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. 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
  2. Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £50.00
  3. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  4. Writing flash fiction: getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 1 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Maria Thomas
    Flash fiction is the art of telling small stories that make a big impact. Learn how to harness the power of economy in this practical short course. Suitable for those with some experience of creative writing.



    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
  5. Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 16 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Annabel Banks
    The best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.



    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
  6. Write a short story in a week
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Dec 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vicky Grut
    Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £60.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  7. Starting your novel: intensive
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 20 Jan 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Leipciger
    Got a great idea for a novel? Jump start your project in this supportive, intensive course that covers craft basics such as character and plot. For fiction writers with some experience, and for those comfortable working at a fast pace.



    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
  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. Craft focus: mastering descriptive language
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 25 Jan 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie McKenzie
    Descriptive language can provide texture and clarity to a story, promoting reader engagement and a sensory experience. In this short course, learn how to create vivid descriptions that will elevate your prose. This course will support writers of fiction and non-fiction.



    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
    Rating:
    89% of 100
  10. Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
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