Creative Writing Course: Novel Writing

What you'll learn

Improve your work skills by learning the techniques of writing a novel through our comprehensive writing short courses online and in Sydney!

The interactive live online novel writing course will be delivered via Zoom with a small class group.

Writing a novel may seem like a tremendous task to undertake, but this practical novel writing course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of fiction novel writing, along with a writer's toolkit full of techniques and tips for creating engaging fiction. Designed to equip you with the skills to write captivating novels, this novel writing course will teach you how to create compelling characters, draft a plan, and optimise reader experience.

You will also gain valuable insights into the publishing industry from an experienced, published author. This course will give you the foundation and bricks for building your fiction novel, one word at a time. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this novel writing course, you will have enhanced your career prospects by:

• Know how to develop and craft compelling characters your readers will cheer for
• Understand and know how to draft plot outlines and story plans
• Know how to use scene and sequel to draw a reader along in the story
• Be able to optimise reader experience by using point of view, dialogue and setting to your advantage
• Know how to hook editors, agents and readers by creating an engrossing read they can’t put down
• Understand the steps involved to prepare a finished novel for submission or publication
• Gain valuable industry insights beyond the secret doors of publishing, and understand the process from story concept through to publication.

Course content

What will be covered in this novel writing course?

Week 1: Character

How to build compelling heroes, villains and supporting characters with objectives, motivation and conflict, and understand character interactions and their roles within the story

Week 2: Structure, plot & hooks

How to plan your story, develop an outline, ensure conflict is sustainable, and hook the reader's interest all the way through until "The End"

Week 3: Scene & sequel, tension & pacing

How to engage action and reaction, character insights and pivots, to create drive and direction, assess the structural merits of a scene, and how to raise the stakes and ratchet the tension and control the pace of your story

Week 4: Point of view, dialogue & setting

How to utilise deep point of view and dialogue to conceal and/or reveal, and use setting as a character in your story

Week 5: Revision & editing

How to objectively assess your story for structural integrity, fix any issues, and edit and polish your story until it shines

Week 6: Synopses, submissions and publishing

How to write a synopsis, research editors, agents and publishers and prepare your manuscript for submission

Online delivery

Please note: The online course is a modified version of the full course, so the content and learning outcomes will be reduced to suit online delivery and the shorter course duration.

Intended audience

Who is this novel writing course for?

This course is carefully crafted to cater to students looking to upskill, including beginners who are new to the craft of creative writing, as well as those with some prior experience in writing.

Course materials

What to bring to class

• A notebook with removable pages
• Pen or pencil
• A laptop or tablet if this is what you prefer to write on (optional)