Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced
Polish your novel and shape up a compelling pitch package on this elite course with teaching from a supportive tutor and publishing professionals.
COURSE DATES
March 22 2022 - July 1 2022
Online & on Zoom
Study on our bespoke platform & in live Zoom classes
By Application
15 places will be offered
£1,600
*Discounted rate of £1,450 for former students of Edit & Pitch Your Novel
OVERVIEW
Do you have a complete draft of a novel? Are you looking for help knocking it into shape, and getting ready to submit? Take 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, with expert feedback and encouragement from an experienced author-tutor. You’ll also receive a series of 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.
Across the last five years, our six-week online Edit & Pitch Your Novel course has become our most popular and bestselling course. Many students have wanted more – and some have asked us, ‘Why don’t you offer a much bigger version of this course – with more feedback, more time to work on each of the lessons offered, and with live classes with agents, publishers, and with Anna Davis on her Rewrite Doctor method of editing?’ Well, now it’s here! 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. Students will also attend six professional masterclasses live on Zoom, and interact online with weekly discussions prompted by your author-tutor Lauren Pearson – who will go on to review your pitch package (your opening 3,000 words, synopsis and pitch letter) and give you a one-to-one tutorial and written feedback at the end of the course.
This advanced course is perfect for serious writers with a complete first draft of a novel, who want a high level of support as they get their material pitch-ready. To apply, you’ll need to send us an extract of the novel you’re working on – and we will select the most promising 15 applicants to take part.
‘Brilliant tuition from Anna Davis in the videos – presentation, content and the materials. I found the Diagnosis Plan (Rewrite Doctor) an excellent forensic tool which I have put to effective use in editing the whole of my script.’
Chris Zakarian, former Edit & Pitch Your Novel student
Tutor
Lauren Pearson, Author
Lauren Pearson has been in publishing for more than twenty 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.
WHAT DOES THIS COURSE GIVE YOU?
Six Industry Masterclasses
Learn from top authors, literary agents & publishers
Industry experts 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. Students will be invited to ask questions.
Teaching Videos & Notes
From first draft to polished pitch package
You'll get a comprehensive set of teaching videos plus substantial notes and resources from Anna Davis, delivered to you in clear modules via our Learn platform as the course progresses, which underpin the live teaching.
Weekly Teaching Posts
Discussion and support from your tutor
Every Tuesday your tutor Lauren Pearson will post on our Learning Platform with insights and tips. These posts will stimulate lively online discussions.
Student Forum
The hub of our online courses - find your writing community
Upload your work, give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and your tutor.
Feedback from Your Tutor
See how well you're progressing
Get guidance on how well your editorial process is going. Lauren will provide written feedback on the tasks set across the course, including a response to one of your rewritten scenes.
Synopsis Advice
Expert critique of the dreaded synopsis
We'll draw on our agenting expertise to give you the vital ingredients of a great synopsis – then you'll write one, and get individual feedback from your tutor.
Pitch Letter Feedback
Perfect the all-important pitch letter
We'll give you the vital dos and don'ts of agent pitch letters – you'll then write your own and a literary agent will give you in-depth written feedback.
End of Course Tutorial
Get feedback from on your submission package
Make sure your pitch package is in the best possible shape before you send it out to agents. At the end of the course you'll be invited to submit your pitch letter, one-page synopsis and 3,000-word opening for a 30-minute Zoom tutorial with Lauren – who will also provide written feedback.
PEER GROUP DISCUSSION
Writers meet their trusted readers on our courses, and many groups of students continue to support each other’s writing years after their course ends. You’ll take part in lively discussions with your 14 fellow students on a week-by-week basis. You’ll read your peers’ writing tasks and provide written feedback in our online discussion space, and will receive constructive comments in turn. We find this has a hugely positive impact on students’ writing.
REPORTS AND ALUMNI SERVICES
We offer a range of writing services that are exclusive to the alumni of our selective courses, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include individual mentoring from some of our most experienced tutors and a range of editorial reports.
Students of this course will be given an exclusive discount off our full manuscript report if requested within three months of the course ending (discounted from £750 to £700 for a manuscript of up to 90,000 words – plus £35 extra for each additional 5,000 words).
When you’re ready to send your novel to agents, the Curtis Brown Creative team will advise on which agents at Curtis Brown or C&W would be most suitable for your work and will help you to submit to them.
Masterclass Speakers
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
Our selective applications process means that you will be in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. 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 are eligible for a £150 discounted fee – as are writers who’ve taken the original Edit & Pitch Your Novel course (please note – the teaching materials from Edit & Pitch form the spine of this course – plus all of the extra special features outlined here, so students who’ve taken Edit & Pitch will find much of the material familiar). Or there’s a £50 discount available for writers who’ve taken Anna Davis’s one-day Rewrite Doctor course.
Please upload your application via the form at the end of this page. If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any questions about the course, please email cbccourses@curtisbrown.co.uk and we’d be happy to help.
We read all application material promptly after the closing date and make our selection of students swiftly at that time.
COURSE SCHEDULE
This course will be delivered via our private online Learning Platform and in live teaching sessions on Zoom.
WEEK 1
Reviewing Your Novel
Tuesday 22 March
Introductory post from your tutor on the Learn Forum.
Module 1 – Introductions and Reviewing Your Novel opens in the learning platform, with videos and notes from Anna Davis on how to read your draft with a critical eye and prepare for your edit, plus tasks for students to undertake.
