Have you always wanted to write a novel?
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Every great story begins with an idea, be that a title, a character, a “what if”, something you’ve read about in a magazine or newspaper, or perhaps even a conversation you overheard on the train. The trick is knowing how to plant that initial seed correctly, so you can grow it into a full-length novel, and as a process, that can feel daunting.
This is where we – bestselling authors Cathy Bramley and Isabelle Broom – come in. Having now written 30 novels between us, we thought it was about time we shared some of our accumulated wisdom and helped a whole new generation of writers take their first step towards becoming published novelists.
In our one-day writing workshops, we’ll help you transform your ideas into a plan to get you started, show you how to write killer hooks, talk about the power of a good title, and give you some tips on how to maintain writing momentum throughout the drafting process. We’ve come up with a number of practical exercises to get your creative juices flowing, and we’ll also be inviting a special guest star along to give you an exclusive insight into how the publishing industry works.
The next workshop will take place between 10am-4pm on Saturday 8 June 2024 in Nottingham. There are ten slots available for each day, and the schedule will run as follows:
“I loved the informal, approachable atmosphere. I’ve never explored writing before, but felt it was a safe space to explore ideas, and I learned a lot about getting started. ”
10.00-10.30am: Arrival, tea, coffee and introductions
10.30am-12.30pm: Session one – The Idea, Hooks & Blurbs
12.30-2pm: Lunch (special guest arrives)
2-2.30pm: Special guest presentation, plus Q&A
2.30-3.30pm: Session two – Titles & Characters
3.40-4pm: Practice Makes Perfect – team exercise
4-4.20pm: Presentations and feedback
4.30pm: Finish
The cost for the full day, which includes lunch and unlimited hot and cold drinks (as well as plenty of biscuits!), is £150 per person. A minimum deposit of £50 must be paid at the time of booking, and the fee does not include travel to or from the venue. NB The venue is fully accessible and allergies/dietary requirements will be catered for.
To find out more information about the course, book a hotly contested slot, or for any other queries, please email BramleyBroomAuthors@gmail.com. Full terms and conditions below.
We look forward to welcoming you very soon,
Izzy & Cathy
xxx
A bit about us…
We – Cathy (left) Isabelle (right) – met over seven years ago at a publishing party (where else?), and soon after began attending writing retreats together. Discovering that we shared a fondness for travel as well as books, we snuck off to Corfu for an idyllic week of plotting, drafting, and sunshine and have been the closest of friends ever since. Those of you that follow us on social media will know we’ve been on plenty more adventures in recent years, but we also make time to work hard on our craft, appearing at panel events around the country and often teaming up for daily word race sessions to ensure we hit our deadlines. Writing, to us, is more than a job – it’s a passion – and we are very excited to share some of that love with you. After all, there is no such thing as too many books, is there…
Terms and conditions
Our writing workshops require a minimum of eight participants to run. In the event of a workshop being cancelled, participants will receive a full refund or have the option of course credit (valid for one year). We aim to contact you a week in advance if a workshop is cancelled.
Cancellation policy:
· Less than three weeks before start date: Any money paid returned less a £10 cancellation charge.
· 48 hours or less before class start: no refund is available.
If you cancel your booking less than 48 hours before the course begins, no refund will be made. Please note, if you leave the workshop after it has begun, or if you fail to attend all or any part of the workshop (without reasonable cause, such as illness, bereavement or family emergency), no refund will be made. Any refunds made in these circumstances due to illness, bereavement, family emergency or similar events will be at our sole discretion.
We cannot reimburse travel costs or other losses incurred by you in the event of cancellation by us or you. You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover potential loss arising from cancellation or other eventuality affecting your booking, including course fees and travel or other consequential costs. You should check that any policy you purchase meets your needs.
All discussions during the workshop are private and confidential. You agree not to make any audio or visual recordings of the sessions, the work of the tutor, guest speakers or your fellow students whilst attending the workshop.