Take your novel-writing to the next level with in-depth feedback and support.
This course is ideal for people who are serious about writing their novel and are seeking flexibility, so they can write and study at times that suit them.
You will join a group of 15 writers tutored by acclaimed novelist and experienced tutor Andrew Michael Hurley. Andrew will give feedback to students on their novels-in-progress via weekly workshops on our bespoke online forum, targeted writing exercises, and one-to-one tutorials via Zoom. You’ll also get access to exclusively produced teaching videos, notes and resources from our expert CBC tutor team (listed below) on our online learning platform.
This course will run from 13 Nov to 11 Mar 2023.
Every aspect of the course – the brilliant materials, my wonderful tutor Suzannah Dunn and my fellow course mates – had a huge impact on my writing
Emilia Hart
Author of Weyward
Tutor
Andrew Michael Hurley
Andrew Michael Hurley is currently based in Lancashire. His first novel, The Loney, was originally published by Tartarus Press as a 300-copy limited-edition, before being republished by John Murray. It went on to sell in 20 languages, win the Costa Best First Novel Award and Book of the Year at the British Book Industry Awards. Devil’s Day, his second novel, was picked as a Book of the Year in five newspapers and won the Encore Award. Starve Acre was published by John Murray in 2019. Andrew also wrote a short story for The Haunting Season, a bestselling anthology of ghostly and gothic tales published by Sphere in 2020.
What does this course give you?
- Teaching videos: Across 13 teaching modules, videos and notes will be made available on our learning platform, covering a range of topics such as plotting, characterisation, point-of-view and rewriting. All delivered by our expert tutor team (see featured video speakers below).
- A community of writers: Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your novel in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. We have developed a bespoke learning platform exclusively for our students. Here you can give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and tutors. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
- Expert teaching: Andrew will teach on a variety of novel-writing topics in our interactive online learning platforms. He will also set homework tasks to further your learning.
- Writing workshops: Across the course, you'll get two dedicated workshops centring on 3,000-word extracts from your novel-in-progress. These sessions offer in-depth feedback, and are also designed to help develop your self-editing skills.
- 1-to-1 tutorials: You'll get two 45-minute, one-to-one tutorials with Andrew. Tutorials will be based on 3,000-word extracts of your novel-in-progress. Use these tutorials to address your specific concerns about your writing. Near the end of the course all students will also get a 45-minute one-to-one with an experienced CBC editor or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent. They will read a 6,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress plus your synopsis.
- Literary agent masterclass: Join a live Zoom session with a top UK literary agent, they will talk about writing, editing and the submissions process, drawing on their experience of real-life publication journeys. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
- Synopsis & agent letter advice: We’ll draw on our expertise to give you the vital ingredients needed for a great synopsis and the all-important pitch letter. Individual feedback will come from experienced members of the CBC editorial team and/or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent.
- End of course submission:All students will be invited to submit the 3,000-word opening from their novel, plus a synopsis, to be shared with the agent teams at Curtis Brown and C&W as well as a select group of agents from other UK-based agencies. This is not a formal submission but a chance to give the agents a taste of your work at this stage. When you are ready to formally submit – no matter how long after your course has finished – the CBC team will give you guidance and support with your submission to the Curtis Brown and C&W agents.
- Alumni services: You’ll be given access to a range of exclusive writing services, available only to the alumni of our selective courses, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include individual mentoring, editorial reports on your completed novel, and submission reports on your ‘pitch package’. Read more about the opportunities available to our alumni here.
VIDEO SPEAKERS
Course modules include exclusive pre-recorded teaching videos from these expert author-tutors.
MASTERCLASS SPEAKERS
Join special live Zoom sessions with leading publishing professionals. More industry speakers to be confirmed.
Course schedule
Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.
WEEK 1 – INSPIRATION AND READING AS WRITERS
Mon 13 Nov – Sun 19 Nov
WEEK 2 – OPENINGS
Mon 20 Nov – Sun 26 Nov
WEEK 3 – WRITING FROM LIFE
Mon 27 Nov – Sun 3 Dec
WEEK 4 – STORY, PLOTTING & PLANNING
Mon 4 Dec – Sun 10 Dec
WEEK 5 – VOICE & NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW
Mon 11 Dec – Sun 17 Dec
WINTER BREAK
No teaching Mon 18 Dec – Tues 2 Jan
WEEK 6 – SYNOPSIS
Weds 3 Jan – Sun 7 Jan
WEEK 7 – CHARACTERISATION
Mon 8 Jan – Sun 14 Jan
WEEK 8 – DESCRIPTION, TONE & STYLE
Mon 15 Jan – Sun 21 Jan
WEEK 9 – DIALOGUE
Mon 22 Jan – Sun 28 Jan
WEEK 10 – BUILDING SUSPENSE
Mon 29 Jan – Sun 4 Feb
WEEK 11 – ENDINGS
Mon 5 Feb – Sun 11 Feb
WEEK 12 – EDITING & REWRITING
Mon 12 Feb – Sun 18 Feb
WEEK 13 – AGENT LETTER/PITCH WORKSHOP
Mon 19 Feb – Sun 25 Feb
WEEK 14 – COURSE CONCLUSION
Mon 26 Feb – Sun 3 Mar
WEEK 15 – END OF COURSE SUBMISSION
Mon 11 Mar
Course fees
The course fee of £1,800 (inc VAT) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer or cheque before the start of the course. However, if you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.
Ready to apply?
Please apply with the first 3,000 words of the novel you’d like to work on during the course, and a synopsis of no more than a page (both need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE file in the application below).
The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midnight, end of day Sun 22 Oct, and we will respond to applicants by Thurs 26 Oct.
We read all application material promptly after the closing date and make our selection of students swiftly at that time. However if you require an earlier response from us in order to be able to take part in this course, please email us with full details and we will consider and respond on a case by case basis.
If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.
SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
We are honoured to offer this scholarship in memory of the late John le Carré. One talented writer with low income will be awarded a place on this three-month online Writing Your Novel course. Find out more and apply by clicking the button below. Deadline Sun 29 Oct.
Apply now
