The Novel Studio

Six modules, taught by professional writers and editors, guide students through the tricky terrain of novel writing, from plotting, planning and researching a novel, through to character development, pacing, narrative voice and style, revisions and editing.

By the end of this year-long novel writing course, students will have developed the skills needed to draft their novels and the necessary materials to interest an agent in their work: three polished chapters, a professional-standard synopsis and a blurb.

Students are also trained for public readings, culminating in a prestigious showcasing of their novels-in-progress to industry guests. See our Novel Studio Anthology 2024.

Students are also prepared for the presentation of their work to agents and publishers.

Who is it for?

Those who have always wanted to write a novel, who want time to develop their writing in a supportive, professional environment and those interested in establishing links with agents and publishers.

Timetable

Taught over 30 weeks (two evening classes a week), The Novel Studio offers you the opportunity to learn through an exciting and diverse teaching methodology.

Term One

• Research and development (10 weekly classes on Tuesdays)
• Fictional forms (10 weekly classes on Thursdays)

Term Two

• Workshop one (10 weekly classes on Tuesdays)
• Fictional techniques (10 weekly classes on Thursdays

Term Three

• The publishing industry (10 weekly classes on Tuesdays)
• Workshop two (10 weekly classes on Thursdays)

Benefits

With visits from established writers, agents and editors, the course has strong links with the publishing industry and an impressive publication record. Take a look at our array of published alumni.

The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship

Supporting a talented writer from a low-income household who might not otherwise be able to accept an offer of a place on course.

Apply for the Captain Tasos Politis  Novel Studio scholarship.

The Novel Studio competition

In a rare opportunity to bypass the slush pile, all applications to the Novel Studio will automatically be considered for our City Novel Studio Competition.

The best three applications will be passed on to Lucy Luck, literary agent at C&W Agency, with a view to representation.

The competition is open to unpublished novelists writing in any fictional genre for adults, including literary fiction, women's fiction, science fiction, young adult fiction, chick-lit, fantasy, crime fiction, thriller, historical fiction, but not non-fiction or fiction for children.

Read the full competition terms, conditions and information.

Term 1: Autumn Term

• Research and development
  This module looks at the processes involved in plotting, planning and researching a novel, and allows students time to develop their ideas within the group.
• Fictional forms
  Students will be encouraged to consider their work within a narrative framework by exploring the structures of varied literary and commercial novels.

Term 2: Spring Term

• Workshop one
  This module supports students as they begin to write the first draft of their novels, and guides them through the process of reviewing others’ work-in-progress. Students' work is circulated in advance and then constructively critiqued in weekly workshops, facilitated by the tutor.
• Fictional techniques
  This module teaches students key aspects of craft and enables them to apply these techniques to the development of their own novels.

Term 3: Summer Term

• The publishing industry
  This module familiarises students with the publishing industry, with visits from an agent, author and editor, and culminates in an end-of-year reading to invited industry guests.
• Workshop two
  This is a continuation of Workshop One with specific reference to revising and editing.

Transferable skills

You will:

• Demonstrate a capacity for independent judgement and thought
• Practise skills in critical reasoning and appreciation
• Produce written work to a stipulated length and deadline.
• Understand, question and apply a range of alternative perspectives to your novel writing.

Teaching

Classes take the form of group activities workshops, masterclasses and tutorials.

One-to-one tutorials with the tutors are offered at designated times throughout the course. Students can use this time to discuss their work in progress, share their ideas and plans and consider the deadlines set for their work.

Assessments

The assessment for The Novel Studio is based entirely on course work, which covers aspects of all work undertaken throughout the year. Each module has its own assessment, which is marked by the relevant tutor and overseen by the Course Director. Assessments will include:

• synopsis of novel
• planning document for structuring the novel
• portfolio of writing exercises demonstrating selected fictional techniques
• chapters 1- 4 from novel-in-progress
• blurb and covering letter for agents/publishers.

Certificates

Certificates are awarded to all students who attend 70% of the classes and complete all the module assessments.

How to apply

This course is by application only.

Applications will open on 1st February 2024, with a deadline by 5pm on 30 June 2024.

If you want to be considered for the Novel Studio Scholarship, please mark your email subject heading: Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship Application.

Interviews will take place in July 2024, unless otherwise stated.

To apply, please email the course director, Emily Pedder with:

• 2,000 words of your own fiction (short story or novel extract)
• Copy of CV.

Prospective students must be willing to have their writing workshopped as part of the group and to engage actively in critiquing the work of their peers.

Ideally students will also have completed at least one creative writing course.

Acceptance onto the course is determined by interview and a novel extract of no more than 2,000 words.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.

This is a background reading list. It is not prescriptive, so students can dip into any of these books at any point in the course. The tutors will refer to a range of novels throughout, as and when it is key to the course and the students' own writing.

1. Athill, Diana, Stet. London: Granta
2. Blake, Carole, From Pitch to Publication. London: Macmillan
3. Boylan, Clare (ed.), The Agony and the Ego: The Art and Strategy of Fiction Writing Explored. London: Penguin Books.
4. Brande, Dorothea, Becoming a Writer. London: Macmillan
5. Forster, E.M., Aspects of the Novel. London: Penguin Books
6. Gardner, J., On Becoming a Novelist. New York: Norton
7. Greene, Graham, A Sort of Life. London: Penguin Books
8. Hiney, Tom and Macshane, Frank (eds.), The Raymond Chandler Papers: Selected Letters and Non-Fiction 1909-1959. London: Penguin Books
9. King, Stephen, On Writing. London: Pocket Books
10. Leader, Zachary (ed.), On Modern British Fiction. Oxford: Oxford University Press
11. Lodge, David, The Art of Fiction. London: Penguin Books
12. Prose, Francine, Reading Like a Writer. Harper Collins
13. Steinbeck, John, Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters. London: Penguin Books
14. Taylor-Guthrie (ed.), Conversations with Toni Morrison. University of Mississippi Press
15. The Paris Review Interviews: Women Writers at Work (1999) London: Harvill Press
16. Woolf, Virginia, A Writer's Diary. London: Penguin Books.