27th January 2012:
The current series of Focus Workshops is now fully booked - please email me to add your name to a waiting list, in case anybody is unable to attend on 4th or 15th February. Booking is currently open for the Day Courses in May on writing, editing, publishing and marketing and I'll announce new Focus Workshop topics soon.
11th January 2012:
The winter series of Focus Workshops starts soon. Booking for Cracking Openings on 21st January closes on 18th January. A Sense of Place is on 4th February (booking closes 1st February) and The Inner Lives of Characters is on the 18th February (booking closes on the 15th February). Places are already very limited, so cross to my Focus Workshops page to find out more.
13th December 2011:
The autumn Focus Workshops were a great success, particularly Dynamic Dialogue. I've just posted details of the next block of workshops on the Focus Workshop page. Do cross over and take a look - and remember, I keep the class size small, so don't leave it too late to make your booking!
13th November 2011:
If you wish to book a place on next Saturday's Focus Workshop on Cracking Openings, please make your booking by Wednesday 16th November!
10th November 2011:
My Focus Workshop on Sourcing and Growing Ideas had to be postponed, so if you are interested in attending this course at a future date, please let me know at info@fictionfire.co.uk. The Focus Workshop on Dynamic Dialogue is now fully booked: if you would like to be added to the waiting list, or if if you are interested in attending this course should I run it again, please email me at info@fictionfire.co.uk .
28th October 2011:
Details of next spring's Day Courses are now up on the Course Dates and Details page. Remember, if you want to book a place on the first of my Focus Workshops (Sourcing and Growing Ideas, 5th November), you need to make your booking by 2nd November!
October 2011:
I'm delighted to announce that booking is now open both for my spring Day Courses (Write It!, Edit It!, Publish It! Market It!) and for my new Focus Workshops in November and December. There is an Early Bird booking price for the day courses and discounts are available for the workshops if you book more than one at a time.
On 8th October I'll be appearing at the Calderdale Writers' Roadshow. I'll be giving a talk, 'Why Write Fiction?' at the Central Library in Halifax, as part of the Fiction Writing Day. To find out more, go to http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/readers/writers-roadshow/centrallibrary-roadshow.html
8th July 2011:
I had a great (if exhausting!) time at Winchester and welcome all those who are now on my mailing list. Next up, teaching a summer school for Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education Summer School Programme, starting on Saturday. People attending from Missouri and Indonesia, Belgium and Brazil!
20th June 2011:
Booking closes on Wednesday 22nd if you're interested in attending the Writers' Conference at the University of Winchester. I'll be teaching a mini-course on character and giving a talk on location - there's a wealth of other courses, workshops and talks on offer, along with a brilliant opportunity to network with other writers and industry professionals. The conference website is at www.writersconference.co.uk
10th June 2011:
I'll be leading a mini-course on Character Building and giving a lecture on the importance of setting at the annual Writers' Conference in Winchester, on the 1st and 2nd of July. The conference website is www.writersconference.co.uk
24th May 2011:
Many thanks to everyone who attended Creating Narrative Perspective and Voice on Saturday. We packed a great deal into the day and I loved listening to the stories you came up with in response to the writing exercises! Good luck as you continue to develop your writing skills.
17th May 2011:
You only have a couple of days left in which to make your booking for Creating Narrative Perspective and Voice on Saturday 21st: go to my Course Dates and Details page to find out more.
8th May 2011:
Thanks to everybody who attended yesterday's course in Essential Story Construction - you were all amazing participants and I enjoyed the day enormously. Booking remains open for Creating Narrative Perspective and Voice until midday Friday 20th May.
1st May 2011:
Essential Story Construction on 7th May has proved to be a popular choice - you only have a few days in which to book. Booking closes midday 6th May.
13th April 2011:
Remember, if you wish to book a place on Essential Story Construction, you must do so by midday on Friday 6th May. Don't leave it too late!
1st April 2011:
Five weeks to go until my Essential Story Construction course on 7th May. This week I'll be attending various events at the Oxford Literary Festival - so many to choose from!
