online
online

Writing a Novel Online

w/ Gretchen Shirm 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 4.30pm – 6.30pm (AEDT/AEST), 24 February – 22 September 2026

$5900 or $590 per month

$5015 or $501.50 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:

Gretchen Shirm

Gretchen Shirm is the author of a collection of short stories Having Cried Wolf, for which she was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist. Her first novel Where the Light Falls, was shortlisted for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Her fiction has been published in…

Course outline

The course consists of 22 online evening sessions (Tuesdays 4.30pm to 6.30pm AEDT/AEST), 6 half-day sessions (Saturdays 1.00pm to 4.00pm) and an additional evening session dedicated to the Faber Writing Anthology.

Session 1: Tuesday 24 February
Introduction

Session 2: Tuesday 3 March
Beginnings

Session 3: Saturday 7 March
Structure and the Shape of Your Novel

Session 4: Tuesday 10 March
Plotting and Escalation with Guest Author

Session 5: Tuesday 17 March
Point of View

Session 6: Saturday 21 March
Your Main Character

Session 7: Tuesday 24 March
Satisfying Scenes

Session 8: Tuesday 31 March
Secondary Characters

EASTER AND ANZAC DAY BREAK

Session 9: Tuesday 28 April
Place and Setting

Session 10: Tuesday 5 May
The Art of the Sentence

Session 11: Saturday 9 May
Research and Description

Session 12: Tuesday 12 May
Guest Author

Session 13: Tuesday 19 May
An Introduction to Dialogue

Session 14: Tuesday 26 May
Lush Language

Session 15: Tuesday 2 June
Headspace

COURSE BREAK

Session 16: Tuesday 21 July
Taking Stock

Session 17: Tuesday 28 July
Elephants in the Room

Session 18: Tuesday 4 August
Going Deeper with Place and Setting

Session 19: Saturday 8 August
Voice Coach with Guest

Session 20: Tuesday 11 August
Dialogue in Depth

Session 21: Tuesday 18 August
Explaining on the Move

Session 22: Tuesday 25 August
Guest Author

Session 23: Saturday 29 August
Deepening Your Characters

Session 24: Tuesday 1 September
The Big Rewrite

Session 25: Tuesday 8 September
Time Transitions, Endings and Blurbs

Session 26: Saturday 12 September
The Close Edit

Session 27: Tuesday 15 September
Guest Publisher

Session 28: Tuesday 22 September
Final readings. Where to from here? Advice for completion.

Please note 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.

Praise for this course

“Gretchen is an excellent teacher. Clear, comprehensive notes and tutorials. Great readings. Open minded discussion. Good boundaries with everyone yet also allows for debate when needed. The actual curriculum is terrific in that it is a skills based approach and usable.” – 2025 student

“A fully engaged, passionate and intelligent teacher that has both focused my writing and revolutionized my understanding of what writing a novel actually entails.” – 2025 student

 

 

How to Apply

To apply for Writing a Novel (Online) 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 $5400 is the special early bird price. $5900 is the full price. The alumni discount code applies to both courses.

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.