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 (33)

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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 28 Apr 2025

1 more start date available

Application Deadline

Sunday 13 Apr 2025

£2750
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

Jessica Moor

By Application

Start Date

Monday 23 Jun 2025

1 more start date available

Application Deadline

Sunday 08 Jun 2025

£2750
Apply

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, Joanna Briscoe, Alice McIlroy, Diana Evans, Chris Power

By Application

Start Date

Wednesday 24 Sep 2025

Application Deadline

Sunday 07 Sep 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, Nikesh Shukla, Sarah Harman, Sophie Mackintosh

By Application

Start Date

Thursday 25 Sep 2025

Application Deadline

Sunday 07 Sep 2025

£4350
Apply

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, Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Start Date

Monday 23 Jun 2025

1 more start date available

£395
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

Marcel Theroux

Start Date

Monday 23 Jun 2025

£595
Book Now

Places available

Details
Writing a novel students in Faber Academy's classroom
Novel Writing

Writing a Novel Summer School

Re-immerse yourself in the craft of the novel and continue – or rediscover – the momentum and camaraderie of our world-famous course.

Level

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Richard T. Kelly, Shelley Weiner, Nikesh Shukla, Sarah May

By Application

Start Date

Wednesday 02 Jul 2025

Application Deadline

Sunday 01 Jun 2025

£1495
Apply

Places available

Details
Notebook with pencil and cup on wooden table
Non-fiction, Novel Writing

Writing Evening – 3 July 2025

Want some focused time to write alongside other writers? Join us at our central London offices for Faber Academy’s Writing Evening. 

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
1-5 days

Start Date

Thursday 03 Jul 2025

3 more start dates available

£20
Book Now

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 07 Jul 2025

£795
Book Now

Places available

Details
Woman in yellow jumper writing with her laptop on her lap, late at night
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Finish Your Draft

Develop the tools, techniques and motivation to complete your draft within nine months.

Level

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Jessica Moor

By Application

Start Date

Monday 07 Jul 2025

Application Deadline

Monday 30 Jun 2025

£1850
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...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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)...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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...

More About This Tutor
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.