Wednesday 23 March: 7pm-9pm
Masterclass 1, Anna Davis
Anna Davis will welcome you to the course in this live Zoom session. Students will be invited to discuss their major editing issues, and Anna will walk the group through her Rewrite Doctor editing method.
WEEK 2
The Rewrite Doctor
Tuesday 29 March
Your tutor posts in the Learn Forum, about big-picture editing, and responds to students’ posts re last week’s tasks.
Module 2 – The Rewrite Doctor opens on the Learn platform, with teaching videos, resources and notes from Anna Davis on her system of editing. Students are encouraged to start work on applying the Rewrite Doctor to their own first draft (or using it to evolve their own preferred system).
WEEK 3
Editing: An Author's Approach
Tuesday 5 April
Your tutor posts a greeting on the Learn Forum, and responds to questions and discussion from the group about their editing process.
Wednesday 6 April – 7pm-8.30pm
Masterclass 2, Guest Author
In this live Zoom session hosted by a member of the CBC team, a guest author will talk about their own experience of editing a novel and getting it ready for the eyes of agents and publishers. Students will be invited to ask questions about the process.
WEEK 4
The Rewrite Check-up
The course takes an Easter break in the week beginning Monday 11 April
Tuesday 19 April
Your tutor posts a greeting on the Learn Forum, and responds to questions and discussion from the group about their rewriting process.
Wednesday 20 April – 7-8.30pm
Masterclass 3, Rewrite Check-up with Anna Davis
The group meets on Zoom with Anna Davis to discuss their experience of working with the Rewrite Doctor and editing their novels. Anna will offer each student the opportunity to talk about the discoveries they’ve made (with the full group present), and will answer questions and give advice on issues the students may be encountering.
WEEK 5
Revising and polishing
Tuesday 26 April
Your tutor posts a greeting on the Learn Forum, and answers questions on the detailed rewriting and editing of your work.
Module 3 – Revising and Polishing opens on the Learn Platform, with videos and notes from Anna Davis on how to implement your rewrites and polish your novel to a shine, plus two tasks to undertake.
Wednesday 27 April – 7pm-8.30pm
Masterclass 4, Line-Editing with Abby Parsons & guest editor
In this live Zoom session, CBC’s senior manager (and former editor at HarperCollins and Little Brown) Abby Parsons will be join by a guest editor to discuss a professional approach to the line-editing of your novel, and to answer all your questions.
WEEK 6
Scene by scene
Tuesday 3 May
Your tutor posts on the Learn Forum about fine-tuning your work scene by scene.
You will post up a new or rewritten scene from your novel in response to last week’s writing task from Anna, and your tutor will give written feedback in the Learn Forum to 8 of the students on their scene (with the remaining 7 getting feedback next week).
WEEK 7
The Synopsis
Tuesday 10 May
Your tutor gives feedback to the remaining 7 students on their rewritten or new scene. Then, as the course moves on to talk about preparing your pitch package to send to agents, your tutor posts on the elevator pitch and answers your questions about it.
Module 4 – Writing Your Synopsis opens, with teaching videos, notes and case studies, offering comprehensive advice on the one-line pitch and the synopsis. And you’ll start work on your own one-page synopsis.
WEEK 8
The Publisher's Perspective
Tuesday 17 May
It’s time to post up your one-page synopsis in the Learn forum. 8 of the group will get feedback from your the tutor – with the others getting their feedback next week.
Wednesday 18 May – 7pm-8.30pm Masterclass 5, The Publisher’s Perspective
In this live Zoom session, a publisher will talk about the process of working editorially with authors and the importance of the pitch – plus a chance to ask your questions.
WEEK 9
Writing Your Agent Letter
Tuesday 24 May
Your tutor posts to the group and gives feedback to the remaining 7 students on their synopses.
Module 5 – Writing Your Agent Letter opens, with Anna’s videos and notes on the ‘dos and don’ts’ of writing a compelling agent letter. Then it’s time to write your own.
WEEK 10
Agent Feedback on your Letter
Tuesday 31 May
After an encouraging post from your tutor, it’s time to share your own practise agent letter on the Learn forum.
Later in the week you’ll receive written feedback on your draft agent letter in the Learn forum from a Curtis Brown or C&W literary agent.
WEEK 11
Agent Submission Tips
Tuesday 7 June
Your tutor posts encouragement as you hone your pitch package.
Module 6 – Agent Submission Tips opens, featuring videos from the Curtis Brown and C&W literary agents offering their tips on how to pitch your novel.
WEEK 12
The Agent's Perspective
Tuesday 14 June
Your tutor posts again as you make finishing touches to your pitch package.
Wednesday 15 June – 7pm-8.30pm
Masterclass 5, The Agent Perspective
Two literary agents from Curtis Brown or C&W will discuss everything you want to know about pitching and working with agents in this special Zoom class.
WEEK 13
Prepare Your Submission Package
Tuesday 21 June
You’ll hand in your pitch package to the tutor: the opening 3,000 words of their novel plus agent letter and one-page synopsis. You’ll also have the option to share it with your group on the forum.
Your tutor posts farewells to the group.
Wednesday 22 June – Friday 1 July
On scheduled dates across this period, each student will have an individual 30-minute one-to-one tutorial with their tutor to discuss their pitch package. plus approx 300-500 words of feedback.
READY TO APPLY?
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 in the application below). The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midnight, end of day Sunday 20 February, and we will respond to applicants by Thursday 24 February.
