Writing a Novel
with Kathryn Heyman and James Bradley
and guests Markus Zusak, Margo Lanagan, Delia Falconer, Charlotte Wood and Michael Robotham
Course begins 6 March 2012
Allen & Unwin
83 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
(Please note access is via stairs)
Course fee: $5,950 (inc GST)
Two classes of a maximum of 15 students each
Writing a Novel is a six-month, intensive, practical course for writers ready to make the leap into creating a full length work of fiction. Using a combination of writing exercises, readings and discussions, this course will focus on the joy of novel writing and lead to the development of a full draft of a novel.
Beginning in March 2012 students will attend weekly evening workshops designed to develop novel writing skills from the first conception of an idea through to the final edit. Looking at narrative structure, voice, the development of character, the skill of rewriting and the fear of the blank page, the course will be both inspirational and highly practical.
In addition to the weekly classes there will be six Saturday sessions, once a month, where students will have an opportunity to have individual tutorials with the course directors Kathryn Heyman and James Bradley.
There will also be guest seminars given by writers, agents and publishers.
Writing a Novel is a practical course for writers prepared to engage fully in the creative process to produce a full-length work of fiction. Apart from the writing classes, students will be expected to devote as much time as possible between sessions to developing their work, with the aim that by the end of the six months they will have created a body of material towards the first draft of a full-length novel.
Towards the end of the course there will be an opportunity to discuss next steps, time management for the writer, and presentation of work for agents, publishers, and so on. In addition, students will be asked to give a short reading at the Allen & Unwin offices before a select audience at the end of the course.
The course will be selective.
Shelf Life recently interviewed Kathryn Heyman about Faber Academy and the Writing a Novel course:
About the Course Directors
Kathryn Heyman is the author of four novels, including The Accomplice and Captain Starlight's Apprentice, published internationally and in translation. She has won an Arts Council of England Writers Award, the Wingate and the Southern Arts Awards, and has been nominated for the Orange Prize, the Scottish Writer of the Year Award, the Edinburgh Fringe Critic's Awards, the Kibble Prize and the West Australian Premier's Book Awards. She's written several radio plays for BBC radio, including adaptations of her own work, and has taught Creative Writing for the University of Glasgow and the University of Oxford.
www.kathrynheyman.com
James Bradley is a writer and critic. His books include three novels, Wrack, The Deep Field and The Resurrectionist, a book of poetry, Paper Nautilus, and as editor, The Penguin Book of the Ocean. In addition to being widely translated, James' novels have won or been shortlisted for a number of awards, including The Age Fiction Book of the Year Award, the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Miles Franklin Award. As well as writing fiction and poetry, James' reviews and essays have appeared in newspapers and magazines such as The Times Literary Supplement, The Australian Literary Review, The Guardian, The Monthly, The New York Review of Science Fiction, Griffith Review, Meanjin, Heat and The Sydney Morning Herald. He blogs at www.cityoftongues.com.
About the guest lecturers
Delia Falconer is the author of two novels, The Service of Clouds, short-listed for major Australian awards including the Miles Franklin, and The Lost Thoughts of Soldiers. She edited The Best Australian Stories 2008 and The Penguin Book of the Road and is the author of Sydney. An acclaimed essayist, short-story writer and critic, she holds a PhD in English literature and cultural studies from the University of Melbourne.
Michael Robotham began his career an investigative journalist in Australia and Britain. He later became a ghostwriter, collaborating with the likes of Lulu, Rolf Harris, Geri Halliwell and Ricky Tomlinson, in penning more than a dozen bestselling autobiographies. Michael's first novel The Suspect sold more than a million copies internationally and was translated into 22 languages. He has twice won the Ned Kelly Award for crime fiction and twice been shortlisted for the UK Steel Dagger. Acknowledged by Stephen King as the writer of 'exceptional suspense novels', Michael's latest novel is The Wreckage. He lives in Sydney with his wife and three daughters.
www.michaelrobotham.com
Charlotte Wood's new novel Animal People has been described as 'superb storytelling' by The Australian, while The Age called her 'one of the most intelligent and compassionate novelists in Australia'. Her other novels include The Children and The Submerged Cathedral, and her books have been shortlisted various prizes including the Miles Franklin Award and the regional Commonwealth Writer's Prize. Her non-fiction book about cookery, Love & Hunger, will be published in April by Allen & Unwin. She lives in Sydney and is writing her fifth novel.
