Writing a novel or a short story is - at its best - an inventive, playful and joyous experience. However, there are many times when the process falls short. It’s easy to get bogged down in the finer details of word choice and sentence structure, and lose sight of what you’re trying to say.

In this interactive masterclass with the award-winning novelist Ross Raisin, you’ll learn how to reinvigorate your writing practice in a way that’s brisk, experimental and considered. Through the use of tasks, prompts and close-readings, you’ll discover that writing a fictional narrative is often about inventing a language that you don’t normally use. You’ll be encouraged to loosen some of your default writing habits to keep your writing fresh and alive.

Ultimately, you’ll be able to think critically and instinctively about your writing choices in ways that you can apply to your work in the long term. You’ll leave energised with a new perspective on your work and the tools to craft brilliant sentences in your own distinct style.

This course is for …

Writers of all levels of experience at any stage of their process
Though primarily aimed at fiction writers, non-fiction writers may also find this beneficial to their practice

Course content

Writing style and word choice
Punctuation - functional and creative
Sentence structure - long, short and inbetween
Word potency - powering up and powering down
Ways of redrafting your sentences

Tutor profile

Ross Raisin is the author of four novels: A Hunger (2022), A Natural (2017), Waterline (2011) and God’s Own Country (2008). Ross’ work has won and been shortlisted for over ten literary awards. He won the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award in 2009, and in 2013 was named on Granta’s once a decade Best of Young British Novelists list. In 2018 he was awarded a Fellowship by the Royal Society of Literature.

Find more on Ross, his books and teaching on his website, and read the Guardian review of A Hunger.

Course Details

Date: Wednesday 5 July 2023
Time: 6pm-8.30pm BST

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

6pm BST | 7pm CEST | 10am PDT | 1pm EDT

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

We aim to make Guardian Masterclasses accessible to all. If you require any adjustments to enable your participation in this course, please get in touch with us at masterclasses@theguardian.com.

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Zoom, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the class.

Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

How to write sentences that shine: The key to becoming a great writer