Develop Your Fiction (18-week course)

Name: Develop Your Fiction (18-week course)
Start: 2027-02-22
End: 2027-02-22

Monday 22 February

Online

£ 895.00 - Early bird discount

This fiction course deepens your writing skills, guiding you through more sophisticated techniques and diverse approaches to storytelling. You’ll experiment creatively, read widely, and emerge with a polished draft. Led by Megan Bradbury.

Book Now

Early bird discount will end on Monday 9 November at 10am GMT.

Ready to take your fiction writing further?

This fiction course is designed for writers looking to deepen their craft and bring their creative vision to fruition. Building on your foundational skills, it offers a more in-depth exploration of narrative techniques, providing the tools and inspiration needed to complete a polished short story, a collection of stories, or even a novel.

Through a blend of engaging lessons, interactive exercises, and practical assignments, you’ll refine your approach to character development, master the intricacies of plot structure, and experiment with diverse points of view and narrative styles. Discover a sense of play and adventure in your writing while making meaningful progress on your work.

With personalised, one-to-one feedback from your experienced tutor, you’ll receive specific, actionable advice tailored to your goals. By the end of the course, you’ll have a polished final draft of a short story, and the confidence and skills to continue writing fiction.

This course will cover…

Idea generation and maintaining a writer’s journal
Practical tips for finding writing time and starting longer pieces
Character types and how to craft compelling dialogue.
The influence of perspective and setting on narrative; experimenting with different points of view.
How to make the familiar strange
Narrative structures and their cultural significance
Reflecting on and developing your personal style
Rewriting and self-editing techniques, including differentiating between structural and line edits

Spanning 18 weeks, this fiction course is perfect for writers with some experience who are ready to commit to a longer-term, in-depth period of study. Designed for those already maintaining a writing practice, it’s ideal if you’re engaged in a longer project such as a short story collection or novel. Your tutor, Megan Bradbury, will review up to 7,000 words of your writing. Towards the course’s conclusion, you will have a one-to-one tutorial with her to discuss your work and explore your next steps as a writer.

Start date

Monday 22 February 2027

Location

Online

Length

18 weeks (please see course schedule below)

Price

~~£995~~ £895* early bird discount

*Payment plans available. Drop us a line at academy@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk to find out more.

Course format

This course is delivered across six modules, each lasting three weeks (see course programme below). The majority of the content is presented in text form via Teachable, allowing you to progress through the material chapter by chapter at your own pace. You will have two weeks to complete each module, after which you will submit an assignment directly to your tutor for personalised feedback and guidance.

The course also includes up to two live Zoom sessions: a welcome session in the first module, followed by a one-to-one tutorial with your tutor later in the course.

Click to find out more about the course structure and the equipment you may need.

Find out more

Course programme

Please note, the module order and/or content of the course may be subject to change.

Module one – Getting Started and Beginnings

In this module, you will explore the sources from which writers derive their ideas and learn how to effectively collate and utilise these ideas. You will examine the role of technology in facilitating the early stages of idea generation and capture. Additionally, you will embark on maintaining a writer’s journal, which will serve as part of your final assessment at the conclusion of the course.

This module will address practical considerations that all writers face, including how to find time for writing, while also introducing you to various techniques and strategies employed by other writers. You will also learn how to initiate a longer work of fiction. Throughout the course, your assignments will encourage you to submit pieces of writing based either on prompts provided by the tutor or from your ongoing projects.

Module two – Characterisation and Dialogue

This module will familiarise you with various character types found in fiction, including those from non-Western literature. You will explore how the conflicts and obstacles faced by characters shape the narrative of your story, thereby deepening your understanding of your characters. Additionally, you will compare character-driven and plot-driven narratives, drawing inspiration from the world of script and screenwriting to craft compelling dialogue.

Module three – Perspective and Setting

You will explore how perspective and setting influence the reader’s interpretation of the narrative. You will examine the various points of view available to you as a writer, discussing how perception can be shaped by the observer and the inherent power dynamics involved. Additionally, you will experiment with perspective in your own writing.

Module four – Defamiliarisation, Getting Unstuck, and Style

This module is designed to help you reframe the familiar, thereby unlocking your writing potential and alleviating writer’s block. You will explore how research can enhance your writing and discover how collaboration with other writers can support your work. Additionally, this module will provide an in-depth examination of your personal writing style, the language you use, and how these elements influence the narratives you create. It will also include a one-on-one tutorial with your tutor.

