Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced
Applications
Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced
Polish your prose and put together a compelling pitch package with expert tuition and support from publishing professionals.
Tutor
Lauren PearsonLength
3 monthsLocation
OnlineWriting Goal
Edit & pitchTake your rough first draft all the way to finished and polished novel and put together a compelling pitch package ready to send to agents on this specially designed course.
The course surpassed my expectations. Having access to industry experts was invaluable. I realised that writing a novel is like anything else that's really difficult – you need expert advice and support. Editing my manuscript feels doable now.
Get expert feedback and encouragement from an experienced author-tutor, Lauren Pearson, who also previously worked as a literary agent. You’ll also attend series of Zoom masterclasses from publishing professionals and acclaimed authors to give you the inside track, a comprehensive set of teaching videos and resources, and will join a supportive peer group of 15 students, all working at a high level.
On this elite course – which includes the complete Edit & Pitch Your Novel teaching materials delivered on our online learning platform – you’ll have plenty of time to work through all of the tasks so that you can hone that novel, build your confidence, as well as perfect your pitch over three months.
This course will run from 18 March to 4 July 2025.
Tutors
Lauren Pearson
Lauren Pearson has been in publishing for more than 20 years, both in the US and in the UK. A former agent, most recently with Curtis Brown, she has worked with authors including Audrey Niffenegger, Gregory David Roberts, Babette Cole, Isla Fisher, Paula Harrison and Emily Barr. Now a freelance editor and writer, she especially loves working on crime & psychological thrillers, both literary and commercial fiction, as well as middle grade and YA. She is also the author of the Crabtree School series from Scholastic and The Sleepover from Orion Children’s Books. She lives in Buckinghamshire.
Read our interview with Lauren to discover more about her writing and approach to teaching creative writing.
What does this course give you?
- Flexible study: Teaching for this course is entirely online, meaning that you can take part from anywhere in the world, at a time that suits you. The course is delivered via interactive forum discussions with your tutor and fellow students alongside pre-recorded teaching videos on our bespoke learning platform, which we have developed exclusively for our students. The ‘live’ elements of this course (taking place at set times) are the five Zoom industry masterclasses and your one-to-one-tutorials. Timings of these sessions will always be confirmed in advance.
- A community of writers: Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your novel in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. Many of our former students have found trusted readers with us and formed strong working friendships that go on long after the course is over.
- Weekly teaching posts: Every Tuesday your tutor Lauren Pearson will post on our Learning Platform with insights and tips. These posts will stimulate lively online discussions.
- Teaching videos, notes & resources: You’ll get access to a comprehensive set of teaching videos plus substantial notes and resources from Anna Davis, delivered via our Learn platform, which underpin the live teaching.
- Tutor feedback & one-to-one tutorials: You will have two 30 minute one-to-one tutorials on Zoom with Lauren. One will be early in the course and one on your submission package towards the end of the course. She'll also be providing written feedback on the tasks set across the course.
- Industry masterclasses: Top authors, literary agents & publishers will share their insights into editing and pitching in special 90-minute live Zoom teaching sessions. Topics will include rewriting, line-editing and working with publishers. Zoom sessions will take place on Wednesday evening, unless otherwise stated.
- Synopsis & agent letter feedback: We’ll draw on our expertise to give you critiques of your synopsis and the all-important pitch letter.
MASTERCLASS SPEAKERS
Join special live Zoom sessions with leading publishing professionals and literary agents.
Anna Davis
Anna Davis is the founder and Director of the Curtis Brown Creative writing school. She is the author of five acclaimed novels which have been published in twenty languages. She has been a journalist and Guardian columnist, as well as a Curtis Brown literary agent. She taught creative writing at the University of Manchester and in many other settings before founding Curtis Brown Creative in 2011.
Course schedule
This course will be delivered via our private online Learning Platform and in live teaching sessions on Zoom. Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.
INTRODUCTION & REVIEWING YOUR NOVEL
Tues 18 Mar - Mon 24 MarTHE REWRITE DOCTOR
Tues 25 Mar - Mon 31 MarEDITING: AN AUTHOR'S APPROACH
Tues 1 - Mon 7 AprTHE REWRITE CHECK-UP
Tues 8 Apr - Mon 14 AprEaster Break
Tues 15 Apr - Mon 21 AprRevising & Polishing
Tues 22 Apr - Mon 28 AprScene by scene
Tues 29 Apr - Mon 5 MayThe Synopsis
Tues 6 May - Mon 12 MayThe publisher's perspective
Tues 13 May - Mon 19 MayWriting your agent letter
Tues 20 May - Mon 2 JunAGENT SUBMISSION TIPS
Tues 3 Jun - Mon 9 JunThe Agent's Perspective
Tues 10 Jun - Mon 16 JunConclusions
Tues 17 Jun - Fri 4 Jul
COURSE FEES & DISCOUNTS
The course fee of £1,600 (inc VAT) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer or cheque before the start of the course. However, if you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.
Alumni of our selective three- or six-month Writing Your Novel courses and those who’ve taken the original Edit & Pitch Your Novel course are eligible for a £150 discounted fee. There's also a £50 discount available for writers who’ve taken Anna Davis’s one-day Rewrite Doctor course.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Our selective applications process means that you will be in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level.
Please apply with the first 3,000 words of the novel you’d like to work on during the course, and a synopsis of no more than a page (both need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE file on the application form).
We will respond to entries throughout the application period. The deadline for applications is Sunday 23 February 2025.
We are offering priority entry to former students of our three- or six-month Writing Your Novel courses (online or in London). We, therefore, advise people who are keen to join this course to apply early.
If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.
