Raise your writing game
Make real progress with your novel
Starting to Write Your Novel
Develop your idea, plot and plan your novel, and write a confident opening, with CBC's founder, Anna Davis. 6 weeks.
Write to the End of Your Novel
You’ve started writing but it’s a long way to the end of the first draft. Anna Davis will get you there. 6 weeks.
Edit & Pitch Your Novel
Great novels are made in the rewrite. Get the best out of your novel and learn how to confidently pitch your novel with advice from Anna Davis and the Curtis Brown literary agents. 6 weeks.
The Literary Agent – with Jonny Geller
Learn from leading Curtis Brown agent Jonny Geller. Get the inside track on what a literary agent does, how to get one, and how a good agent can help you build a career as an author. 4 weeks.
Writing Literary Fiction with Tessa Hadley
Award-winning literary novelist and short story writer Tessa Hadley on how to think about your craft in an entirely fresh way. 5 weeks.
Writing Fiction with Kate Mosse
Bestselling author of epic historical fiction Kate Mosse on how to find inspiration in landscapes, create vivid settings and supercharge your stories using effective research. 5 weeks.
Writing Fiction with David Nicholls
David Nicholls, author of the iconic novel One Day, on how to structure your novel, use comic set pieces, and plan a brilliant ending. 5 weeks.
Writing Fiction with Marian Keyes
The much-loved international bestseller on discovering your authentic voice, writing loveable characters and sprinkling your work with humour. 5 weeks.
Learn more about your chosen genre
Writing Gothic & Supernatural Fiction
Bewitch your readers with dark and haunting stories that will delight and unnerve in equal measure. Award-winning novelist, short story writer and enthusiast for all things weird, Kirsty Logan, will help you take a walk on the nightside. 6 weeks.
Writing YA & Middle Grade Fiction
Write captivating stories for younger readers with award-winning children’s fiction and YA author Patrice Lawrence. 6 weeks.
Writing Crime Fiction
Vaseem Khan, President of the prestigious Crime Writers' Association, shows you how to write a murder novel. 6 weeks.
Writing Historical Fiction
Travel to the past and explore what makes a compelling historical novel, with #1 bestseller S J Parris. 6 weeks.
Writing a Psychological Thriller
Write a twisty, suspenseful thriller that readers won’t be able to put down, with bestselling author Erin Kelly. 6 weeks.
Writing a Romance Novel
Market-leader Jenny Colgan explores how to write an irresistible, heartfelt story that readers will fall in love with. 6 weeks.
Writing Science Fiction
Prize-winning science fiction writer Adam Roberts on how to transport your readers to somewhere that’s entirely yours, with a compelling world and extraordinary characters. 6 weeks.
Writing TV Drama
Learn the essentials of screenwriting and get to work on your own TV drama, with renowned screenwriter and showrunner Colin Teevan. 6 weeks.
Writing Poetry
Find your style of poetry, develop your craft and experiment with different poetic forms, with Ondaatje-prize-winninng poet Anthony Anaxagorou. 6 weeks.
Writing a Memoir
Much-loved memoirist Cathy Rentzenbrink shows you how to shape your real-life stories as compelling narratives. 6 weeks.
Writing Short Stories
Hone your storytelling skills and write and edit a complete short story with BBC National Short Story Award winner Cynan Jones. 6 weeks.
Writing a Children's Picture Book
Popular children’s book author and illustrator David O’Connell guides you through the unwritten rules of writing children’s picture book text. 6 weeks.
Illustrating a Children's Picture Book
Bestselling and prolific children’s book illustrator and author, Sarah McIntyre, guides you through the fundamentals of children’s picture book illustration. 6 weeks.
Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book
Sarah McIntyre and David O'Connell share insights into both sides picture book creation. Perfect for budding illustrators and writers. 10 weeks.
Add to your writing toolkit
Creative Writing for Beginners
Anna Davis helps you tap into your imagination and personal experience, explore your Writer’s World and start writing with confidence. 4 weeks.
Relationships in Fiction – The Deep Dive
Bestselling author Laura Barnett will help you write convincingly about love, loss and connection – and create relationships in your stories that provide a key source of conflict, tension and drama. 4 weeks.
Dialogue – The Deep Dive
Bestselling author Laura Barnett shows you how to supercharge your dialogue as a powerful means to bring story and characters to life. 4 weeks.
Character Development – The Deep Dive
Create characters that will live on in your reader’s mind long after they’ve closed the book, with Anna Davis. 4 weeks.
Plot & Story – The Deep Dive
Laura Barnett offers tried-and-tested methods of plotting your new writing projects and road-testing your stories. 4 weeks.
Showing & Telling – The Deep Dive
We all know the creative writing rule of ‘show don’t tell’ – but almost every great novel uses showing and telling to conjure its magic! Learn to use both with much-loved author Anna Freeman. 4 weeks.