Module five – Plot and Structure

In this module, you will explore the various structural frameworks available to writers, with a particular emphasis on those that are prevalent across different cultures. You will examine the concepts of plot and consequence within your own writing, focusing on the movement and progression of your narratives. Additionally, you will analyse examples from short stories and novels that employ non-traditional or innovative structures, including works that can be classified as ‘plotless’ novels.

Module six – Revision and Ending

In this final module, you will focus on one of the most challenging aspects of writing fiction: rewriting and self-editing. You will learn to differentiate between structural edits and line edits. Additionally, you will partner with fellow writers to exchange feedback on each other’s work. Finally, you will uncover the tips and techniques that seasoned writers employ to effectively edit their own manuscripts.

Live sessions

There will be two live sessions for this course, which will take place over Zoom. Timings to be confirmed.

Hear from former students

‘The course gave me such a great steer on how to structure and edit my work. It also took away the fear of sharing my writing and receiving constructive feedback.’

Maria Jackson, longlisted for the Women’s Prize Discoveries 2025 programme

‘Thank you so much for the course. I’ve really enjoyed it, and it has been wonderful in so many ways, including the interest and variety in the course materials and exercises, the other students’ writing and comments, and your insightful, skilled comments on the course platform and in response to assignments…I think the course has, indeed, helped develop my fiction – so it does what it says on the tin!’

Jenny (February 2026)

‘I’ve enjoyed the course, not least since it led me to your mentoring. I think the exercises were all well constructed and useful. There is no doubt the course inspired me to write more and to be more serious about my writing, and I can’t thank you and the NCW enough for that.’

Ben (February 2026)

‘Megan is a wonderfully encouraging tutor. I’ve begun a mentorship with Megan, so that should tell you how I value her experience and input.’

February 2026 participant

‘Thank you very much, the course has been exactly what I needed. Very helpful.’

Deborah (February 2026)

‘What I enjoyed most about the course was the feedback from our tutor, who clearly took the time to personalise their comments, show understanding, and connect with what I was trying to express. I also appreciated the interaction with my peers and the unique format of learning through online written communication. This course has definitely boosted my confidence as a writer. It has motivated me to establish a writing routine and has equipped me with tools to overcome procrastination, get unstuck, and be kinder to myself in the writing process.’

Maria Iotova (September 2025)

Megan is great. She really helped me explore new ideas. Really encouraging, adaptable and knowledgeable.

Yvonne (May 2026)

‘I thought Megan was an excellent tutor. I received comprehensive, considerate and actionable feedback throughout the course. Megan also made sure the Zoom tutorial was productive and added plenty of group-specific commentary to the pre-written module content.’

February 2026 student

‘I was very pleased and impressed with every aspect of the tutor’s guidance.’

May 2025 student

‘The course was well-prepared and designed and the tutor’s input and feedback was excellent.’

Former student

Meet the tutor

Your tutor will review up to 7,000 words of your assigned writing, as well as providing guidance and support. You will also have a one-to-one tutorial with Megantowards the end of the course to discuss your potential next steps.

Megan Bradbury

Megan Bradbury is a British writer, tutor, and mentor, and author of the critically acclaimed novel, Everyone is Watching (Picador, 2016). Described as a ‘beating heart of a novel’ by Ali Smith and ‘kaleidoscopic’ by Eimear McBride, the novel was longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize, and was listed as one of the Guardian’s Best Books of 2016. Bradbury is a graduate of the Creative Writing Prose Masters programme at the University of East Anglia, and has been awarded the Charles Pick Fellowship, an Author’s Foundation award, and numerous grants from Arts Council England. She has written for the Irish Times and the Times Literary Supplement. She is also an experienced artistic collaborator and a previous recipient of the Escalator Literature Prize. www.meganbradbury.com

Read Megan’s thoughts on finding your voice as a writer, and the importance of mentorship →

Want to spread the cost? Pay by instalments with Klarna

Available to Google Pay and Apple Pay users only.

Make your writing journey more manageable with Klarna, available on our online tutored courses, workshops, evening courses and events. Choose to split the cost of your booking into three or four instalments, or spread payments over 30 days with Klarna’s flexible payment options. For more instructions, use the button below.

Find out more