Novel Intensive with Sarah Armstrong

Workshop Outline

Make 2024 the year you write your novel. Join Sarah Armstrong for three terms of workshops for writers who are working on a novel. The small group (maximum of ten participants) will meet once a week in four-week blocks, at the Byron Writers Festival office, with access via Zoom available. 

The course includes weekly video lectures from Sarah on writing craft with writing exercises, as well as handouts and links to useful resources. The weekly two-hour class includes opportunities for feedback and discussion. At the end of the course, each writer will receive individual written feedback from Sarah on 4000 words.

All writers welcome - those with a work in progress or those with an idea for a novel. 

First term will explore how to come up with ideas, planning, how to build a first draft, and some fundamentals of fiction: character, plot, point of view, scene and summary. Sarah will also talk about how to tackle procrastination and writer’s block.

Second term will drill down into narrative tension, character development, how character drives plot, secondary characters and structure. This is the term were you’ll get individual, written feedback from Sarah on 3000 words of your first draft.

Third term is all about how to tackle rewriting and editing: beginnings and endings, structure and themes, and a discussion about where to go from here. 

Workshop Details

TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE JANUARY 1st, 2024 - 09:00(AEDT).

When: 12 x Monday sessions from 6pm – 8pm

• Term 1: Monday 4, 11, 18, 25 March
• Term 2: Monday 6, 13, 20, 27 May
• Term 3: Monday 1, 8, 15, 22 July 

Where: Hybrid format: in-person at the Byron Writers Festival office with remote attendance option available

Cost: $990 members / $1200 non-members

Group size: 10 participants

Testimonial: 

I couldn’t recommend this workshop highly enough. Sarah is one of the best teachers (of anything) I know. Her capacity to give very specific, targetted, positive and encouraging feedback makes it possible for all who attend her workshops to understand what strengths they have and how they can improve, without ever feeling despondent about their capacity to do this hard thing we call writing. She has an experienced writerly eye, combined with genuine care for her students. I mean, what more could you ask for?

Sarah Armstrong

Sarah Armstrong has written three adult novels, including Salt Rain which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Big Magic was her first novel for readers aged 9+ and is a CBCA 2023 Notable book. Its sequel, Magic Awry, was published in 2023. Sarah is an experienced writing teacher, mentor and manuscript assessor.

*Please note, if you are experiencing financial difficulties payment plans are available. Please contact our Project Manager, Amy Shaw on projects@byronwritersfestival.com