Young Adult Fiction, or ‘YA’, spans almost every genre, from fantasy to crime to romantic comedy, from covering dystopian worlds to LGBTQ lives. A relatively recent invention, YA is both controversial and hugely popular, with many books surging up bestseller lists and snapping up major film deals.

In this five-week course, we will ask what makes a book a YA book, and what makes a YA book stand out in the market. We’ll discuss techniques for drawing on your own young adult self, at the same time as writing fiction that is fresh and immediate for contemporary readers. We’ll workshop ideas for planning, plotting and polishing, and consider tips on publishing.

In YA, voice and character are pivotal; this course will suggests methods for writing teen protagonists who fly off the page. Your tutor will walk you through styles, genres and approaches, with a particular focus on making your writing work for you, so that you can stay the distance.

Featuring special guests throughout the course, this is a rare opportunity to develop your writing in real time, with writing and editing experts alike, while gaining new skills you can carry with you for the rest of your career.

This program will also include the rare opportunity have a sample of your work copy-edited by a Senior Editor who specialises in editing YA. You will work towards providing a 2000-3000 word piece, which will receive two rounds of revisions returned to you following the conclusion of the course.