTER/PITCH WORKSHOP
Weds 21 Feb, 7–9pmWEEK 14 – COURSE CONCLUSION
Weds 28 Feb, 7–9pmWEEK 15 – END OF COURSE SUBMISSION
Weds 13 March
Course fees
The course fee of £1,990 (inc VAT) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer or cheque before the start of the course. However, if you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.
Ready to apply?
Please apply with the first 3,000 words of the novel you’d like to work on during the course, and a synopsis of no more than a page (both need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE file in the application below).
The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midnight, end of day Sun 15 Oct, and we will respond to applicants by Thurs 19 Oct.
We read all application material promptly after the closing date and make our selection of students swiftly at that time. However if you require an earlier response from us in order to be able to take part in this course, please email us with full details and we will consider and respond on a case by case basis.
If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
We’re delighted to be offer two scholarship places on this course. The Gillian McAllister Novel-Writing Scholarship for Writers with Low Income, sponsored by bestselling author Gillian McAllister, will award one talented writer of limited financial means a free place on our London-based Writing Your Novel – Three Months course. Find out more and apply by clicking the button below. Deadline Sun 29 Oct.
The Lena Papadopoulos Novel-Writing Scholarship for Writers of Colour, sponsored by bestselling author and former CBC student Amita Parikh, will award one talented writer of limited financial means a free place on our London-based Writing Your Novel – Three Months course. Find out more and apply by clicking the button below. Deadline Sun 29 Oct.
Our ever-popular original course in London. Get the best out of your novel with expert tuition and exclusive insights from publishing professionals. Two scholarship places.
Tutor
Ali Shaw