Course Description
No class on 5 october (Open evening and 26 October, which is half-term).

Nick will be pleased to hear from new learners and those who have already attended a course.



This course will develop your skills as a writer. We will learn using talks by published writers, group discussion, role play, and analysis of published work. An important part of the course will be to read a novel which will be analysed towards the end of the course. The purpose of the analysis is to learn the "tricks of the trade" of successful writers.


Topics looked at in the course will include "show not tell", character, structure and plotting, how to edit your work, how to market your work.


But of course the most important part of the course will be students' own writing. An important part of the way teach is to shout encouragement from the touchline as you improve your skills by actually doing it. Optional homework will be set and feedback given. Students will be encouraged to discuss each other's work. This will help you develop your critical ability - essential when it comes to editing your own first drafts.


The course will benefit anyone who loves the written word and wants to improve their writing.


The course tutors:


Nick Cook: Journalist, many years experience in helping people realise their potential as writers, President of Verulam Writers' Circle and recent runner up in "Shortstoryradio" short story competition.


Volunteer:Janet Baldey: Short Story Writer published in womens' magazines. Janet recently won the Crystal Decanter Competition for fiction presented by Verulam


Between us we can give you feedback on a wide range of subject areas.



Fee £62 for 5 sessions

 Course Outline
Learners' comments (Spring course):

"I found the course both informative and entertaining - so enjoyable and lots of fun...I feel I have learnt alot and feel inspired to continue"

"The best thing I've done in years!"

We are all incredibly lucky to be living in the 21st Century. Never has the world been a more fascinating place. Never have we had more leisure to appreciate it. And that’s where writing comes in. Although the world has never been more fascinating it has also never been more confusing. Writing about the world, whether fact or fiction, will help you understand it. Writing about it well will help your readers make sense of it as well.

Virginia Woolf once said that you have never really experienced anything until you have written about it.

What better reasons to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard?