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Novel Writing: Write Like a Professional — Part-time

Course outline

Community courses are “first steps” for adults to learn new skills, develop confidence, meet others in welcoming classroom. The purpose of courses is to support students into further learning or employment (paid or voluntary).

Are you inspired to write a novel? You can develop the skills to create realistic characters and a well-paced plot to write a compelling story. Learn the tips to write like a professional and get your story published.

This course is primarily for writers who are ready for the challenge of writing their first novel, or improvers with a writing project they want to improve.

Course knowledge and skills:

  • Fulfil a range of writing exercises to develop ideas for a novel.
  • Develop an outline for a three-act story.
  • Plot a compelling story with conflict and tension.
  • Develop realistic characters using convincing dialogue.
  • Apply appropriate themes and settings.
  • Use a structured approach to edit a draft manuscript.
  • Explore options for publishing a novel.

On this course, you will learn to:

  • Develop your writing skills and inspiration to write a novel.
  • Create realistic characters and a well-paced plot to write a compelling story.
  • Learn the tips for writing like a professional and publishing your story. 

Students will achieve objectives by participating in group activities, completing written activities, online quizzes, and other interactive activities both during the session and in their own time, and completing independent learning activities.

You should attend regularly and arrive on time to make best progress on course.

You will complete a short diary weekly in class time, to record your progress and receive written tutor feedback.

You will use Microsoft Teams whilst on the course. Microsoft Teams is a free, safe online app used by Nottingham College for tutors to contact students.

Using Teams will also enable you to develop and feel confident using digital skills.

For more information on using Microsoft Teams and the induction process, please visit our Induction Information for Community Students page.

How to apply for this course

Apply now and if you need to pay any course fees, or provide evidence if you wish to claim a fee reduction, we will contact you to let you know how to do this.

For help on completing the online application form, please see our useful apply online guide here.

Want to find out more first?

Get in touch by hitting the button below and filling out our enquiry form.

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Location Date / time Fees / reductions
Adams Building
Stoney Street
Nottingham
NG1 1NG

Start: Thursday 24th April 2025

End: Thursday 3rd July 2025

Time: 6:00pm - 8:15pm

Tuition fees may be waived for this course if you are in receipt of certain benefits or have a low income. Please see our Fee and Financial Support page to see if you can claim a fee reduction.

Tuition fee: £78.75

Course code: C052663 / Q052664

Qualification

Non-accredited
Level Other
Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements but you must be aged 19+.

You will complete a weekly “Student Diary” and so ESOL students should be studying at entry 3 or higher to enrol on a Community course taught by non-ESOL tutor.
Teaching & assessment

Tutors will give weekly verbal and written feedback. You will complete a short workbook and set your own personal targets, as well be progressing though the general course learning outcomes. This will help you and your tutors record progression on the course.
Progression

The course tutor and development workers can advise of other learning opportunities within Community faculty or signpost you to courses in other vocational areas of Nottingham College.

You will have the opportunity to receive progression guidance from an external locally based agency “Futures for You” whilst on the course.

If you are interested in progressing onto leisure courses in your chosen subject, you may have opportunities to do so at Nottingham College or be signposted to other leisure courses in the Nottingham area.
Additional information

Please bring a pen and paper or notebook to take notes.