About the Course:
21 sessions, fortnightly on Fridays (with seasonal breaks)
3 monthly Novel Writing Support Group meetings (with the option to continue on at £5 a month)
Do you have an idea for a long form narrative project but aren't sure how to start? Perhaps you're already working on a project and would benefit from some support with maintaining motivation and momentum?
Write Your Novel is designed to support, guide and motivate writers to sustain writing a long-form narrative project. This might be a novel, a memoir, narrative poetry, a screenplay or a hybrid project. We will meet every other Friday for 21 structured sessions. These sessions will consist of a mix of facilitator presentation, group discussion, small group sharing & feedback, and guided writing. Writing invitations between sessions will keep your draft moving forward. You will also be put into a smaller group for support with accountability and motivation between sessions and over seasonal breaks (and often even after the course ends!) All structured sessions will be recorded and shared with all ticket holders, so it is possible to engage with the sessions even when you are unable to attend a session live.
As this is a year-long course and is limited to 30 writers, regular attendance and a strong commitment to your project are encouraged. No refunds (or payment plan cancellations) can be made later than 14 days before the start of the course.
Structured Sessions:
*The below represents one possible course structure. Adjustments may be made before the course start date, and throughout the course in response to the group's specific needs and interests.
Part I: Development
Session 1: Introductions
We'll get to know each other, our projects, and main characters.
Session 2: Practice & Process
We'll consider alternative frameworks for maintaining a sustainable writing practice.
Session 3: Whose Story is it?
We'll start to develop our primary characters personalities and back stories.
Session 4: What Happens?
We'll lay out the series of events our story will cover
Session 5: When, Where and for How Long?
We'll delve into setting and world-building
Session 6: How Does it Happen?
We'll experiment with point of view and tense.
Session 7: Progress Tracking and 'Goal-Setting'
We'll consider long and short-term aims, and experiment with ways of tracking progress (that don't always rely on word counts)
Part II: Draft Writing
Session 8: Voice & Dialogue
We'll focus on creating voice on the page.
Session 9: Opening & Closing
We'll experiment with ways to start our scenes and consider whether having a clear destination makes the journey easier.
Session 10: Summary & Scene
How can we balance pace through active scenes, and evocative, specific summary?
Session 11: Conflict & Crisis
We'll focus on building tension and our main dramatic turning points
Session 12: Genre
We'll explore how we can use and subvert the conventions of our genres and subgenres.
Session 13: Structure & Pacing
We'll break down our whole story outline and consider how best to structure our overall narrative.
Part III: Feedback & Final Steps
Sessions 14-19: Full Group Workshopping
Each writer will have an opportunity to submit up to 3,000 words of draft work for feedback from the whole group. Suggested writing for between sessions will focus on continuing forward with your draft.
Session 20: Editing & Revision:
We'll consider tools for refining our lanugage & style.
Session 21: Synopsis, Summary & Submission
We'll consider how to write engaging summaries and cover letters in preparation for submitting to agents/publishers.
The Novel Writers Support Group Meetings:
We know writing a novel can take years - so we won't leave you stranded at the end of the course! All attendees will receive a free three-month subscription to the Novel Writers Support Group which consists of live, monthly, group progress check-ins, with the option to continue for £5 a month. Novel Writers Support Group sessions will not be recorded.
Ticket Pricing & Info
On Sale Aug 8th
General Admission tickets are £790 (or 12 monthly instalments of £66)
Concessions are £395 (or 12 monthly instalments of £33)
All ticket holders are entitled to one free hour of mentoring with me when the course concludes.
There are two free places available on the course as standard. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no requirement to disclose financial or personal information. If you would like to take up one of these places, please contact krmoorhead.lit@gmail.com
What is included with each ticket?
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Twenty-one live 2.5 hour Zoom sessions consisting of facilitator presentations, small group sharing, writing invitations, and group discussions.
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Session recordings, slideshows, chat records, transcripts and summaries, as well as relevant further reading materials.
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An online space via my website, where all materials will be hosted and group members are able to interact with each other and me, throughout the course and in perpetuity.
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You will be assigned a writing support group of approx 6 members, to help you stay engaged in your process between sessions and over holiday breaks.
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Free and continuous access to all Writing Sprint sessions (Mondays 5-6pm & Thursdays 10-11am UK) from the start of the course.
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A free hour of 1:1 mentoring at the end of the course.
Refunds and Cancellations:
Ticket refunds and payment plan cancellations can be made up to 14 days before the start of the course. After this, no refunds or cancellations can be made. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact krmoorhead.lit@gmail.com before booking.
We reserve the right to cancel the course if we do not meet a minimum number of registrants. In this instance, all tickets will be fully refunded.
Upcoming Intakes
Payment Plans
Novel Concessions
33£Every monthValid for 12 monthsNovel General Admission
66£Every monthValid for 12 months
FAQs
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Who is this course for?
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Anyone who has an idea for, or has been working on, a long-form, narrative writing project. As this is a year-long course and places are limited to 30 writers, the ability to attend sessions regularly and a strong commitment to your project are encouraged.
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Does my project have to be a novel?
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No! Your project might be a novel, novella, or novelette, but it could also be narrative poetry, a memoir, playscript, screenplay or hybrid form. Previous attendees have worked on a tv series script, a novel in verse, and both traditional and 'radical' memoirs.
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Do I need to be an experienced writer to join?
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It is suggested that you have some writing experience already, but this can be informal (personal writing practice, informal writing groups etc) and in any form or genre. The course should be useful to writers new to longer-form projects, as well as those with experience.
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Will I be expected to produce a certain number of words?
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This course takes a 'neuroqueer' approach to writing, which means it leans away from strict expectations in regards to 'production', and instead focuses on movement as progress. Group members will be guided in developing their own personal methods for 'tracking progress' and setting achievable aims for themselves. Writing invitations from me and regular opportunities to share work in the group will help maintain momentum.
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