Advanced novel-writing courses

Make your novel shine with expert advice and personalised feedback from authors and publishing professionals.

Take your writing seriously! We run a variety of novel-writing courses designed to help you get your book over the finish line. These selective courses include one-to-one tutorials, writing workshops and/or interactive teaching in London or online (via Zoom).

Writing Your Novel – Three/Six Months

Study in London or online. Our flagship course has been created to help you hone your novel and empower you to pitch it to agents, no matter what stage of writing or editing you are currently at. With great teaching, workshopping, guest masterclasses and one-to-one tutorials from experienced publishing professionals. Current Writing Your Novel courses open for application are listed below.

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Finish Your Novel – Eight Months

If you’re toiling your way through your first draft and would like support from three wonderful author-tutors to get to the end – plus a supportive peer group, and plenty of time to write built-in, this is the course for you. This online course includes live Zoom teaching sessions. We suggest you should have around 15,000 words already written before you apply – but that’s just a guideline.

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Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced

Our ultimate course to help you get your novel into the best possible shape and then learn how to pitch it to agents and publishers. It includes all of the teaching materials from our shorter Edit & Pitch Your Novel course, but it has lots more feedback from an expert tutor and a series of Zoom masterclasses from agents, authors and publishers – just for your group of 15.

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The Rewrite Doctor – One Day

This one-day intensive Zoom course led by CBC’s Founder and MD Anna Davis is the perfect next step for writers who have finished the first draft of their novel and want to knock it into better shape. 16 writers will learn her tried-and-tested Rewrite Doctor method for editing a novel and be given the opportunity to ask questions.

Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass

Across two hours, CBC's Head of Courses / Editor Jennifer Kerslake will guide you step-by-step through the tricky art of summarising your story in a few short paragraphs, with examples and top tips. This special evening masterclass takes place 7-9pm. Don't delay in signing up – we have limited places left.

Pitching Your Novel – One Day

Join CBC editors Abby Parsons and Jennifer Kerslake for a day of interactive Zoom teaching. They'll walk you through the elevator pitch and how to write your query letter to literary agents. Includes a masterclass Q&A with Curtis Brown literary agent. Don't delay in signing up, just 16 places per course.

Learn more about your chosen genre

We also have a range of advanced courses focusing on specific types of writing, with teaching that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the genre and its tropes.

Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

Join a group of 15 writers for three months of expert teaching, workshops and tutorials from prize-winning YA and children’s author Catherine Johnson.

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Writing Romantic & Commercial Fiction

Learn how to write an uplifting and heartfelt novel with characters your readers will invest in, with bestselling author Julie Cohen.

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Writing Crime & Thrillers – Advanced

Work on your crime novel or psychological thriller with dedicated online teaching from genre expert and award-winning author, Sarah Hillary.

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Practical courses to match your writing goal. Trusted by 15,000+ writers. See all courses

It was the smartest thing I could have done.

Bonnie Garmus, Global bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

Start Writing

Put your pen to paper

Develop Your Writing

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Advanced novel-writing courses

Writing Your Novel – Three/Six Months

Finish Your Novel – Eight Months

Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced

The Rewrite Doctor – One Day

Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass

Pitching Your Novel – One Day

Learn more about your chosen genre

Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

Writing Romantic & Commercial Fiction

Writing Crime & Thrillers – Advanced

Writing Your Novel – Three/Six Months

Finish Your Novel – Eight Months

Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced

The Rewrite Doctor – One Day

Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass

Pitching Your Novel – One Day

Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

Writing Romantic & Commercial Fiction

Writing Crime & Thrillers – Advanced