Your manuscript is nearing the finish line, and your goal is clear: you want to be published. But what happens next?
Led by Jenny Knight, an experienced editor turned prize-winning author, this course guides you through the joys and pitfalls of transforming a private achievement into a public success. Over eight weeks, you will master the practicalities of the industry, from polishing your prose to crafting a cover letter that demands the attention of agents and publishers.
This course will cover…
- Different options for publication: navigate the pros and cons of indie presses, self-publishing, literary agents, and publishing an excerpt or essay in a magazine.
- Write and refine your synopsis, blurb, and pitch into a professional submission package.
- Learn how to work with beta readers, process feedback, and handle the emotional highs and lows of rejection and success.
- Transition from ‘hobbyist’ to ‘professional’ writer by refining your mindset and public profile.
- Finalise your manuscript formatting to meet industry standards.
The course also features a special guest session with a literary agent, providing a direct look at what the industry is looking for.
Jenny will provide feedback on two assignments, culminating in a one-on-one tutorial to map out your specific next steps.
This course is tailored for writers with a prose project in progress — across any genre, including fiction, memoir, or creative non-fiction.
Start date
Monday 12 October
Location
Online
Length
Eight weeks (please see course schedule below)
Price
£300*
*Payment plans available. Drop us a line at [email protected] to find out more.
Course format
This course is delivered weekly (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 submit two assignments directly to your tutor for personalised feedback and guidance, due at the end of week three and week six.
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.
Live sessions
There will be two live sessions for this course, which will take place over Zoom. Timings to be confirmed.
Meet the tutor
Jenny Knight is the author of Wild Moon Rising, a lead title for a new HarperCollins imprint, Akan Books, headed by June Sarpong. A prize-winning writer of short story, fiction and memoir, whose work featured in Kit de Waal’s celebrated Common People anthology, her writing has appeared in many national and online publications. She’s an Associate Artist with the National Centre for Writing and has worked extensively as a copywriter, editor, developmental editor and mentor.
She’s taught creative writing in prisons, worked on storytelling projects for the UN/Comic Relief in Somalia and Kenya, as an actor, in pubs, on farms, and temped in the 80s music industry. Jenny also hosts panels, talks and workshops on rejection, resilience, creative writing, and the writing process.
Read our case study on Jenny, looking at rejection, inclusivity and getting an agent →
Got a question?
If you still have questions, get in touch with the learning team by emailing [email protected] or call (+44) 01603 877177 between our working hours of 9am – 5pm BST, Monday to Friday. We’re here to help!
