Please note: This workshop was originally to take place on 24 October 2026 and has been rescheduled to 6 February 2027.
Take inspiration from the world of stand-up comedy to invigorate your writing.
By comparing iconic stand-up routines with extracts from comic fiction, you’ll uncover techniques for creating humour through voice, character, structure, and timing, and learn how to apply them to your own prose writing. Expect practical exercises, close reading, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Beginning with brief overview of stand-up toolkit (rule of three, call-backs, misdirection etc.), we will then move on to looking at sections of stand-up alongside sections of selected novels to see how authors use techniques similar to stand-ups.
What to expect
By no means a didactic, paint-by-numbers workshop, rather this session will be an opportunity for fruitful cross-pollination between different mediums, a chance to be inspired by the craft of stand-up.
Writing exercises at the start and end of class will put into action what we’ve learned.
Fran Fabriczki
Fran Fabriczki was born in Budapest. She has lived in Los Angeles and currently lives in London. She read English at the University of Cambridge and worked in publishing for several years before going freelance to focus on her own writing. She graduated from the University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing MA in 2022 and received the Curtis Brown Award for her dissertation. Porcupines is her debut novel.
NCW Academy Bursary Programme
There is one bursary space available for this workshop.
You are eligible to apply for an NCW bursary if:
- You are a full-time student or pensioner
- You are in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance, Disability Benefits, Income Support, Universal Credit or Working Tax Credits
- You have an income of less than £18,000 per year
- If none of these apply but you feel you are still eligible, you may be asked to submit a signed declaration outlining your circumstances.
To apply for the bursary placement, email academy@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk with the name of the course/workshop you would like to attend. Please also attach one of the following proofs of low income listed here.
Plan your visit
National Centre for Writing is located in the heart of Norwich city centre by the river, and is easily accessible by foot and by public transport. Plan your visit with our guide to the local area, including transport and nearby attractions, as well as full details on accessibility on site.
Accessibility
We want to ensure that Dragon Hall is open and accessible for all. It is largely wheelchair accessible and is equipped with two raising platform lifts, disabled access toilets, hearing loop facilities and some dimmable lighting. Click below for details on parking, access into the building, a breakdown of terrain, facilities, and more.
Box office & shop
Our box office and shop is located within the entrance space of Dragon Hall. Visit us between 10am–3pm on Sundays & Mondays. Payment by card only. Outside of these hours, book online via the website or call us at 01603 877177.
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