Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll explore different approaches to novel plotting and work to find an approach that best showcases the story you want to tell.
Please note - this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.
What will we cover?
- How to identify and develop potential structures in your novel - Ways into plotting using graphic visualisation techniques-sketch story boards/skeleton plans - How to map out a three-act structure - Reading like a writer with a focus on structure.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify the parts of the three-act structure and their respective functions (in fiction) - Plot your novel using the three-act structure and identify the relative strengths and weakness of this approach for your project - Demostrate an understanding of different planning techniques and develop a working plan for plotting your novel using one or more of these techniques.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a pen, paper, and be prepared to type on your computer. You will also need coloured pencils for this course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can progress onto our continuation course, Craft focus: novel plotting workshop (advanced).
You may also be interested in our full length Novel writing courses, Starting your novel, or Developing your novel. When you're ready, you can progress to one of our Advanced fiction writing workshops to receive more constructive feedback on your novel draft.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
KR Moorhead is a trans non-binary, neurodivergent writer and educator. Their novel, The First Law of Motion, was published by St Martin's Press in 2009. They lectured in Creative Writing for 14 years at the University of East Anglia, where they earned an MA in Creative Writing: Prose Fiction in 2007. KR also has a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education Practice and Research, with a focus in feminist and other critical pedagogies. As a freelance creative writing mentor and facilitator, KR has launched FLUX: Trans* Writers Circle, a series of successful 'Crash Courses' in elements of writing and writing practice, and a programme of author and publishing industry professional events called An Audience With. They have facilitated sessions for Writers in Bloom, Beyond Form Creative Writing, Devotion Workshop, Norwich School of Creative Writing, and Oxbridge Academic Courses, and currently teach on Writing the Novel and the Writer's Portfolio for The University of Hull's online, part-time MA in Creative Writing.
Rosie ChardSee moreSee less
Rosie Chard is a novelist, writing tutor, freelance editor, writing mentor and English language teacher. After qualifying as a landscape architect, she lived and worked in Denmark and Canada for several years, designing gardens, parks, and urban spaces. Inspired by the enormous skies and harsh winters of the Prairies she wrote her first novel Seal Intestine Raincoat, published in 2009 by NeWest Press. It won the 2010 Alberta Trade Fiction Book Award and received an honourable mention for the Sunburst Fiction Award the same year. She was also shortlisted for the 2010 John Hirsch award for the Most Promising Manitoba writer. Her second novel The Insistent Garden, also published by NeWest Press, was the recipient of the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction in Canada in 2014. The Eavesdroppers, her third novel was published by NeWest Press in September 2018. She is currently writing her fifth novel. Www.rosiechard.org.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/craft-focus-introduction-to-novel-plotting174683Craft focus: introduction to novel plottinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/introduction_to_novel_plotting-1080.jpg249249GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Novel Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Fiction Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Humanities/Courses/Writing/Craft focus courses for creative writers/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Courses/Online courses22851588203920482018134111341713453135811359917311228513581135991653201813411Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll be provided with a flexible template for plotting a novel, which will give you the structure you need without compromising your vision or personal style.</div>852667051Craft focus: introduction to novel plotting239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/introduction_to_novel_plotting-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2026-03-01T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedMar 2026WritingHW499239239Craft focus: introduction to novel plotting239120239Rosie Chardcraft-focus-introduction-to-novel-plotting/hw499-2526Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.0010-StartedAvailable|2026-03-01 00:00:00This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll explore different approaches to novel plotting and work to find an approach that best showcases the story you want to tell.<br/><br/>Please note - this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.- How to identify and develop potential structures in your novel<br/>- Ways into plotting using graphic visualisation techniques-sketch story boards/skeleton plans<br/>- How to map out a three-act structure<br/>- Reading like a writer with a focus on structure.- Identify the parts of the three-act structure and their respective functions (in fiction)<br/>- Plot your novel using the three-act structure and identify the relative strengths and weakness of this approach for your project<br/>- Demostrate an understanding of different planning techniques and develop a working plan for plotting your novel using one or more of these techniques.This is an intermediate level course suitable for those with a novel project in progress. Ideally you will have completed a significant portion of the novel, however the course also welcomes those who are in the early stages of developing an idea for their project. You will need to be a keen reader of novels and fluent in written and spoken English.- Interactive tutor presentation<br/>- Analysis and discussion of published fiction<br/>- Written exercises<br/>- Constructive feedback from your tutor and peers<br/><br/>This course will include short reading and writing homework assignments. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen, paper, and be prepared to type on your computer. You will also need coloured pencils for this course. In addition, you will need to buy or borrow the following texts:<br/><br/>Into the Woods, by John Yorke<br/>Beginnings, Middles, and Endings, by Nancy Kress.You can progress onto our continuation course, Craft focus: novel plotting workshop (advanced). <br/><br/>You may also be interested in our full length Novel writing courses, Starting your novel, or Developing your novel. When you're ready, you can progress to one of our Advanced fiction writing workshops to receive more constructive feedback on your novel draft.