Self-publishing: a taster
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HW514
Duration: 2 sessions
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course is designed for students who already have already planned a self-publishing project (poetry, fiction or non-fiction) and are looking for guidance on the writing, editing and marketing of their book.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- Myths about the world of publishing.
- Finding your audience.
- The role of research.
- Perfecting your manuscript to publishable standard.
- Platforms for promotion.
- Budgetery considerations.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand how to research your topic and audience.
- Understand how to give your book the best chance of achieving higher sales.
- Understand how to create a realistic budget for publication.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Students should have completed a beginners course in creative writing and have a specific self-publishing fiction or non-fiction project in mind.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
A mix of pair work, group discussion, tutor instruction, analysis tasks and writing tasks.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
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?
Writing materials. An outline for your book.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
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.
Helen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. She started out as a self-published author and has since been published widely in journalism, non-fiction and poetry. Helen currently writes novels for Quercus Books and has taught creative writing for more than a decade. She holds an MA in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of York St John and has been invited to speak on numerous radio programmes including BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
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.
