For some students, there is a strong desire to continue with the structure and collegiality that Writing a Novel provides, while also beginning to write independently. Stay the Course – Finish and Submit Your Novel is designed to keep you productive and accountable in the months after the course, to help you to work through any issues you might face on the way to completing your full manuscript draft, and to accompany you over the finish line.

Across the 5 months after Writing a Novel, you will attend monthly online ‘check-in’ sessions with acclaimed novelist and Writing a Novel director Emily Bitto. You will also join an open online forum for ongoing communication and support, featuring monthly exercises and prompts from Emily. You can work at your own pace through the monthly lessons and exercises, while always keeping in touch through the private class forum. You will also be able to partake in two one-on-one sessions with Emily.

The program will culminate in a weekend festival of conversations with guest writers about the process of finishing a manuscript, and a series of sessions with a leading literary agent, who’ll provide invaluable tips and tricks to help your manuscript stand out when it comes time to finally hit submit.