Novel-Writing Autumn School
Applications
Autumn Novel-Writing Intensive
Join us for four days of expert teaching in London. Work intensely on your novel with workshop and tutor feedback.
Tutor
Laura BarnettLength
4 daysLocation
LondonWriting Goal
Develop your writingOur annual Autumn Novel-Writing Intensive is back! This four-day course will take place in the Writers' Room in the Curtis Brown offices.
15 talented writers will join this course, taught by popular tutor and award-winning author Laura Barnett. Teaching will run from Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 October.
This course is ideal for those looking for one-to-one time with our tutors, or if you're in need of a fresh burst of energy and writing community support. At the end of the week, you’ll also get the chance to practise pitching and put your questions to Curtis Brown agents. You may choose to bring along the novel you worked on during a previous CBC course – or you can elect to get intensive tutor feedback on a different novel-in-progress.
I felt like I did a three-month course in just four days... The energy in the room, sat side-by-side with people uber passionate about their story, their characters, the craft: that kind of face-to-face interaction is special.
Former Intensive course student
Tutor
Laura Barnett
Laura’s first novel, The Versions of Us (2015) was a number-one bestseller, it has been translated into 24 languages, and was shortlisted for Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards. She’s had three further books out since then: Greatest Hits (2017), which features an accompanying musical soundtrack by Kathryn Williams; Gifts (2021), a novel in short stories; and This Beating Heart (2022). Her fifth novel, Births, Deaths and Marriages, will be published in 2025. She delivered a TedX talk on originality in fiction, and worked as a writing mentor for the charity Arts Emergency. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Writing School. Laura has taught many novel-writing courses for CBC in London and online, and she currently mentors members of our alumni community.
WHAT DOES THIS COURSE GIVE YOU?
- Live teaching sessions in London: Laura will lead teaching sessions on key novel-writing topics. These lessons will include writing exercises and interactive discussions.
- 1 workshop: You’ll be given the chance to workshop a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. You’ll get feedback from Laura and your fellow students.
- 1 tutorial: You'll get a 20-minute, one-to-one tutorial with Laura based on your one-page synopsis. Use the tutorial to address your specific concerns about your writing and your plan for moving forward with your novel.
- Literary agent masterclass: On the final day the group will deliver their pitches to top literary agents, they will give verbal feedback. This will be followed by a Q&A with the agents, during which the students will have a chance to ask questions about writing, pitching and the submissions process.
COURSE FEES
The course fee of £600 (inc. VAT) per student is payable in full before the start of the course. Alumni of our selective Writing Your Novel course will get £30 off this course.
This fee includes refreshments and a catered sandwich and salad lunch every day. We will be able to cater to all dietary requirements we’re made aware of.
COURSE SCHEDULE
The Autumn Novel-Writing Intensive will be held in the Curtis Brown offices in London (Cunard House), with sessions taking place in the boardroom. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus.
All teaching and workshop sessions will take place from 10.15 to 17.30 each day.
Literary agent speaker
Get feedback on your verbal pitch from literary agents (TBA)
Tue 14 October
Teaching Day 1Wed 15 October
Teaching Day 2Thur 16 October
Teaching Day 3Fri 17 October
Teaching Day 4
READY TO SIGN UP?
There are just 15 places available on this Novel-Writing Intensive.
Alumni exclusivity wording: Don't miss out – we're offering our selective courses alumni an exclusive window to enrol before we open applications to our wider community. Sign up by Monday 30 June 2025 to secure your place. Spots are offered on a first come, first served basis.
We will be reading and responding to applicants throughout the application window. We, therefore, advise people who are keen to join this course to fill in our short form without delay.
PRE–COURSE WORK
Students offered places on the course will be asked to email us with the following before the course begins:
- A one-page synopsis, the first page of your novel and a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress, with a note giving any necessary context (anything that's needed in addition to the synopsis to understand how the piece sits in relation to the novel, including a mention of how far through the story the extract appears).
- Your 3,000-word extract will be workshopped. Your tutorial with Laura will focus on your synopsis and is also a chance for you to discuss your concerns about the novel and your plans for moving forward.
- Schedules for tutorials/consultations will be sent out to all students ahead of the start of the course.
- The material from the other 14 students will be sent to you ahead of the course so that you can do your reading and write your feedback before you arrive. Please provide comments on the 3,000-word extracts (the synopses and first pages are provided to aid your understanding).
- Our boardroom will be open in the morning before class and in the late afternoon after class for students who need to catch up on reading and feedback-writing, or indeed for students who want to sit and write.
