Novel Writing Courses Novel Writing Courses Novel Writing Courses

Novel Writing Courses

Our novel writing courses are designed for writers who are serious about learning to write a novel, from initial idea to final draft.

Our novel writing courses: an overview

We offer a range of novel writing workshops, including our flagship Writing a Novel course. With flexible online and in-person options, make the most of your writing time and get those words on the page.

Some of our novel writing courses are selective, meaning that you’ll need to apply.

You’ll benefit from the expertise of your tutor and the support of your classmates, as well as the unique industry insight of taking a course within one of the great independent publishing houses.

Who are these courses for?

Aspiring novelists

There's a long road between having a great idea for a novel and getting it onto the page. These courses will guide you through each step.

Stuck novelists

Writer's block is real – and losing your confidence is a major culprit. Brush up your skills, meet like-minded writers and find your stride again.

Writers ready for a change

Have experience writing short stories, poetry or screenplays but no idea where to start on a novel? Learn and hone the skills you'll need to move into long form prose.

Novel Writing Courses (9)

Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Start Your Novel in Five Days

Make this the year you write that novel. Come with an idea; leave with your opening pages and the inspiration you need to keep going.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Joanna Briscoe

Start Date

Monday 13 Jan 2025

£595
Book Now

Places available

Details
Close-up of someone writing in a notebook in a sunny park
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Kickstart Your Novel

Take your writing to the next level, and develop both the technical skill and the narrative momentum to really get stuck into your novel.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Katherine Stansfield

Start Date

Monday 13 Jan 2025

£595
Book Now

Places available

Details
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Getting Started: Beginners' Fiction

Everything you need to call yourself a writer – discipline, craft skills and a great group of people to work with – in one online writing course experience.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Kirsty Logan

Start Date

Monday 13 Jan 2025

£395
Book Now

Places available

Details
Typing
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Getting Started: Beginners' Fiction (Daytime)

A twelve-week creative writing course for beginners. Playful, serious and fun, it asks what writing is and why we do it.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Sue Gee

Start Date

Wednesday 15 Jan 2025

£1095
Book Now

Places available

Details
AZ_FaberAcademy_151123_111_Featured
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Writing a Novel (Online)

A serious but flexible course for committed writers, with access to leading industry experts and round-the-clock support from our team.

Level

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Sarah May, Jessica Moor

By Application

Start Date

Monday 20 Jan 2025

Application Deadline

Monday 06 Jan 2025

£2750
Apply

Places available

Details
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Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Writing Historical Fiction

Bring your historical fiction alive in this intensive twelve-week course with award-winning author Beth Underdown.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Beth Underdown

Start Date

Monday 27 Jan 2025

£795
Book Now

Places available

Details
AZ_FaberAcademy_151123_143_Featured
Novel Writing

Writing a Novel (Evening)

A comprehensive six-month writing course for the serious writer, with access to some of the biggest names in publishing.

Level

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Richard T. Kelly, Sarah May, Nikesh Shukla, Eimear McBride

By Application

Start Date

Tuesday 28 Jan 2025

Application Deadline

Sunday 12 Jan 2025

£4350
Apply

Places available

Details
AZ_FaberAcademy_151123_146_Featured
Novel Writing

Writing a Novel (Daytime)

A comprehensive six-month writing course for the serious writer, with access to some of the biggest names in publishing.

Level

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Shelley Weiner, Sabrina Broadbent, Eimear McBride

By Application

Start Date

Tuesday 28 Jan 2025

Application Deadline

Sunday 12 Jan 2025

£4350
Apply

Places available

Details

Novel Writing Tutors

Our tutors are all multi-published novelists and experienced teachers, hand-picked from Faber and beyond.

joanna-briscoe-tutor

Joanna Briscoe

Joanna Briscoe is the author of the novels Mothers and Other Lovers, which won the Betty Trask Award; Skin; Sleep With Me, which...

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Joanna Briscoe
lee-weatherly-tutor

Lee Weatherly

Lee Weatherly has written more than fifty books for children and young adults, including the bestselling Angel series, and is...

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Lee Weatherly
nikesh-shukla-tutor

Nikesh Shukla

Nikesh Shukla is an novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of Coconut Unlimited (shortlisted for the Costa First Novel...

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Nikesh Shukla
Photo of Richard T Kelly, tutor on Faber Academy's Writing a Novel course

Richard T. Kelly

Richard T. Kelly is the author of the novels Crusaders (2008), The Possessions of Doctor Forrest (2011) and The Knives (2016)...

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Richard T. Kelly
Sabrina Broadbent – cropped greyscale

Sabrina Broadbent

Sabrina Broadbent's debut novel, Descent, won the WH Smith Raw Talent award. Her other novels are A Boy’s Guide to Track and...

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Sabrina Broadbent
sarah-may-tutor

Sarah May

Sarah May is the highly acclaimed author of seven novels, including The Nudist Colony, (shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award...

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Sarah May
Image of Shelley Weiner, Faber Academy tutor

Shelley Weiner

Shelley Weiner is an acclaimed novelist, short-story writer and journalist who has, over the years, established a reputation...

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Shelley Weiner
tutor-4-min

Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley is an author, editor and ghostwriter. He has written ten books under his own name, both fiction and non-fiction...

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Tom Bromley

It was hard work. But I not only completed my novel, I also learned how to navigate the choppy waters of the publishing world. I will be forever grateful for the experience.

S J Watson, author of Before I Go to Sleep

Novel Writing

I also learned how to navigate the choppy waters of the publishing world. I will be forever grateful for the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours a day do I need to write a novel?

The short answer is: it varies. Finding regular time for writing is an important part of the discipline required to write a novel, but we all know that spare hours in the day can be hard to come by! You’ll find the time requirements for our courses on the individual course pages – many of our online novel writing courses are designed to be flexible enough to fit around your existing commitments.

Do you need a degree to write a novel?

No. While some writers choose to pursue a university qualification, there are many paths to becoming a published novelist. Some successful authors are entirely self-taught! Our Writing a Novel course is designed as a flexible, practical alternative to a Creative Writing MA. Or you might choose to support your writing practice with shorter courses and workshops. There are many options available and every writer is different – the single most important thing you can do is to keep writing.

Can’t find the right course?

Manuscript Assessment

Get comprehensive editorial feedback on your manuscript from our experienced readers – whether it’s still a work-in-progress or you’re preparing to submit to literary agents.

Find out more

Mentoring

We offer a range of mentoring options if you’d prefer to work one-on-one with an established writer to help you shape your project and realise your writing ambitions.

Find out more

Browse the Reading Room

From author interviews and writing tips to creative writing exercises and reading lists, we've got everything you need to get started – and to keep going.