writers and artists Sign Up Information

Free Short Story Competition 2021

And while we''re on the subject of making 2021 the year you (and we!) get excited about your writing...

...Do make sure to enter our annual short story competition, which remains entirely free, a?great opportunity to raise your profile, and, of course, the chance to benefit from a lovely prize courtesy of Arvon. A?few details still?need shoring up but entries can be submitted so if there''s something you''ve been working on then why not take the plunge??.

Entry details

Fiction Writing: Fundamentals

6-8.30pm from?Mon 25th Jan
?275

Join William Ryan for this hands on four-week introduction to the essential elements of the writing process; the?perfect opportunity to learn about the nuts and bolts of how to make progress with a work of fiction. This is an environment?to develop writing momentum,?confidence, and receive invaluable critical feedback on both your prose and story structure.

Book here

More dates for 2021
From Mon 5th Apr: Book now
From Mon 6th Sept: Book now

Manuscript Submission Masterclasses

6-8pm, Various
?50

A series of?masterclasses in which we?ask literary agents to impart advice on how?to?give your book the best possible chance when it comes to seeking representation.?Attendees can expect?two hours of accessible advice: from insight into the?role literary agents play for authors, guidance on how to produce a professional covering letter, tips on writing an attention-grabbing pitch and discussion on producing a?synopsis (and manuscript?proposal where the Non-Fiction session is concerned).?Thirty minutes will be made available for a Q&A, while all attendees have the?unique opportunity to submit?their covering letter to receive feedback?from one of the agents leading their masterclass.

Children''s and YA Fiction (Weds 3rd Feb):?Book here
General Fiction (Weds 7th April):?Book here
Non-Fiction (Weds 9th June):?Book here

How To Write a Page-Turner

7-8.30pm from?Mon 22nd Feb
?350

?
A six-session creative space that requires just 90 minutes of your time each week.

Designed by bestselling author of crime fiction, Caroline Green, this course is all about developing a manuscript that puts your characters through the sorts of twists and turns synonymous with an all-consuming page-turning novel.

Students on this course can expect: 9 hours of practical writing advice and tuition, feedback from Caroline on up to 2,000 words of your writing, takeaway homework exercises and further practical insight into the publishing process from a guest editor.

Book now

Children''s & YA Fiction Festival
?

7-8.30pm from?Mon 1st Mar
From ?30

Our?first ever festival and taking place entirely online throughout the first week of March 2021. Two practical writing workshops will run simultaneously each night (with further speakers still to be announced...), there''s bonus content, industry insight from leading editors and agents, AND a combined ticket price to be taken advantage of...

Booking and full?line-up

Fiction Writing: Advanced

6-8.30pm from?Mon 7th Jun
?395

Following on from Fiction Writing: Fundamentals, William Ryan leads this six-week course designed to stress-test your work-in-progress.

Expect an interrogation of your plot, tightening of dialogue, and tough questions asked of your cast of characters. As well as further workshopping, presentations on critical aspects of the writing process and regular professional feedback (amounting to 5,000 words), participants also have the opportunity to hear from a commissioning editor and pitch their writing to a leading UK literary agent.

More dates for 2021
From?Mon 1st Nov:?Book now

Your Children''s Book

6-8pm from?Weds 7th Apr
?350

Christopher Edge, an award-winning children's fiction author and experienced creative writing practitioner, returns to lead this five-week course offering unique insight into essential elements of writing for children?(including how to develop an idea into a story readers will want to pick up, how to craft memorable characters, and how to write vivid settings).

Participants can also expect reading recommendations,?weekly homework exercises, an appreciation of the current children''s book market, an introduction to the process of submitting your work to literary agents, and a critique of up to 3,000 words of your writing.

Book now