Are you a writer looking to improve? Or want to be a writer, but don't know where to start beyond your name at the top?

Whatever your level/genre/medium, from total newbie to established author or screenwriter, Paul's online 8-week writing course will encourage and equip you.

"Paul's friendly and relaxed style makes it very accessible and enjoyable. It renewed my enthusiasm for my own writing project. I now have a stronger framework to build my project on and an idea of what might work or not and why. Very well prepared and covered a lot in the relatively short time." - RB

• Saturday mornings, 10:30-11:45am
• Jan 9th to March 6th 2021, with a week off on Feb 13th.
• 8 x 1hr15 sessions (main content 1hr, +15mins for questions, clarifications, over-running)
• Recording of each session online till next session for revisiting
• Follow-up PDF summaries each week
• Supportive Facebook group (optional)

Paul's writing seminars have been used by BBC Writers Room, London Screenwriters Festival and various arts festivals. Now it's being made public and expanded over several weeks. Adapted to each set of students, it touches on big story theory but focuses on what's useful in getting your story told.

Paul's background includes writing sitcom (BBC's Miranda, Not Going Out), entertainment shows (Top Gear, TFI Friday, BBC Music Awards, Royal Variety Show), children's TV (CBBC's Andy and the Band), radio (The Now Show, The News Quiz, Pause For Thought), books (Amazon Top 100 bestseller Hark! The Biography of Christmas, children's books), articles, tweets and blurbs like this one.

The course focuses on long-form narrative writing - which is a fancy of saying anything with a story: novels, screenplays, stageplays... You don't have to have written any of these yet - just want to. (We won't be as focused on shorter-form writing - sketches, stand-up, Post-It Note reminders etc... but what we talk about will certainly help short-form.)

Character and Story: that's the meat of it (or plant-based substitute). Everything else is salad dressing.

We'll have a session on comedy, but won't exclusively deal with that. So if you're writing drama, the comedy session will be just as much about using comedy (and other genre conventions) in your dramatic writing. We'll look at sitcom, from a character/story perspective.

The sessions will be interactive, to ensure you get the best out of the course. 'Homework' is set purely for your benefit, rather than to be handed in/assessed, though you're encouraged to get involved in the Facebook group to share what you've found, if you'd like.

The 8 sessions will be:

• SESSION 1 (Jan 9): The Big Idea: Character/Story/Genre
• SESSION 2 (Jan 16): Characters + More Importantly Relationships
• SESSION 3 (Jan 23): Story structure 1: The Big Outline
• SESSION 4 (Jan 30): Story structure 2: Scenes/Chapters
• SESSION 5 (Feb 6): Comedy + Its Hidden Formula (That Only A Fool Would Define)
• WEEK OFF (Feb 13): Writing time!
• SESSION 6 (Feb 20): Genre-busting
• SESSION 7 (Feb 27): Industry/Pitching
• SESSION 8 (Mar 6): Productivity/Q&A on previous weeks

"An enjoyable, easily accessible and above all informative course hosted by someone who knows not only the theory but the practice of writing, whether it be novels, stand-up, scriptwriting or whatever. Paul is a fun, friendly, considerate and helpful tutor who puts you at your ease whether you're a first-time writer or an old hand. He's a very effective communicator - I feel I've learnt so much from his sessions, not only about character, story structure and genre, but also I've picked up some hints and tips about sharpening my writing and being more productive. And did I mention that it's excellent value for money as well? My only complaint is that it's now finished and I'm going to miss it!" - PG

You'll get a one-page PDF after each session, summarising what we've spoken about - freeing you up from taking too many notes, and giving the chance to look over it again. Come back with queries next week.

The sessions will be held on Zoom. Paul will do most of the talking, but with times for questions and thoughts during each session. It's an open forum, content guided by you to stay relevant. One person's question can be another's nagging thought, and one person's answer can be another's penny-drop moment.

You're encouraged to come to all the sessions, as they may refer to each other across the course, but individual sessions can be purchased on their own, and will stand alone where possible.

(If you're interested but can't make these times, email Paul, as there may be scope for alternate timings if there's enough interest. There'll be another course in the Spring, possibly on different times/days.)

"Paul Kerensa undersells himself. As a successful writer of books, scripts, TV sitcoms and more he was able to give real-life examples of how what he teaches really works, using both his writing in sitcoms and books, and that of many other writers too. To be able to identify their methods makes writing seem much more achievable, it was as if we were able to peek behind the curtain. In a very understated way, he delivered staggeringly good content that had everyone enthuisatic and eager to put it into practice, wherever they were in their writing journey. The added value of an interactive Facebook group where we could compare notes and share writing if we wanted to was unexpected and really good." - TD

Further queries? Email paul@paulkerensa.com

Want to book? Go for it. Places are limited, to one Zoom screen's worth (the new classroom).

Have friends who write and might fancy it? Share this page with them.

Book soon. Because we start soon!

Early bird till December 10th

PS: This is not a course that says 'YOU MUST WRITE LIKE THIS' (some courses do). No 'on page 11 there must be this moment'. Just what works for me, the tips and tricks I've learned over the years, with an open mind, as we learn, discuss and improve.

Hope to see you then then. Meantime, have a good Christmas, stay safe... and make notes.