Just a reminder that my Novel Writing course is starting again on 28th January. There are still places available, but lots have already been booked, which is great as it means there should be plenty of scope for lively conversation and debate as the course runs. You don’t have to have written anything before, it really is designed to be suitable for writers of all levels of experience and confidence. Quite alot of students have either an idea for a novel, or something partially written when they start the course; sometimes the idea they started off with changes beyond all recognition over the six weeks that we work together and as their ideas develop and as they spark off other students.
There’s lots of scope to discuss the course and writing in general, both with me and with your fellow students. The course is run via a private forum as part of the Writers’ Workshop discussion forum, The Word Cloud (it’s well worth signing up to join this, regardless of whether you decide to do the course or not – it’s a great community, and it’s totally free). Only course members can access the discussion, so you don’t have to be concerned about putting your work up in public. Each week I post a new set of course notes, which follow this order:
Week One: Ideas. Week Two: Character. Week Three: Story, plot and narrative. Week Four: Structure. Week Five: Style. Week Six:Editing and the business of publishing.
Each contains a homework exercise, related to the week’s topic, which you send to me and which I then post in the forum with comments. It’s not compulsory to have your work posted for the rest of the group to read – if you really don’t want me to then I won’t – but I strongly encourage it. Students often find that they learn as much from reading their peers work, and my comments on it, as they do from the feedback on their own work; it also gets you into the habit of reading other writers work critically and assessing its strengths and weaknesses for yourself, a skill that you’ll find invaluable in your future writing.
Do contact me via the website if you have any questions about the course. I’ll be running another one in the Spring. You can book a place on the January course here: http://bookwhen.com/writersworkshop
I have just finished to touch the stars. Is there or are you going to do a follow up to this story. Absolutely loved it.
Thanks Jayne! So pleased you enjoyed it. No plans for a sequel at the moment but you never know… xj