Novels and short stories
Explore character, structure and plot development on the journey to producing quality fiction. All kinds of narrative fiction, long and short, are supported on our wide range of courses. Whether you want to get your great idea down on paper or are already writing and redrafting, we have a course that will suit your level. All our writing courses are taught by practicing writers.
City Lit's writing students frequently go on to further study or publication. Read their success stories here.
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Beyond Elizabeth Bennet: writing the modern-day romance
Course Date: Wed 23 May 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will chaperone students through the plotting of modern romance stories.Full fee: £109.00Senior fee: £109.00Concession: £44.00 -
Novel plotting workshop
Course Date: Sun 27 May 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetAn advanced course for those seriously engaged in writing a novel, you will look in greater depth at the mythic theory of plotting. The class atmosphere is supportive, but candid and serious. Please enrol only if you have completed 'Introduction to novel plotting'.Full fee: £189.00Senior fee: £189.00Concession: £76.00 -
Autobiography into fiction
Course Date: Sat 16 Jun 2018 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction. Develop your writing and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into written narratives, realistic or fantastical.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00 -
Crime writing: an introduction
Course Date: Sat 16 Jun 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetDevelop your skills in crime writing and explore the techniques behind character, plot, dialogue, pacing and atmosphere. Benefit from stimulating writing exercises, feedback and encouragement.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00 -
How to write a novel synopsis
Course Date: Sun 24 Jun 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetThis one-day workshop teaches students how to write a synopsis of their completed manuscript, an essential requirement of submitting to agents and publishers.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00 -
Character as a driving force in fiction
Course Date: Sat 14 Jul 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetIn fiction, character and plot are inseparable elements of craft. Without characters in stories there can be no action, and without characters acting there can be no plot. In this course you'll learn how to create characters that can drive a narrative forward and deepen its themes.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00 -
World-building for fantasy and speculative fiction writers
Course Date: Sun 22 Jul 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetHave you ever wondered how Tolkein or C.S. Lewis did it? In this one-day course you'll learn how to build worlds that lend your fantasy or speculative fiction credibilty, richness and the kind of depth that leaves readers wanting more. Ideal for enthusiastic writers with an idea to explore, or a writing project in progress.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00 -
Getting published
Course Date: Mon 23 Jul 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetSo you've finished your novel. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.Full fee: £119.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £48.00 -
Writing the erotic: a masterclass with Monique Roffey
Course Date: Sun 5 Aug 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetIn erotic love and lovemaking we make mistakes, form unstable attachments, and often feel deeply lost. We also fall, we learn and, sometimes, we break. We heal, too. And yet, it's a subject writers of all sexual orientations most shy away from. In this workshop, in a safe, inclusive and supportive enviroment, we will look at how to think and write about intimate sexual loving in a creative way.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £28.00 -
How to write a short story
Course Date: Mon 6 Aug 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetGreat short stories offer a tantalising glimpse of life that can ultimately reveal much more. Through a series of practical exercises you'll be introduced to key elements of fiction writing craft, and inspired to create short stories that summon the imagination.Full fee: £119.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £48.00 -
How to write a novel
Course Date: Mon 6 Aug 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExplore key aspects of novel writing craft such as characterisation, story and plot in this supportive introductory course. Ideal for fiction writers about to begin a novel or those with the first draft of a novel in progress.Full fee: £119.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £48.00 -
Micro-fiction
Course Date: Sat 11 Aug 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetA sideways glance: succinct, powerful. This two-day workshop on the essential components of flash fiction will teach you to tell a complete story in up to 500 words.Full fee: £99.00Senior fee: £99.00Concession: £40.00 -
Writing the city
Course Date: Sat 18 Aug 2018
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetCities are complex, rich and filled with possibilities for great fiction. Learn how to craft vibrant urban settings in this course that combines writing exercises with an exploration of cities in texts both old and new.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £59.00Concession: £24.00