Novel Support Group - intensive group mentoring for a whole day every month
What are Novel Support Groups?
Novel Groups are intended for anyone who is writing a novel, an autobiography, a non-fiction title or a collection of stories. It's an opportunity to work intensively in a small dedicated group who will get to know you and your work. With only six participants in the group, each writer gets individual attention and time at each session. Included in the price of the course is a half hour mentoring session which you can request at any point.
How does it work?
We meet for a whole day every five weeks between September and June. Each person emails up to 5000 words a fortnight in advance of each session to all members of the group. Each person will have a half hour slot on the day to discuss and receive feedback on their work. In addition, I will provide written feedback focusing on larger issues like structure, narrative arc, timeline, plot, characterisation etc, as well giving more detailed feedback by annotating the script. Other participants give feedback according to their skills and preferences, using any or all of the above methods. Where time allows, we may also include general discussions about structure, plot, characterisation or any other aspect of writing that seems relevant to the group's needs. You may request a discussion of a specific topic at any point during the course.
How much time do I need to dedicate to the group?
You need to bear in mind that in addition to producing up to 5000 words every five weeks, you will also be reading and giving constructive feedback on the work of other participants. You will develop a relationship with other committed writers which may be long-lasting, and you will learn how to give constructive critical feedback, as well as learning from other people's strengths and their mistakes. This is a valuable process, but it is also time consuming. If you have limited time and would rather spend it on your own writing than on reading other people's work, you may be better off with one-to-one mentoring. See the Writing Clinic page for more on this.
Is the course suitable for beginners?
Because the course is demanding and requires the ability to give and receive constructive feedback, it is preferable if you already have some experience of being in a writing class or group. Also, because of the pressure to produce writing regularly, it works better if you are engaged on a project that you are already committed to and are not likely to abandon mid-stream as you are committing to the whole course. You may be working on a first or later draft. I will tailor my feedback appropriately and encourage others to do the same, as different input may be required at different stages of writing, e.g. in a first draft you may require more guidance with plot and structure, charactersation and setting, whereas later drafts may require these as well as more detailed feedback on style and wording.
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How much writing should I have done?
Before joining one of these groups, I would recommend that you are at least 10,000 to 15,000 words into your project. This course is a big investment in time and energy and you are committing to ten months working with people you may not know, so before you register please email or phone me to arrange a conversation about the project you're working on, and to discuss any questions you may have. Are there any particular skills I need? Apart from a commitment to your project and producing regular, timely work, you need to understand the basic techniques of the genre you are working in. Complete beginners would be advised to join a weekly writing class to learn basic fictional techniques. You do not need technical knowledge to give feedback; you will learn these skills as you go along, and in any case a reader's "gut reaction" can be just as informative and valuable as an analytical one. When receiving feedback you need to be resilient; having flaws in your writing pointed out is valuable but can also be painful. I will provide guidelines about giving and receiving feedback in a constructive way and do my best to ensure feedback in sessions is always supportive, but some people are less tactful and others more sensitive, so I cannot guarantee that you will not be upset at some point, or find yourself struggling at times. |
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Writing a novel, autobiography or any long project is challenging, as is any creative project by its very nature. Originality involves risk and risk can be stressful.
How much support will I get?
Apart from the group mentoring sessions I will be available by email or phone throughout the course if you have questions, need additional mentoring, reassurance or advice. I am happy to read rewrites (within reason) and you can request a discussion about any problems at any point.
What if I can't make all the sessions?
When you sign up you are committing to the whole course and to paying for all sessions, whether attended or not. However, over a period of ten months people do sometimes have to miss a session, but feedback is given by email instead, and I am always willing to read work sent later or have a one-to-one with you to make up a missed session.
Scroll down to see what previous participants have said.
How much support will I get?
Apart from the group mentoring sessions I will be available by email or phone throughout the course if you have questions, need additional mentoring, reassurance or advice. I am happy to read rewrites (within reason) and you can request a discussion about any problems at any point.
What if I can't make all the sessions?
When you sign up you are committing to the whole course and to paying for all sessions, whether attended or not. However, over a period of ten months people do sometimes have to miss a session, but feedback is given by email instead, and I am always willing to read work sent later or have a one-to-one with you to make up a missed session.
Scroll down to see what previous participants have said.
Novel Groups run once a year, starting in autumn
One Tuesday a month
10am to 4pm:
from September 2018 to June 2019
Venue: Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH
THIS GROUP IS FULL.
The next course will start in September 2019.
10am to 4pm:
from September 2018 to June 2019
Venue: Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH
THIS GROUP IS FULL.
The next course will start in September 2019.
Feedback from Previous Participants
“The workshops are excellent and Umi is a brilliant teacher: honest and respectful, critical, but kind! I hope next year we can go ‘right through’ to June, so that we can squeeze more sessions into the year. The venue, although a long way from where I live, is great. Lovely food in the café and a nice workspace.” Linda McVeigh
“The sessions were well-paced and timed, intense where they needed to be, and usually very thorough. Group members seemed to all take time and care in reading and commenting on one another’s pieces. Umi’s feedback is always more technical and editorial, which is perfect, and in contrast the other group members tend to respond more as ‘readers’ than critics, which is again very useful and a good counterpoint. I think the two slightly different perspectives complement each other very well.”
Loretta Riordan
“Being forced to meet a deadline made me very productive. I thought the group management was excellent. It was gently done but well controlled - a delicate balance and you have a gift for it Umi! Everyone got a fair crack of the whip and, rather than having a free discussion, making each of us have our say forced everyone to do their homework and gave equal weight to everyone’s opinion and everyone’s work as well.” Mike Liardet
“I first studied with Umi at Sussex University on the Creative Writing Certificate – and then followed her for another ten years on and off via a series of private classes. It took me this long to get my first novel written. When I began Umi’s monthly novel classes, she explained to me in her excellent class handouts there would be pain involved. There has been, but it never seemed without purpose, and has been far outweighed by joy and laughter. My writing also got a lot better.”
Sara Todd