18 October 2018

Catherine Cho: ‘I’m a strong believer in the pitch letter and the synopsis’

by Katie Smart From the Agents, Writing Tips

After three years assisting Curtis Brown chairman Jonny Geller, Catherine Cho is beginning to build her own list of fiction and non-fiction writers. We caught up with Catherine to talk about her tastes, why she loves working with debut novelists, and the enduring appeal of science fiction… You started your career in publishing in New York before moving to […]

18 October 2018

3 things every writer should know about writing from life

by Nikita Lalwani Guest Blog, Writing Tips

Nikita Lalwani is the author of two acclaimed novels, Gifted and The Village, and she’s been a core member of the CBC teaching team for a number of years now, working across both our London and online courses.  When she’s teaching, Nikita is always keen to get students thinking about writing from experience. Not in a reductive ‘write what you […]

17 October 2018

Introducing the Sarah Quinn BAME Writing scholar for YA and children’s fiction

by Katie Smart Events, From Our Students, Our Courses

We are pleased to announce that Mayowa Asaju has been awarded the BAME Writing Scholarship for YA and Children’s Fiction, generously funded by former CBC student Sarah Quinn. Mayowa has joined the 3-month Writing YA and Children’s Fiction course, taught by Catherine Johnson, which started this week. We’ve been delighted by the positive response that we’ve had to the scholarship since […]

11 October 2018

Study novel-writing in London with a scholarship funded by HW Fisher

by Katie Smart Events

Are you a writer who’d like to join one of our London-based novel-writing courses, but are unable to afford the fee? With the deadline coming soon for our next 3-month course, taught by the wonderful Charlotte Mendelson, we want to make sure you know about the fully-paid scholarship opportunity being offered by HW Fisher … […]

10 October 2018

Ella Dove, Photo by Nicky Johnston

Ella Dove: ‘Ask yourself, what is the overall message of this book?’

by Anna Davis Author Interviews, From Our Students, Novels by CBC Alumni, Student Successes

Ella Dove studied on our 3-month London-based novel-writing course, back in the Spring of 2015. She was a lively, funny, self-deprecating student – very sociable and always smiling. She was also a very talented writer, though I think she won’t mind my telling you that she hadn’t yet settled into the right novel at that […]

08 October 2018

Seven Tips for Writing a Children’s Picture Book

by David O'Connell Guest Blog, Writing Tips

David O’Connell is a writer and illustrator living in London, UK.  His first book was Monster & Chips, the first of a series of funny (and revolting) adventures of ‘hooman’ Joe Shoe whilst working at the Monster Diner of friendly monster Fuzzby Bixington. He then collaborated with  Sarah McIntyre on the picture book Jampires, inspired by a […]

04 October 2018

#WriteCBC: Writing tip and writing task from Alice Lutyens

by Anna Davis Events, From the Agents, Writing Tips

For this month’s #WriteCBC Twitter competition, we’re delighted to feature a writing tip and writing task from Curtis Brown’s Alice Lutyens. Alice is the literary agent with more CBC former-students on her client list than any other at this time – including Jane Harper, Kate Hamer, Catherine Bennetto and the soon-to-be-published Rachel Marks – as well as a couple more […]

04 October 2018

The big structural edit – a checklist

by Angela Chadwick From Our Students, Guest Blog, Writing Tips

Angela Chadwick was a student on our 6-month online novel-writing course in 2015. Angela’s debut novel XX was one of Sharmaine Lovegroves’ first acquisitions for the new Little, Brown imprint, Dialogue Books, and will be published in hardback and ebook today. XX follows a lesbian couple who take part in the first trial of ovum to ovum fertilisation. Here Angela […]

03 October 2018

Want to illustrate picture books? Here’s how you start …

by Sarah McIntyre Guest Blog, Writing Tips

Sarah McIntyre is an illustrator and writer whose solo picture books include There’s a Shark in the Bath, Dinosaur Firefighters and The New Neighbours. She also illustrates books for older children, working with Philip Reeve – their latest, The Legend of Kevin, is new out – and she’s the founder and co-director of the campaign, Pictures […]

03 October 2018

Clare Pooley: ‘If you’re compelled to write it, others will be compelled to read it’

by Katie Smart Author Interviews, Student Successes

Clare Pooley is the author The Sober Diaries, a memoir based on her experience of getting sober and overcoming breast cancer. She took a 3-month novel-writing course in London with us earlier this year, taught by Charlotte Mendelson, in order to turn her talent for writing towards fiction. Now her debut novel The Authenticity Project has been auctioned […]