What every writer needs to know with Tim Lott

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What every writer needs to know with Tim Lott

By The Guardian Masterclasses

Date and time

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 · 10am - 5pm GMT+1

Location

The Guardian

Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Description

Do you want to write a novel one day? This is the day

The difference between an aspiring author and a published novelist is a few simple writing tools and a lot of conviction. This course will elevate your novel from 'pipe dream' to 'work-in-progress' in less time than it takes to get a jacket dry-cleaned.

Whitbread Prize-winning novelist Tim Lott isn't just a great author, he's also an intuitive and inspiring educator. Tim's entertaining, practical approach to teaching the basics of creative writing have justly earned him a formidable reputation. Over just one day, Tim will introduce you to everything a committed writer needs to know before even putting finger to keyboard.

This no-nonsense overview of the craft of writing a novel or short story condenses the essentials of what makes a plot work, and how to create believable characters who talk like real human beings (but better). Perhaps more importantly, you'll also learn about one of the harder aspects of being a writer – surviving the psychological and emotional struggles of writing, and how to banish doubts, nerves and hesitation, so can simply enjoy the writing process and express yourself with confidence.

This course is for you if…

  • You're taking your first steps towards fiction writing and are unsure of the basic principles of the process

Course description

This vibrant one-day masterclass provides a no-nonsense introduction to the basic tools and techniques every writer needs, from technical pointers on creating characters with real depth, to confidence-building tips to help writers maintain creative focus even when the going gets tough. Topics covered on the day include:

  • Plot vs story: planning and structure
  • Character: how to create convincing characters, and how character relates to plot
  • Dialogue: how to make dialogue work on the page, and how it differs from real-life speech
  • Psychology: how to find the mental resources to complete the massive challenge of writing a novel

Tutor profile

Tim Lott is an award-winning novelist, journalist, critic and creative writing tutor. His first book, the memoir The Scent of Dried Roses, was published in 1996. His first novel White City Blue, published in 1999, won the Whitbread First Novel Award, and other works include Rumours of a Hurricane (2002), The Love Secrets of Don Juan (2003), the Seymour Tapes (2005) and young adult novel Fearless (2007). His latest novel is Under the Same Stars. His column on family matters appears weekly in the Guardian Family section.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Organized by

Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.

We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.

Harnessing the expertise and specialisms within the organisation, our courses are led by first class and award winning guardian professionals whilst also drawing on the skills and expertise of other leading figures at the forefront of the creative and digital industries.

The programme is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

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