hobart
hobart

Writing a Novel

w/ Liz Evans, Lucy Christopher and guests

For emerging novelists ready to dive in and make the commitment to complete a full manuscript, this rigorous course will guide you through the process of executing your novel, developing essential skills in writing and composition, as well as establishing a dedicated writing practice.

Tuesdays 6pm – 8pm (AEDT/AEST), 17 February – 15 September 2026

Henry Hunter Reading Room

Hobart Town Hall

50 Macquarie Street

Hobart 7000

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Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts

Ground Floor

91 Murray St

Hobart 7000

Get directions

$5,800 or $580 per month

$4,505 or $450 per month (alumni)

See below for early bird discount and save $500.


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, you will be given a proven combination of targeted writing exercises, in-class writing workshops, group discussions and carefully selected examples. The focus of this course will be on your own work, with the aim of finishing with a substantial body of new writing, heading towards a publication-ready draft of your novel.

In the second half of the program, you will continue to develop the craft and technical skills required to turn a rough draft into a work of art. Using exercises focused on your own work, and feedback from peers and tutors, you’ll 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.

During this course, you will be provided with:

  • Feedback on 8,000-10,000 words of your work-in-progress, delivered through a mixture of whole-class workshops, and a personalised individual one-on-one consultation with your course director.
  • Regular classes covering everything from research and narrative structure to style and tone.
  • The ability to connect with fellow committed novelists, building a close-knit community of trusted readers.
  • The chance to establish valuable industry connections with key insiders from the Australian publishing industry. There is no better way to get on the road to publication than to meet the people who know how to make that happen.
  • A complimentary copy of a recent A&U publication.

In addition to dedicated course work, students who are submission-ready upon the completion of Writing a Novel will have the opportunity submit to the Faber Writing Anthology, a showcase of student work sent to leading literary agents and publishers in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and launched at a bespoke industry party.


Writers you'll be working with:

Liz Evans

Liz Evans is an award-winning British writer, journalist, author and novelist, currently based in lutruwita/Tasmania. She spent the 1990s as a music journalist in London and published two books on women and rock culture for Pandora/HarperCollins before training as a psychotherapist. Since moving to Australia, she has continued to write for a wide range of…

Lucy Christopher

Lucy Christopher is an award-winning, best-selling author for young adults, children, and adults, with wide readership; her books are published in over 20 countries, selling over 250,000 copies. She has won many international awards, including the Printz Honor Award, Branford Boase, Prix Farniente, Golden Inky, and an International Reading Association Award. Release, her debut psychological thriller for…

Course outline

This course consists of twenty-two 2 hour Tuesday evening classes held in the Henry Hunter Reading Room, six full-day Saturday sessions at the Allport Library and are fully catered. Two additional evening sessions dedicated to the Faber Writing Anthology will take place over Zoom.

Session 1: Tuesday 17 February
Introduction

Session 2: Tuesday 24 February
Fundamentals of fiction: showing and telling

Session 3: Saturday 28 February
Beginnings

Session 4: Tuesday 3 March
Sentences

Session 5: Tuesday 10 March
Tense

Session 6: Tuesday 17 March
Guest Author: Nadia Mahjouri

Session 7: Saturday 21 March
Voice

Session 8: Tuesday 24 March
Point of View

Session 9: Tuesday 31 March
Guest Author: Kate Kruimink

EASTER BREAK

Session 10: Tuesday 28 April
Dialogue

Session 11: Tuesday 5 May
Subtext

Session 12: Saturday 9 May
Character

Session 13: Tuesday 12 May
Guest Author: Erin Hortle

Session 14: Tuesday 19 May
Place and setting

Session 15: Tuesday 26 May
Research, Authenticity, and Ethics

COURSE BREAK

Session 16: Tuesday 14 July
Minor characters

Session 17: Tuesday 21 July
Rhythm and pace

Session 18: Tuesday 28 July
Object and detail

Session 19: Saturday 1 August
Plot and Structure

Session 20: Tuesday 4 August
Handling Time: Backstory, Flashbacks, and Time Shifts

Session 21: Tuesday 11 August
Themes and symbolism

Session 22: Tuesday 18 August
Genre

Session 23: Saturday 22 August
Editing and Revision

Session 24: Tuesday 25 August
Synopsis and pitch

Session 25: Tuesday 1 September
Publisher Guest: Geordie Williamson, Picador

Session 26: Saturday 5 September
Agent Guest: Tara Wynne, Curtis Brown Australia and pitch/synopsis workshop

Session 27: Tuesday 8 September
Publishing trajectories and where to from here

Session 28: Tuesday 15 September
Soiree and celebratory drinks held at Fullers Bookshop, 131 Collins St, Hobart.

Faber Writing Anthology sessions:

  •         Session 29: Meet the Anthology Editor (Zoom session)
  •         Session 30: Meet the Faber UK Team (Zoom session)

The exact course content could be adjusted according to the experience and concerns of the group and availability of guest writers. The detail of the course is at the discretion of the Course Director and Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin.

How to Apply

To apply for Writing a Novel (Hobart) you will first have to apply via a Wufoo form here.

As part of this application, you will need to include a 1000 word writing sample from your novel-in-progress, and let us know if you’d like to be considered for a full scholarship.

Please note that $5300 is the special early bird price. $5800 is the full inaugural price and only available for Writing a Novel (Hobart) 2026.

Important Dates:

Scholarship Deadline: 26 October, 2025, 11:59pm

First round offers made by 4 December, 2025.

Scholarship Announced: 4 December, in our newsletter.

Earlybird Discount Expires: 11 December, 2025

We will continue to accept applications for paid places after this date, until the course is full.