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Participants in face to face courses must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must comply with any other precautionary measures Writing NSW puts in place.

A novel, unlike that story in a bar or a two-thousand-word essay, is a substantial project which can seem like an impossible feat, whether you’re figuring out where to start or you’re 30,000 words in with nowhere to go.

‘Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.’ This oft-misattributed quote reflects a general sentiment about writing as romantic, tortuous and, implicitly, unteachable. This seminar introduces another approach, based on established theories of creativity and design, to adopt a more structured and reliable process.

In this course on novel writing, story structure and project management, bestselling author Graeme Simsion demystifies the secrets behind his beloved Rosie trilogy and other international bestsellers The Best of Adam Sharp and Two Steps Forward.

You’ll learn how to approach your manuscript as a project, with a clear path from conception to a final manuscript. The process is broken down into no-nonsense, practical steps that you can actually do. And better yet, this course is designed so that you can adapt each part of the process to your own individual project.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

Expected Learning Outcomes

1. A top-view and practical understanding of the steps involved in the novel-writing process from conception to final draft, and the ability to adapt and apply this to the plan of undertaking of a long-form fiction project.
2. A comprehensive view of how each step in the process relates to writing craft, including how to develop a concept and brainstorm ideas; how to create a comprehensive but useable outline; how to write from an outline; how to write and edit a first draft; and how to submit for publication.
3. A variety of easily replicable exercises to come back to when facing creative blocks or unsure where to go next.
4. Each participant will receive a copy of The Novel Project: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Novel, Memoir or Biography, which is full of even more practical and hands-on information to keep you on track.

Participant requirements

Pen and paper, laptop optional. Please read our FAQ before enrolling.

If you are feeling unwell and experiencing any COVID-related symptoms on the day of the course, you must stay at home and contact us to let us know. As a participant in this course, you will be required to follow all COVID safety measures in place by Writing NSW to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community.

If you have questions about this course and/or COVID-safe guidelines, please contact us.

More from Writing NSW

Check out our full range of in-person writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.