This week we will introduce the course and the contemporary publishing industry; look at your publishing goals and what success means for you; and identify the basic story and genre of your novel.

Outcome: An understanding of the basics of how the publishing industry works and how new writers can navigate it. Plus a clear, enticing description of your novel’s premise, theme and genre, and a clear vision of your publication goals.

Did you start the novel at the right place? Are you pulling in the reader right away? Do you know your characters inside out? Who is telling your story and is it the best choice? These are just some of the questions we‘ll focus on for this week as we dive into your opening pages to make sure they‘re as compelling as they can be.

Outcome: Fine edits will enhance the first three chapters of your novel, and you’ll also understand how to tackle the rest of the manuscript in your final edit.

This week we’ll look at voice, pace and style. We’ll also explore options for checking and double-checking spelling, grammar and punctuation to make proof-reading easy. Do your chapters showcase your voice and how can you maximise this elusive quality? Does your voice and style obscure the meaning or hold up your story? What pace suits your book and genre?

Outcome: Improvements to your voice, style and pace in your first three chapters and the tools to allow you to apply the same principles to the rest of the book. You’ll also learn proof-reading techniques you can use for future projects.

This week is focused on identifying and describing the hooks and elements of your book that will help it stand out to agents, publishers and readers. You’ll be introduced to the language of pitching, including elevator pitches and hooks, so you can describe your book in a compelling way. You’ll be able to look at your book from the reader/agent’s point-of-view, helping you to understand its appeal and genre in more depth.

Outcome: A clearer understanding of how to pitch and what agents and publishers are looking for in new work. You‘ll also have a shortlist of potential hooks, a deeper knowledge of where your novel fits in the marketplace, plus ideas for comparison titles and authors.

Publishing can be a confusing industry. This week we’ll demystify the book trade, to help you understand fees, contracts, rights and just what an agent can do for you. We’ll discover how agents and publishers select and publish books – and how to identify the right people to work with as you pursue publication. We’ll also look at publishers in the digital field who take direct submissions from new authors, and examine if that might be a good fit for your book.

Outcome: A clear understanding of the industry you want to be part of and a long list of possible agents and publishers.

The synopsis helps an agent or publisher understand if your book is coherent, satisfying and right for the genre. This week we’ll help you tackle the challenge of summarising the important parts of your book. We’ll also look at what the agent wants to know about you – and how to approach your author brand. You’ll begin to define your own brand, including what your brand or online presence might include – and what you can choose not to share.

Outcome: A polished synopsis ready to use when pitching to agents and an understanding of brand & how you can develop yours.

This week we’re going to work on your query letter/email to make it impossible to ignore. It’s time to bring together the elements you’ve worked on, to produce your all-important query letter and submission package for agents and/or publishers. Your work and research so far mean you’re ready to make a professional – and irresistible – approach.

Outcome: A completed query letter and a finished submission package ready to send out.

The last week of the course will focus on preparation for the Agent Showcase with tips and tricks on presenting and live reading. We‘ll look ahead to the submissions process – what to do while waiting for feedback, how to view rejection – and how to respond to positive agent and publisher responses! Lastly, we‘ll look at how to build resilience as a writer and setting goals for future writing projects.

Outcome: Professional feedback enabling you to improve your pitch, plus a submissions plan, and clear goals for your future work.