Novels & Short Story Writing Courses Online & in London

Be inspired to write novels and short stories at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied.

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.

Learn from published authors

Our tutors are published authors, practising writers and experts in their field. Learn about their recent accomplishments.

For the latest news, courses, events and competitions, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

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  1. Writing romance
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 30 May 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anna Richards
    It 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 guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  2. Queering characterisation: writing LGBTQIA+ characters
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 22 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Charlotte Heather
    Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  3. How to get published
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Neil Arksey
    So 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.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
  4. Writing flash fiction: getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 21 Jul 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Maria Thomas
    A sideways glance: succinct, powerful. This short workshop on the essential components of flash fiction will teach you to tell a complete story in very few words. Please note: this course will have a 2-hr break from 12:30-14:30.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  5. Advanced fiction writing workshop
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 16 Sep 2024 (and 8 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Claire Collison
    For experienced writers, this supportive but rigorous workshop offers the perfect opportunity to develop your novel or short story. Receive in-depth feedback and benefit from detailed group discussions on the art of fiction.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  6. Masterclass: fiction (a one-term intensive workshop)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 24 Sep 2024 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
    This intensive online fiction workshop is open by selective application to a maximum of ten fiction writers working at the advanced and professional levels. Submission deadline is Sunday, 1st September 2024. Please see below for submission details.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £399.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  7. Full fee £879.00 Senior fee £879.00 Concession £879.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  8. Reading for writers: feminist fiction (a fortnightly course)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 22 Jan 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    The landscape of feminist fiction is rich and multifaceted. In this course we'll explore just a fragment to learn what lessons authors of feminist workscan teach budding writers of fiction. We'll read novels by Doris Lessing, Bernadine Evaristo, Mieko Kawakami, and others. We'll analyse, discuss and use these works to inspire and develop our own fiction. You will need to come to the first class having read the short works 'Woman at Point Zero', by Nawal El Saadawi, and 'The Yellow Wallpaper', by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  9. Writing autofiction
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 15 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Natasha Bell
    Blurring lines between fact and fiction, blending the 'real' and 'imaginary', autofiction is a rich playground for writers. In this short advanced taster course, learn what 'autofiction' is, how it differs from other forms of life writing, and explore how to write it.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
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