Presented by Australia’s leading independent publishing house Allen & Unwin, in partnership with the prestigious UK Publishers Faber & Faber, Writing a Novel is a highly practical, craft-focused program designed to help you find the focus you need to stay the distance and finish your manuscript draft.
In the first stage of this course (Feb – Jun), you will be given a proven combination of targeted writing exercises, group discussions and carefully selected readings. These introductory lessons will give you an important foundation for writing your novel. You will be taken through essential concepts such as narrative structure, character development, narration, voice, plotting, scene setting and more.
In the second half of the program (July – September) you will continue to develop the craft and technical skills required to turn a rough draft into a work of art. You will finish the course with a deep understanding of the novelist’s craft and how it applies to your own novel. These are lessons you can carry with you throughout your writing life.
After these two stages are complete, Writing a Novel students will be asked to submit work to our highly sought-after Faber Writing Anthology, a professionally edited and printed showcase of student work, sent to leading literary agents and publishers across both Australia and the United Kingdom.
This third stage will take place after your course work is finished, giving you the time and space to work towards completing a submittable draft of your manuscript in time for the anthology to be sent out to agents and publishers. This final stage will include a meeting with Faber’s Editor in Residence, a copy-editing process, and a meeting with the Faber UK team.
Guest speakers include Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe), Mirandi Riwoe (Stone Sky Gold Mountain), Laura Elvery (Ordinary Matter), and Emily Bitto (Wild Abandon).
During this course, you will be provided with:
- Regular classes covering everything from the first conception of an idea through to getting words on a page, narrative structure and style.
- A personalised individual consultation on your project from your Course Director.
- The ability to connect with fellow committed novelists, joining a selective class curated by your Course Director.
- The opportunity to make valuable industry connections with key insiders from the Australian publishing industry.
- The chance to be showcased in the much-anticipated Faber Writing Anthology, sent to publishers and literary agents across Australia and the United Kingdom.
