Novel writing

A one-term course for experienced creative writers who wish to explore the principles of novel writing. Best suited to writers who have started working on their novel.

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Key course information

Dates
16/04/12 - 02/07/12

Day(s)
Mon

Duration
10 weeks

Time
12:30 - 14:30

Fees
Full fee: £108
Senior fee: £61
Concession: £29

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HW279

Availability
Available
(status updated every 15 mins)

This course has started

It may still be possible to enrol. Please call 020 7831 7831 to discuss. Please note that you will have missed some of the course content and it may not be possible for the tutor to fully cover this with you.

Course outline

What is the course about?

A one-term workshop course for experienced creative writers who wish to explore the principles of novel writing. Best suited to writers who have started working on their novel.

What topics will we cover?

In the class, we will develop techniques for novel writing. We will deconstruct contemporary and classic fiction and participants' stories and extracts in ways that will feed directly back into participants' skills including characterisation, setting, suspense and narrative drive. Considerable emphasis will be placed on developing the art of constructive criticism, which plays a critical part in helping any writer develop the ability to edit their own work.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity
- identify an improvement in skills (including for example re editing, creating an appropriate sense of place, developing characters)
- see that you have produced several pieces of text for the class that feed directly or indirectly into your novel
- identify a clear way forwards in terms of how to complete your novel.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is not a beginners' class. It is best suited for students who have already attended creative writing courses and have started on a novel.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

This is a workshop. Some exercises will be set, some hand-outs will be analysed. But the main focus will be on students' own work. Students will be invited to bring in extracts from and drafts of their work and/or to generate new
scenes and to read these to the group in turn with a view to developing the writing. A key focus will be on feedback
(constructive criticism) designed to improve the work. This is a practical course. Students attending will need to
produce regular work and share it in a mutually supportive, non-competitive environment.

Tutor bio
Josie Barnard is the author of five books with Virago Press, including the novels 'Poker Face', which won a Betty Trask award, and 'The Pleasure Dome', which Gavin Turk described in Tatler as 'a sexy new novel' and the editor of the Observer picked out alongside Will Self and AS Byatt for his selected best of the summer reads. She has appeared all around the country at literary festivals (including Dartington and Cheltenham) to talk about her writing and her media appearances include on Granada TV's 'Richard and Judy' and BBC Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour'. She has worked as an editor and as a print and broadcast journalist, writing features and reviews and presenting programmes for papers including the Guardian and the TLS. An experienced tutor/lecturer in Creative Writing, her work has been widely anthologised and her first novel was made into a short film, 'Flood', which broadcast on Channel 4 and Film Four.

City lit reserves the right to change course tutors or venues from those advertised in this outline. In line with our refund policy we are unable to grant a refund on the grounds of a change of tutor/venue.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Bring pens, writing paper and sometimes photocopies of work as instructed.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.

Select another date / day / time

Dates	Day(s)	Time	Duration	Fees	Snr	Conc	Code	Availability
16/04/12 to 02/07/12	Mon	12:30 - 14:30	10 weeks	£108	£61	£29	HW279	Started	» Select
16/01/12 to 26/03/12	Mon	12:30 - 14:30	11 weeks	£118	£67	£32	HW278	Finished	» Select