Markus Zusak is the author of five novels, including The Messenger, and the international bestseller, The Book Thief, which has been translated into over thirty languages. He is currently working on his new book, Bridge of Clay.
Please note in the event of unforeseen circumstances, courses - including tutors and venues - may be subject to cancellation or change.
Course Program
The course consists of:
22 x evening sessions |
6.30-8.30pm Tuesdays |
6 x full-day sessions |
10am - 4pm Saturdays |
The course will run from 6 March 2012 to 21 August 2012.
PHASE ONE: Generating
Session 1: Tuesday 6 March
Introductory Session: goals, obstacles, desires
Session 2: Tuesday 13 March
Inspiration: the starting point
Session 3: Tuesday 20 March
Inspiration: using memory
Session 4: Saturday 24 March
Creating Character
Directors' Reading
Session 5: Tuesday 27 March
Guest – Markus Zusak
Session 6: Tuesday 3 April
Individual Tutorials
Writing through the Body
Please note course break for Easter
Session 7: Tuesday 17 April
Individual Tutorials
Beginnings
Session 8: Tuesday 24 April
Place
Session 9: Saturday 28 April
Research and Exposition
Works in Progress (workshops and individual meetings)
Session 10: Tuesday 1 May
Individual Tutorials
Voice
Course recess
PHASE TWO: Crafting
Session 11: Tuesday 15 May
Guest - Sebastian Barry
Session 12: Tuesday 22 May
Individual Tutorials
Scenes
Session 13: Saturday 26 May
Workshops/One-to-Ones
Guest – David Malouf (TBC)
Session 14: Tuesday 29 May
Individual Tutorials
Dialogue
Session 15: Tuesday 5 June
Guest – Delia Falconer
Session 16: Tuesday 12 June
Structure
Session 17: Saturday 16 June
Workshops/One-to-Ones
Guest – Michael Robotham
Session 18: Tuesday 19 June
Individual Tutorials
Revealing Character
Session 19: Tuesday 26 June
Individual Tutorials
Passage of Time
Session 20: Tuesday 3 July
Guest - Margo Lanagan
Please note course break for 2 weeks
Session 21: Tuesday 17 July
Turning Points and Stakes; searing moments
Session 22: Saturday 21 July
Workshops/One-to-Ones
Guest – Charlotte Wood
Session 23: Tuesday 24 July
Guest - A&U Editor
Session 24: Tuesday 31 July
Endings and Momentum
PHASE THREE: Completion
Session 25: Tuesday 7 August
Selling Your Work; the synopsis; polishing
Guest – Louise Thurtell, A&U Snr Commissioning Editor
Session 26: Saturday 11 August
Editing Boot Camp
Guest - Agent
Session 27: Tuesday 14 August
Debrief/What Next?
Session 28: Tuesday 21 August
Concluding Session
Celebration
How to apply
To apply for a place at Faber Academy at Allen & Unwin's Writing a Novel course, applicants are asked to submit a 1000 word sample of their prose writing, together with the application form and a covering letter stating their writing experience, to faberacademy@allenandunwin.com
or by post:
Edwina Johnson
Faber Academy Manager
Allen & Unwin
PO Box 8500
St Leonards NSW 1590
Please do not send your only copy of your work, as it will not be returned.
The deadline for applications is Monday 20 February 2012. Please note that student access to e-mail is essential for the smooth communication of course materials.
Successful applicants will be asked to pay a non-refundable first instalment of the course fees of $2,000 by 27 February 2012. The balance of the course fee, a further $3,950, will be payable in four further instalments of $987.50 on 1 April, 1 May, 1 June and 1 July 2012 respectively. No refunds will be given to students who miss sessions or drop out of the course.
Download the application form (PDF)
Please note that, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, venues may be changed or courses may be subject to cancellation.
