Writing Fantasy

Write a fantasy novel with layered storytelling, a fictional world as real and complex as our own, and characters you’d follow into battle. Whether you aspire to write high fantasy like Brandon Sanderson, romantasy like Sarah J. Maas, historical fantasy like R.F. Kuang, or cosy fantasy like Travis Baldree, this high-level course will give you the tools and insights needed to construct original, engaging and believable narratives.

British Fantasy Award-winner Lucy Holland (also writing as Lucy Hounsom) will guide you through the essential elements of the genre – from using and subverting traditional tropes to worldbuilding and creating a diverse cast of characters with genuine depth and intrigue – crucial for sustaining your story over the course of a novel or series.

You’ll join a group of 15 fantasy authors for flexibly timed weekly writing workshops on our bespoke online learning platform, plus live group teaching sessions via Zoom covering important genre-topics, and an in-depth one-to-one tutorial with Lucy towards the end of the course.

This course is open to all writers dedicated to crafting an excellent fantasy novel. Before joining the course, you should have an idea for your book already and have at least started writing your early chapters. The course is also suitable for writers with a complete first draft they want to shape and improve.

What does this course give you?

• Live teaching sessions on Zoom: On six Tuesday evenings, Lucy will welcome the group for a 90-minute Zoom class, covering topics of significance to fantasy writers, such as how to find your story, worldbuild organically, and manipulate genre tropes to powerful effect.
• A community of writers: You'll journey through the course in a peer group of 15 students all working on a fantasy novel. We have developed a bespoke learning platform exclusively for our students. Here you can give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and tutors. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
• Writing workshop: You’ll get a dedicated workshop centring on a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. Workshops offer in-depth feedback from your fellow students and tutor, and are also designed to help develop your self-editing skills.
• 1-to-1 tutorial: You'll get a 45-minute, one-to-one tutorial with Lucy, based on a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. Use this tutorial to address your specific concerns about your writing.
• Author masterclass: Join a live Zoom session with a fantasy author and literary agent for a special Q&A. The discussion will cover the process of planning, writing and editing a fantasy novel, as well as submitting to literary agents.
• Alumni services: You’ll be given access to a range of exclusive services, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include discounts and support with submissions to literary agents at Curtis Brown and C&W. Read more about the opportunities available to our alumni here.

Course schedule

This course will be delivered via our private online Learning Platform and in live teaching sessions on Zoom. Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.

ENROLMENT PROCESS

The 15 places on this course are allocated on receipt of payment, on a first come, first served basis. Please sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Securing your course place is a simple two-step process. Firstly, select your preferred date and then click ‘enrol now’ and complete our payment process.

If you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, please email students@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk and we can arrange an instalment plan with three payments of £330. The first instalment must be paid in advance to secure your place.

Then on receipt of payment, we will send you a link to our registration form and you will be asked to submit your 3,000-word opening and one-page synopsis. Your work will be read by the CBC team to ensure you are a good fit for the course, after which your course manager will be in touch with a welcome email and course handbook. Please note, that in the unlikely event that your work isn’t suitable for the course (i.e., you’re not writing within the specified genre), you will be granted a full refund.

If you encounter any problems during the sign-up process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.

Still deciding?

If you’re thinking about joining this course and want to know if it’s the right fit, book a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs.

Consultations will take place on Tuesday afternoons (14.00 to 17.00) or Friday mornings (10.00 to 13.00). Times listed are UK times.

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