4th March 2011:
Great news - if you wish to book both of my spring day courses, you'll pay the reduced fee of £150 for both rather than £170!
25th February 2011:
I'm delighted by the number of bookings coming in for the May courses - and it's only February!
12th February 2011:
Remember, if you want to book either of my May courses, do so before 28th February for my special Early Bird price of £75 - after that the course fee will be £85.
7th January 2011:
Booking is now open for my spring courses! On 7th May, Writing your Novel - Essential Story Construction and on 21st May, Creating Narrative Perspective and Voice. SPECIAL EARLY BIRD PRICE: the course fee is £85 but there is a special reduction for early bookings. Until 28th February you can book at the special price of £75 (which includes refreshments and a course pack, collectively worth £16).
16th November 2010:
I'm delighted to announce my new day course titles for the spring: on May 7th, Writing your Novel - Essential Story Construction and on May 21st, Creating Narrative Perspective and Voice. Brief details are on my Course Dates and Details page: fuller descriptions will be posted soon and course booking opened.
24th October 2010:
Once again, a lovely group of students attended last Saturday's Shape Up and Make your Pitch course. My next Day Courses at Trinity will take place in May - but look out for an exciting new type of course starting in the New Year! Keep an eye on the website for announcements!
9th October 2010:
If you're interested in booking next Saturday's Shape Up and Make your Pitch course, you need to do so by 1 pm on Friday 15th October!
6th October 2010:
Thanks to all of you who attended Making Memorable Scenes on Saturday - you wrote some brilliant exercises! There's still time to book for Shape Up and Make your Pitch on the 16th - go to Course Dates and Details to find out more.
1st October 2010:
Make your booking by lunchtime if possible if you want to join us for tomorrow's Making Memorable Scenes course.
23rd September 2010:
Time is running out if you want to book a place on Making Memorable Scenes on 2nd October! Visit Course Dates and Details to find out more.
17th September 2010:
I'm happy to announce revised categories of editing and critiquing support, and a new fee-structure. Please go to Editorial and Critique service and Fees for further details.
15th September 2010:
Announcing my spring course dates: 7th and 31st May 2011. If there are any particular areas you would like to see covered in future courses, do get in touch at info@fictionfire.co.uk .
13th September 2010:
Less than three weeks left before my Making Memorable Scenes course on 2nd October!
25th August 2010:
I hope you've all had a wonderful summer break and are feeling refreshed! Bookings are coming in for Making Memorable Scenes on 2nd October and Shape Up and Make your Pitch on 16th October - I'm looking forward to meeting you then!
19th July 2010:
During the summer period I may be away from my computer from time to time. Do please email me with enquiries at info@fictionfire.co.uk but if you need a more immediate reply please text or call 07827 455723. Thanks - and have a great summer break yourselves - I hope to be meeting some of you in the autumn!
7th July 2010:
Full details of Making Memorable Scenes and Shape Up and Make Your Pitch are now on my Course Dates and Details page. I hope you'll be able to join us!
22nd June 2010:
Booking is now open for my October courses - please visit the Course Dates and Details page for further details.
10th June 2010:
Announcing the subjects of my autumn day courses at Trinity College - on October 2nd, Making Memorable Scenes and on October 16th, Shape Up and Make Your Pitch. Full course details will be posted soon: I hope you can come along!
31st May 2010:
The weather was gorgeous also on the 15th! What luck! Thank you, all of you, who attended Essential Editing and were so complimentary about the venue! I'm now looking ahead to the autumn: I'll be running day courses on the 2nd and 16th of October. I'll be be posting details of these courses very soon, but in the meantime, if there's an area of creative writing you'd be interested in seeing me cover on a fictionfire course, do please let me know at info@fictionfire.co.uk
9th May 2010:
Trinity was looking beautiful on the 1st for my course on Character Building. There are only a few days left to book for Essential Editing on the 15th!
22nd April 2010:
Only a week to go to my Character Building course! Time is running out to sign up!
