Dates and timings

This masterclass takes part over two sessions:

10am-11.30am UK time on Tuesday 9th February

10am-11.30am UK time on Tuesday 16th February

There will be assignments and tutor feedback after each class.

The course

This is a two-part online masterclass led by award-winning author James Montague who will take you through the process of how to pitch and write your own non-fiction book. It is brought to you by the publishers of Delayed Gratification, the Slow Journalism magazine.

The first class will focus on how to pitch your idea to an agent or publisher. James will go through the process of breaking down an idea and putting together the elements which a publisher wants to see, using real pitches that have been successfully turned into published books. The second class will then cover the process of structuring and ordering your book, with tips on how best to research and write it.

After each class you’ll receive a homework assignment to help you develop your idea and pitch. James will act as your “pitch doctor”, giving individual feedback to show how you can turn your idea into reality. If you complete the assignments you will finish the process with a fully-formed pitch ready to present to a publisher.

Who it's for

The course is for adults only. It would especially benefit people who have an idea they would like to pursue as a non-fiction book, but it is open to anyone who wants to learn the process by which books come to life. The course is limited to a maximum of ten participants.

The tutor

James Montague is a journalist and author who has published four works of non-fiction and is a three-time winner at the British Sports Book of the Year Awards. His latest book “1312: Among the Ultras, A Journey With the World's Most Extreme Fans” was released in March by Ebury, part of Penguin Random House. As well as being a co-founder and associate editor of Delayed Gratification magazine, he writes regularly for the New York Times.