This is a practice-based course designed to help you make some real strides towards writing a novel. It is limited to only four participants each class for a more intensive experience, and is held online via Skype. The fee for eight sessions is £129. The course can be repeated as many times as writers wish.
The sessions are held on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 GMT or Friday mornings at 10:00 GMT, starting Wednesday March 26 2025 and Friday March 28 2025, and last for one and a half hours. The sessions are informal and friendly. Each consists of the following three parts:
A) Class members are invited in turn to talk about how their writing is progressing in general. Other class members and the tutor will be free to comment, discuss, or offer advice. (If members prefer not to share details, that’s fine.)
B) Everyone does a ten-minute writing exercise: ‘Write a description of an empty room’ or something similar. We may then choose to (or not to) share it with the rest of the class. Sharing is always optional.
C) Volunteers will have taken turns to circulate in advance any writing they have done out of class, to the other members, by email. Then, in class, comments will be offered on this work. My experience is overwhelmingly that one’s fellow writers are sensitive and reflective rather than harsh or dismissive (in fact, I have yet to encounter such a reaction). There will usually be time for only one writer per session for this last part. Those who do not wish to circulate work should not feel any pressure to do so. Their contributions as critics will be much appreciated.
The advantages of this format are that it gives space within the same session for three things: freeform discussion that builds a sense of a common purpose; actual writing practice (which may occasionally be the only writing that a writer does in any given week!); and detailed feedback. Gary leads the feedback, drawing on his experience of writing and publishing novels and his own method, as set out in the book 102 Ways to Write a Novel (see reviews here).
If you'd like to join a course, please fill out the form below to book a place. You can specify which day you would prefer, and pay securely, using the form. If you would like to ask any questions before signing up, please contact Gary by email at [email protected]. I can answer enquiries by email or we can arrange a time for a chat by phone to discuss the course. Thank you!
The sessions are held on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 GMT or Friday mornings at 10:00 GMT, starting Wednesday March 26 2025 and Friday March 28 2025, and last for one and a half hours. The sessions are informal and friendly. Each consists of the following three parts:
A) Class members are invited in turn to talk about how their writing is progressing in general. Other class members and the tutor will be free to comment, discuss, or offer advice. (If members prefer not to share details, that’s fine.)
B) Everyone does a ten-minute writing exercise: ‘Write a description of an empty room’ or something similar. We may then choose to (or not to) share it with the rest of the class. Sharing is always optional.
C) Volunteers will have taken turns to circulate in advance any writing they have done out of class, to the other members, by email. Then, in class, comments will be offered on this work. My experience is overwhelmingly that one’s fellow writers are sensitive and reflective rather than harsh or dismissive (in fact, I have yet to encounter such a reaction). There will usually be time for only one writer per session for this last part. Those who do not wish to circulate work should not feel any pressure to do so. Their contributions as critics will be much appreciated.
The advantages of this format are that it gives space within the same session for three things: freeform discussion that builds a sense of a common purpose; actual writing practice (which may occasionally be the only writing that a writer does in any given week!); and detailed feedback. Gary leads the feedback, drawing on his experience of writing and publishing novels and his own method, as set out in the book 102 Ways to Write a Novel (see reviews here).
If you'd like to join a course, please fill out the form below to book a place. You can specify which day you would prefer, and pay securely, using the form. If you would like to ask any questions before signing up, please contact Gary by email at [email protected]. I can answer enquiries by email or we can arrange a time for a chat by phone to discuss the course. Thank you!
