In July 2017, Maria’s debut novel, THE LAST LOST GIRL, was published by Poolbeg Press. The book went on to be shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Debut Award 2018 and the Annie McHale Debut Award 2018. Maria’s second novel, ON BONE BRIDGE was published in July 2018, also by Poolbeg Press. Her third novel, BAD SWEET THINGS, a Crime Thriller/Police Procedural was published in 2021.
Maria has also published a children’s book, The Little Book of Irish Saints, with Poolbeg Press, and has been teaching creative writing for several years.
Start Date: 8th January, 2025
Price: $350
Duration: Six Weeks
3 places remaining
Novella Writing: Join Our Exclusive 6-Week Online Course
Have you ever dreamed of writing a novella? Now is the perfect time to dive into this captivating and increasingly popular literary form. Longer than a short story, yet more concise than a novel, the novella offers the ideal space to explore your creativity, refine your storytelling skills, and craft a powerful narrative.
Join our 6-week guided Novella Writing course and immerse yourself in the art of novella storytelling. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer looking to try something new, this course will equip you with the tools, techniques, and expert guidance you need to create your own unforgettable novella.
What You’ll Learn
In this course, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the novella as a literary form and learn how to harness its unique structure to tell compelling stories. Through a combination of structured lessons and hands-on assignments, you’ll develop your ideas and craft your novella from start to finish.
You’ll explore how to brainstorm and develop strong, original ideas, giving shape to your novella concept. You’ll learn to create compelling characters, build meaningful themes, and structure your plot for maximum impact. Pacing will become one of your greatest tools, as you learn to keep your novella engaging and dynamic. You’ll also gain insight into crafting vivid settings that draw readers in and enhance the mood of your story.
Each week, you’ll complete a core assignment that will help you build the foundation of your novella. With personalized feedback from your tutor, you’ll refine your work and continue to improve as a writer.
Limited Enrolment: Secure Your Spot Today
To ensure a focused, high-quality learning experience, we’re limiting enrolment to just ten students. This allows for personalised attention and more meaningful interaction with your tutor and fellow writers. We recommend early registration to guarantee your place in this highly sought-after course.
Lifetime Access to Course Materials
Once the course ends, you’ll retain lifetime access to all course materials. Revisit lessons, refresh your knowledge, and continue to develop your novella at your own pace, long after the course has concluded.
Global Accessibility: Join a Worldwide Community
Our online course is open to aspiring writers from around the globe. Whether you’re based in Europe, North America, or beyond, you’ll join a vibrant community of passionate writers from diverse backgrounds, sharing experiences and perspectives that enrich your learning.
Weekly Assignments & Personalised Feedback
Upon enrolment, you’ll receive your first module via email (be sure to check your spam folder and add us to your contacts). From there, you’ll begin working on weekly assignments designed to strengthen your writing and keep you on track. Each assignment is carefully reviewed by your tutor, who will provide personalised, constructive feedback to help you grow and improve.
The course is designed for flexibility, with no set class times. You can complete the weekly modules and assignments at your own pace, dedicating 2-3 hours per week to the course. This allows you to balance your writing journey with your other commitments, without compromising on the quality of your learning experience.
Ready to start writing your novella? Enrol today and take the first step toward mastering the art of novella writing, honing your skills, and creating a story that will captivate readers.
Course Outline
Week One: You will gain an understanding of what exactly a novella is, as we take a brief look at its long history, and the very many genres of novella open to a writer. You will explore what differentiates the novella from a full-scale novel, including the rules around wordcount and pacing, and what makes it such an attractive option to choose. You will also practice brainstorming and begin the work of defining your central idea for your own novella
Week Two: This module will explore the importance of both Character and Theme in the particular setting of the novella. You will look at just what qualities make compelling and believable characters, and the importance of understanding what motivates our characters. You will learn how Theme can be seen as the meaning behind the story of your novella and how to tease out your theme from your central idea.
Week Three: This module is all about plot and pacing. A single succinct plotline is one of the most important elements of your novella,. But plot can be one of the trickiest parts of the writing process. You will be guided through an understanding of the different components of plot, demystifying such terms as Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Resolution. There will also be a practical exercise in expanding your plot. In addition, you will explore the importance of pacing in your novella and how that is best achieved.
Week Four: In a novella, where the focus is generally on a single character, fully developing that character is crucial. In this module, we will be exploring the importance of character development and Character Arc (the journey your character will travel in the course of your novella, and how that journey will change them). We will also be exploring Setting – the Where and When of your novella and how important a role this plays in creating the world in which your characters exist.
Week Five: This module looks at what is meant by Central Conflict and why it is considered to be at the heart of plot. We will examine the difference between internal and external conflict and how to choose the right central conflict for your genre of novella. There will also be a practical exercise in pitting your character against a specific conflict. The module also includes a highly practical exercise in how to write a novella outline, which will pull together all the elements previously studied throughout the course.
Week Six: In this final module of the course there will be a section on a particular form of the novella – the Novella in Flash (NIF). This will be of particular interest to those writers with an interest in or curiosity about flash fiction. There will also be a short discussion on the business of publishing your novella whether traditionally or by self-publishing. The module finishes with an assignment which will set you the goal of writing the first 1000 words of your own novella.
Start Your Creative Journey Today
Unleash your full creative potential and take the first step toward becoming a skilled and confident writer. Our 6-week online Novella Writing course is designed to help you refine your craft, explore new storytelling techniques, and bring your ideas to life in a compelling and focused format. Whether you’re a budding writer or an experienced author looking to try something new, this course will guide you through every step of the novella writing process.
By registering today, you’ll embark on a transformative journey where you’ll not only master the unique structure of the novella but also gain the tools to develop dynamic characters, build rich narratives, and perfect your pacing. You’ll receive expert guidance, personalised feedback, and the support of a community of like-minded writers—all aimed at helping you create a novella that captures readers’ imaginations.
Now is the perfect time to take your writing to the next level. Enrol today, and begin your path toward mastering the art of storytelling, while honing the skills needed to craft a powerful, polished novella. Let this course be the spark that ignites your creative journey!
