I have been teaching creative writing for over a decade, and workshops are still one of my favourite parts of the job. It takes writers away from a solitary, self-doubting existence to a collaborative and supportive one. I design exercises that cover every aspect of the writing process, to help writers of all levels develop and hone their skills.
I run a monthly workshop in person, as well as an online six session course covering the essentials. I also run ad hoc writing days throughout the year in beautiful locations. All are open to writers at every stage.
You don't need to have completed a novel, or even know what you want to write yet. All you need is the desire to write and the enthusiasm to see it through.
Creative Writing Workshops & Courses
A six session course taking you through the fundamentals of writing a novel, from first idea to a working structure you can actually build on. Each session is around three hours of work, done at your own pace rather than to a fixed weekly schedule. Send me your worksheet at the end of each one and I'll review it and come back with comments before you move on.
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with generating ideas and developing them.
Having the lightbulb moment is one thing, but what’s next?
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with your novel’s setting & location. The exercises will help you create engaging and sensory descriptions, giving your novel a sense of place.
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with your characters. The exercises will help you create authentic, memorable and engaging characters.
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with dialogue. Every novel needs it, but dialogue can be one of the hardest skills to master. The exercises in this session will hone your skills and help you with the basics of layout, through to creating an authentic voice.
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with editing. This might sound like it’s doing me out of a job, but every writer needs to be able to self-edit.
This session will take you through the essentials, as well as giving you the tricks and tips to avoid the mistakes we all make.
As part of a 6 week novel writing workshop, this session deals with your novel summary and preparing a synopsis.
It should be easy, but it never is, even for experienced writers.
The exercises in this session will give you the format and skills you need to condense your novel into a compelling, submission-worthy synopsis.