About the Course:

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Next intake starts April 24th, 2026
Tickets on Sale Dec 1st, 2025

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, but sometimes struggle to maintain motivation or momentum? Are you the type of writer who benefits from external structures, support, and guidance? Are you a neurodivergent, queer, disabled, or chronically ill writer who finds the expectations and constraints of traditional writing workshops difficult or uncomfortable?

Then Neuroqueer Novel Writing might be for you!

This year-long course includes:

• 23 structured fortnightly sessions (with seasonal breaks) 

• All session slideshows and recordings 

• A one-hour 1:1 tutorial with KR after the course ends.

• 3 monthly Novel Writing Support Group meetings (with the option to continue for £5 a month)

• Free access to twice-weekly Writing Sprints (gently structured body-doubling)​

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Neuroqueer Novel Writing 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 meet every other Friday for 23 structured sessions. These sessions will consist of a mix of a facilitator presentation, optional small-group sharing & feedback, and guided writing invitations. You will be given suggested writing invitations between sessions to help keep your draft moving forward. One third of the way through the course, you'll be matched with others in a smaller group for regular support 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.

This course takes a neuroqueer approach to writing, learning and creative practice. This means: 

• leaning into our individual, unique ways of creating 

• acknowledging and embracing the inherently iterative, spiraly, non-linear nature of the creative process. You will never be shamed or 'called out' for the ways in which you write and engage with your creative practice. 

• no set expectations, milestones or discussion of word counts.

• prioritising community as an integral part of the creative process

• establishing connections, concepts & practices that help you establish a writing practice that is sustainable after the course ends.

• accessibility and empathy are the foundations on which the course is built.

• clear, specific invitations and guidance

• optional levels of engagement

• no language/grammar policing!

Notes on Accessibility:

• Sessions include live closed captioning

• Sessions are recorded and shared with course members

• All slideshow and reading materials shared directly with members

• All exercise instructions are written out and given verbally

• No pressure to use mics or cameras - students can choose to use the chat function to communicate with the group

• No pressure to share writing. 

• All sessions will have a 10-minute mid-point break, with more available if needed, but students are encouraged to eat, drink, stim, move about the room, and take breaks as needed

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As this is a year-long course and is limited to 24 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. 

What Will We Cover?
*The below represents the planned course structure of the upcoming intake. Adjustments may be made before the course start date, and throughout the course in response to the group's specific needs and interests. 

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• 19 x 2.5-hour sessions will include:

  • Small group check ins for informal sharing and feedback

  • Introducing concepts and experimenting with them through writing invitations.

  • Optional body-doubling.

• 5 x 2.5-hour sessions will be devoted to more formal feedback sessions, with clear guidance and expectations around type and amount of feedback.

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Part 1: Practice, Planning & Development

Session 1: Introductions: We'll get to know each other, our projects, and our main characters.
Session 2: Practice & Process: We'll consider alternative frameworks for maintaining a sustainable writing practice.
Session 3: Whose Story is it? - Developing Protagonists: We'll start to uncover our primary characters' personalities and back stories.
Session 4: What Gets in Their Way? - Establishing Antagonists & Conflict: We'll establish what hurdles our characters will have to face.
Session 5: Who's Telling the Story? - Experimenting with Narrative Perspective: We'll experiment with point of view and tense.
Session 6: When, Where, and for How Long?: We'll delve into setting and world-building
Session 7: Planning & Progress Tracking: We'll consider long and short-term aims, and experiment with ways of tracking progress (that don't always rely on word counts), plus meet with our smaller support groups.
Session 8: First Support Group Feedback Session: 3 positive points + 3 questions

Part 2: Structure, Pace, & Scene Writing

Session 9: The Outline: We'll break our story down into active scenes and create a working notecard outline
Session 10: Plotting & Structure: We'll experiment with shapes and patterns to best structure our overall narrative.
Session 11: Pace: We'll break down the different ways of managing time in fiction.
Session 12: Writing a Scene: We'll work on creating active, engaging scenes, from beginning to end
Session 13: Second Support Group Feedback Session: Positivity Pass
Session 14: Voice & Style: We'll focus on narrative voice and stylistic choices.
Session 15: Dialogue: We'll explore how our characters speak on the page.
Session 16: Third Support Group Feedback Session: All the questions!
Session 17: Building Tension: We'll focus on our main dramatic turning points

Part 3: Wrapping Up

Session 18: Crisis Points: How does it all end?
Session 19: Fourth Support Group Feedback Session: Writer-led feedback
Session 20: Genre & Pitch: We'll consider where our project sits in the literary & publishing landscapes, and how we might create an engaging pitch.
Session 21: Editing & Revising: We'll consider tools for refining our projects both at the line level and on a wider scope.
Session 22: Final Support Group Feedback Session: Final constructive pass
Session 23: Wrap Up & Next Steps: We'll take stock and discuss how best to continue with your process as the course comes to an end.

One-to-one tutorials will take place in the weeks following the final session.

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 includes live, monthly group progress check-ins and sharing, with the option to continue for £5 a month. Novel Writers Support Group sessions will not be recorded.