What’s the best way to write a novel? Unsurprisingly, there’s no one answer to this
question! A huge part of learning to write is figuring out what kind of writer you are,
what works for you and what doesn’t. The aim of this session is to start answering these
questions together. By exploring a whole host of approaches to plotting and writing a
novel, we'll dive into the tenets of good story-telling while simultaneously broadening
your own writing toolkit.
Topics covered will include:
How to outline a story, chapter or scene
Beginnings, middles and endings
How to engineer satisfying plots and character arcs
How to find a way forward when you’re stuck
The class is designed to be valuable to all writers – whether you’re setting out for the
first time, with the germ of a story idea, or you’re currently working through novel
number five, looking for new inspiration. Follow-up sessions will explore plot-structure
and characterisation in greater depth, but this introduction also works as a standalone
class, suitable for anyone who aspires to write but doesn’t know quite where to begin!
Gavin Extence is an award-winning novelist whose work has been translated into over twenty languages. His first novel, The Universe versus Alex Woods, was selected as one of the Waterstones 11 best debuts of 2013, was part of the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club, and went on to be an international bestseller. He has written six books for adults and young adults, and has over a decade of teaching experience, including masterclasses, workshops and one-to-one mentoring. He lives in Sheffield with his wife, children and cat.