Problems with sending out replies to people contacting me via info@fictionfire.co.uk or my contact form now seem to have been resolved - but if you don't receive a prompt response from me, check your spam filter - and you can ring me on 07827 455723.
14th April 2010:
I've discovered some people aren't getting my replies when they email me: if you haven't heard from me, please check your junk/spam folder and add info@fictionfire.co.uk and mail@fictionfire.co.uk to your safe list. You can also ring me on 07827 455723. I always reply to enquiries so do get in touch.
Oh, and by the way, only just over two weeks left if you want to book a place on my course on Character Building!
1st April 2010:
Just a reminder that there's only a month left to make a booking for my Character Building course on the 1st of May. Surely by then the spring weather will have arrived!
5th March 2010:
If you are thinking of signing up for Character Building on the 1st May or Essential Editing on the 15th May and would like to stay over in Oxford, en suite bedrooms are available at Trinity College. This is a great opportunity to make a weekend of it, get a taste of college life and explore this wonderful city from a base right at its heart. If you are interested in booking accommodation as well as the day course, contact me at info@fictionfire.co.uk
25th January 2010:
Booking is now open for my spring courses at Trinity College. Character Building is on the 1st May and Essential Editing on the 15th. Cross to Course Dates and Details to find out more. I do hope you can join us!
17th January 2010:
Happy New Year! I wish you every writing success in 2010. I'm delighted to announce two new fictionfire courses: on May 1st, Character Building, and on May 15th, Essential Editing. Full details will be posted soon on my Course Dates and Details page and booking will open, but you can if you wish register an interest in attending by contacting me at info@fictionfire.co.uk .
18th December 2009:
I've now finalised dates for the next set of fictionfire courses at Trinity College, Oxford: 1st and 15th May. Further details will be posted soon. I do hope to see you there!
17th December 2009:
New fictionfire courses will be running in early May, which is one of the best months for visiting Oxford. I'll be finalising dates shortly - keep the 1st, the 8th and the 15th free!
3rd December 2009:
My first two courses, on getting started as a novelist and on plotting, have now run - thank you, all of you, who attended. It was lots of fun and totally exhausting! I am now looking forward to setting up courses in 2010, once more at Trinity College, which was a lovely venue. If you are interested in fictionfire courses, do keep checking the website for details as I post them. You can also join the mailing list or register your interest via the contact form or by emailing info@fictionfire.co.uk. If there are any particular aspects of creative writing you would like to see me cover, do let me know.
26th November 2009:
On Saturday I run my second fictionfire course (so you have one day left in which to book!). I've really enjoyed planning and setting up these courses and look forward to running some more in the spring so do keep returning to this site - and if you want to let me know about subjects you'd like to see me cover, then email info@fictionfire.co.uk
15th November 2009:
It looks like the guest book and mailing list problems are sorted out now (fingers crossed!). I welcome visitors' comments and hope there will be no further trouble - but if you are looking for specific information or answers, it's best to approach me via the Contact Form or by emailing info@fictionfire.co.uk.
14th November 2009:
I'm pretty horrified to discover that my guest book page isn't working (and the mailing list too) and I'm worried that people may have made comments which I have not acknowledged. I'm not rude - I've just been kept in the dark! I'm trying to sort it out with the Mr Site techs but if unsuccessful I'll delete the Guest Page. If you have made a comment or a mailing list request, please do get in touch again via the Contact Form or by emailing info@fictionfire.co.uk. Thanks!
13th November 2009:
One week to go to my first course, Get that Novel Up and Running, on the 21st November. If you have any questions to ask before booking, don't hesitate to contact me at info@fictionfire.co.uk
7th November 2009:
Less than two weeks to go - the first fictionfire course, Get that Novel Up and Running, is on the 21st November, followed by Blindfold into the Maze: Plotting your Novel on the 28th. Make your booking now!
21st October 2009:
NEWS! You can now pay for fictionfire courses by Paypal!
Just go to the Online Shop page and choose Course 1: Get that Novel Up and Running (21st November) or Course 2: Blindfold into the Maze - Plotting your Novel (28th November).
For further details about the courses, see Course Dates and Details