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual3035806Craft focus: introduction to novel plotting249249https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/introduction_to_novel_plotting-1080_14.jpgInStockDaytimeSunOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2027-01-17T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJan 2027WritingHW205249249Craft focus: introduction to novel plotting249162249KR Moorheadcraft-focus-introduction-to-novel-plotting/hw205-2627Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.0000-Available|2027-01-17 00:00:00This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll explore different approaches to novel plotting and work to find an approach that best showcases the story you want to tell.<br><br>Please note - this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.- How to identify and develop potential structures in your novel<br>- Ways into plotting using graphic visualisation techniques-sketch story boards/skeleton plans<br>- How to map out a three-act structure<br>- Reading like a writer with a focus on structure.- Identify the parts of the three-act structure and their respective functions (in fiction)<br>- Plot your novel using the three-act structure and identify the relative strengths and weakness of this approach for your project<br>- Demostrate an understanding of different planning techniques and develop a working plan for plotting your novel using one or more of these techniques.<br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen, paper, and be prepared to type on your computer. You will also need coloured pencils for this course.You can progress onto our continuation course, Craft focus: novel plotting workshop (advanced). <br><br>You may also be interested in our full length Novel writing courses, Starting your novel, or Developing your novel. When you're ready, you can progress to one of our Advanced fiction writing workshops to receive more constructive feedback on your novel draft.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual239,249239,249120,162HW499,HW205NONESun17/01/27 - 07/02/2710:30 - 16:3010:3016:304 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksWeekendOnlineKeeley Street,OnlineRosie Chard,KR MoorheadSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-03-01T00:00:00+00:00,2027-01-17T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeMar 2026,Jan 2027Writing239239,249Craft focus: introduction to novel plottingcraft-focus-introduction-to-novel-plotting/hw499-2526,craft-focus-introduction-to-novel-plotting/hw205-2627Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.0000-Available|2027-01-17 00:00:00This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll explore different approaches to novel plotting and work to find an approach that best showcases the story you want to tell.<br/><br/>Please note - this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.,This course is designed for students who have begun work on their novel, but need support to fashion their ideas into a coherent narrative that flows naturally from beginning to end. You'll explore different approaches to novel plotting and work to find an approach that best showcases the story you want to tell.<br><br>Please note - this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.Explore different approaches to novel plotting and learn how to plot your own novel successfully in this short course suitable for those who have begun writing a novel.- How to identify and develop potential structures in your novel<br/>- Ways into plotting using graphic visualisation techniques-sketch story boards/skeleton plans<br/>- How to map out a three-act structure<br/>- Reading like a writer with a focus on structure.,- How to identify and develop potential structures in your novel<br>- Ways into plotting using graphic visualisation techniques-sketch story boards/skeleton plans<br>- How to map out a three-act structure<br>- Reading like a writer with a focus on structure.- Identify the parts of the three-act structure and their respective functions (in fiction)<br/>- Plot your novel using the three-act structure and identify the relative strengths and weakness of this approach for your project<br/>- Demostrate an understanding of different planning techniques and develop a working plan for plotting your novel using one or more of these techniques.,- Identify the parts of the three-act structure and their respective functions (in fiction)<br>- Plot your novel using the three-act structure and identify the relative strengths and weakness of this approach for your project<br>- Demostrate an understanding of different planning techniques and develop a working plan for plotting your novel using one or more of these techniques.- Interactive tutor presentation<br/>- Analysis and discussion of published fiction<br/>- Written exercises<br/>- Constructive feedback from your tutor and peers<br/><br/>This course will include short reading and writing homework assignments. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.,<br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen, paper, and be prepared to type on your computer. You will also need coloured pencils for this course. In addition, you will need to buy or borrow the following texts:<br/><br/>Into the Woods, by John Yorke<br/>Beginnings, Middles, and Endings, by Nancy Kress.,Please bring a pen, paper, and be prepared to type on your computer. You will also need coloured pencils for this course.You can progress onto our continuation course, Craft focus: novel plotting workshop (advanced). <br/><br/>You may also be interested in our full length Novel writing courses, Starting your novel, or Developing your novel. When you're ready, you can progress to one of our Advanced fiction writing workshops to receive more constructive feedback on your novel draft.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.,You can progress onto our continuation course, Craft focus: novel plotting workshop (advanced). <br><br>You may also be interested in our full length Novel writing courses, Starting your novel, or Developing your novel. When you're ready, you can progress to one of our Advanced fiction writing workshops to receive more constructive feedback on your novel draft.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesconfigurable
158813599Novels and short storieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/novels-and-short-stories/novels-and-short-stories-11/2/285/13581/13599/1588/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories
