Inside the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme: With Bursary Winner Rachel McLaughlin (Month 1)

Rachel McLaughlin, recipient of the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme Bursary, is currently studying on the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme. She’s agreed to share her experience of the course with us month by month.

Oh my. A whole month already? There’s so much I have to say about my first month on the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme! But first, let me start with how things were going before I joined the course (promise there won’t be too much exposition!) 

I’d been writing on and off for years, but it wasn’t until I went to the London Festival of Writing in 2024 that I felt I was finally allowed to call myself a writer. (Why do we hold ourselves back like this? Self-rejection is something I’m still trying to unlearn.) The festival was my first proper toe-dip into the writing community and honestly, I LOVED it. Considering I’m usually introverted with a limited social battery, I felt like a different person around other writers. Just more me. This was probably my first clue that a writing course would be a great fit.  

Fast forward a couple of years and I had one completed manuscript and several part-baked ideas. There was one idea that kept niggling at me, desperate to be written. I went all in, wrote 20,000 words, then hit a wall. I’d tied myself in knots with character arcs, story beats and plot lines. It suddenly felt like more effort than it was worth, and shiny new ideas were calling.  

This was when the bursary opportunity popped up. I’d entered writing competitions before but never won anything. The thought of a structured course, with guidance, feedback and a supportive community was enough to push me to give it a go, despite my doubts that I wouldn’t be ‘good enough’. SO glad I didn’t self-reject this time! 

I truly couldn’t believe my luck when I received the email that I’d won. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I immediately sent it to my mum (and fellow writing buddy!) to check it was real!  

Our first call happened to be on my birthday and though I was initially nervous, it was such a lovely introduction to how everything would work. Everyone was friendly and I was quickly reassured. 

Our first month has focused on planning. Ideal for me since I’m convinced it was the lack of a coherent plan that stalled my progress. I didn’t know what to expect, but our first Lead Tutor call was fantastic. Andrew Miller presented a narrative about coming up with ideas that was so incredibly relatable, it was almost spooky! How did he know about my stash of patterned notebooks, that I came up with the idea at the beach, that I’d got so very stuck with it? Suffice to say, it was all very validating! 

The first tutor group session with Holly Seddon, was wonderful. Holly’s introduction was so kind and inspirational that I immediately knew I was in safe hands. I must admit, I did read her latest book which prompted a fan-girl moment combined with minor panic (she’s going to be reading my work? Gulp!) But I didn’t need to worry. As I’m writing this, I’ve just opened up my first assignment feedback. Did I delay opening the email because of nerves? Yes, I did. There was no need! Holly’s comments were thoughtful and encouraging, and I’m so excited to chat it through in our one-to-one session next week!  

One of my favourite things so far has to be my lovely Tutor Group. We give each other weekly feedback, which has already been so helpful. Being able to share in someone else’s writing journey is such a privilege, and I can already tell these are connections that will last well beyond the course. Can’t wait to see their books on the shelves! 

So, what are my takeaways? A few things: 

• Be prepared to be lost. This was from Andrew’s call, and it was a real eye-opener. I’d always thought of the writing journey as being relatively linear (silly me!) and that stepping away from a manuscript meant it wasn’t good enough or I wasn’t good enough to write it. Hearing that this is often a necessary part of the process was SO encouraging.  

• Writing peers are invaluable. They bring their own worlds and perspectives to your work that can really help you grow.  

• Don’t self-reject! Take the chance, do the competition, put your work out there. You never know what it might lead to… 

I can’t wait to see what the course brings next! I hope you’ll join me on the journey… 

Want to follow in Rachel’s footsteps? You can learn more about the Ultimate Novel Writing Programme and how it can help you write a publishable novel in a year!