Novel Intensive with Sarah Armstrong 2025

Make 2025 the year you write your novel (or memoir). Join acclaimed writing teacher Sarah Armstrong for three terms of practical, encouraging workshops. 

Workshop Details

When: 12 x Wednesdays from 6pm – 8pm:

● Term 1: 5, 12, 19, 26 March.

● Term 2: 14, 21, 28 May and 4 June.

● Term 3: 9, 16, 23, 30 July. 

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

Cost: $1300 General /$1100 Festival Friends 

Group size: 12 participants max. 

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, targeted, 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? -Kath.

Workshop Outline

The small group (maximum of twelve participants) will meet once a week in four-week blocks, at the Byron Writers festival office, with access by Zoom available.

The course includes Sarah’s weekly video lectures on writing craft, including writing exercises, handouts and links to useful resources.

The weekly two-hour classes include opportunities for feedback and discussion. 

At the end of the course, each writer will receive individual written feedback from Sarah on 3000 words.

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

First term will explore coming 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.

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.

About Sarah

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.