Upcoming course: Getting Started: Beginners' Fiction at Faber Academy
January 2026
Hello,
I’m teaching a 12-week Beginners’ Fiction evening course at Faber Academy from 22nd Jan 2026.
This is aimed at anyone who is new to writing, or if you have an idea for a prose project that you have always wanted to try, but never had the time, space or self-belief to get started.
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How do we write compelling, well-crafted, original fiction? What does it take to develop a unique writer’s voice? This accessible and friendly course led by author Jessica Andrews will provide you with the skills, confidence and enthusiasm you need to begin your writing life.
You and your fellow writers will begin reading, writing and discussing straight away, even if you’re new to the craft of fiction. You will learn essential craft techniques and there will be opportunities for exercises, workshops and structured writing time.
You should finish the course with an exciting idea for a piece of long or short-form fiction, developed characters and setting, a new awareness of your own writing voice and the skills, knowledge and self-belief you need to continue writing.
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Here is a bit more info about what each class will look like:
Session 1
Thursday 22 January, 19:00–21:00
Why fiction?
Why do we write fiction? What are the freedoms and limitations of fictional forms? We will discuss these questions, and consider what it means to become active readers, listeners and observers of literature and the world.
Session 2
29 January, 19:00–21:00
How to have ideas
Developing ideas is one of the building blocks of fiction writing. We will consider re-tellings and stories from lived experience as potential starting points. Through a range of writing exercises, we will access our memories, fears and obsessions and think about the ways we might embed these within fiction.
Session 3
5 February, 19:00–21:00
Narrative structure
Every piece of fiction must have a solid structure. We will think about the differences between plot-driven and character-driven narratives, considering the ways in which other writers use these, and finding a structure to fit our own work.
Session 4
12 February, 19:00–21:00
Form
The links between structure, form and content are vital for a successful work of fiction. We will look at unconventional narrative structures and consider how we might apply these to our own work. We will consider the limitations of traditional western narrative structures and how these have shaped the literary canon. We will look at writers who deconstruct these ideas, blending form and genre in innovative ways.
Session 5
19 February, 19:00–21:00
World-building and setting
The setting of a piece of fiction is crucial in terms of developing your characters and plot, creating tone and atmosphere. We will consider how to make your fictional world come to life, whether you are writing realism, fantasy or anything in between.
Session 6
26 February, 19:00–21:00
Perspective and voice
A strong narrative voice is one of the key components in hooking your readers and revealing or concealing details of your world. We will think about the freedoms and limitations of different perspectives, and experiment with using them in our own work, in order to find the best fit.
NB This week will be followed by a Reading Week.
Session 7
12 March, 19:00–21:00
Characterisation and interiority
Compelling characters are important elements of any piece of fiction. We will outline character desires, motivations, needs and inner conflicts. We will think about how to use small, specific details to evoke character, and look at writers who use interiority to bring their characters to life.
Session 8
19 March, 19:00–21:00
Key themes, symbols and narrative questions
Themes and symbols work together to address key narrative questions, which help us to formulate what our works of fiction are ‘about’. Developing these skills will ensure your work is sophisticated and multi-layered, engaging with the world beyond itself.
Session 9
26 March, 19:00–21:00
Language
One of the key elements of a unique authorial voice is the use of language. We will look at examples of different writing styles, and experiment with using these in our own work. We will consider minimalism, maximalism, precision, specificity and lyricism, with an emphasis on choosing language carefully.
Session 10
2 April, 19:00–21:00
Experimentation
We will look at writers who experiment with structure, form, genre, style or language, and how this might open our eyes to new ideas or elements we have not considered before. We will examine our own work playfully, testing boundaries and possibilities, revising the links between form and content.
Session 11
9 April, 19:00–21:00
How to edit
Perhaps the most essential author’s skill is being a good editor. We will look at a range of ideas and techniques to help us edit our own work and think about the importance of reading critically, as well as navigating the ways in which our own self-doubt might hold us back, alongside strategies to overcome this.
Session 12
16 April, 19:00–21:00
Industry insight and sharing work
There will be opportunities to share our work so far and reflect on our writing journeys, setting intentions for the future. You will be given insight into the way the publishing industry works, and think about how to find time, space, motivation and support to continue your project in future.
You can find out more and book here.
Ps. I will send some new writing soon - I promise!