A Summer Evening of Storytelling Magic with The Novel Studio Showcase 2025

July 8, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

The Novel Studio has been running, albeit with a different title, since 2012. That’s 13 years of nurturing novel writing talent and every year brings new writers with exciting new stories to tell. With a wealth of published alumni from Lara Haworth, Harriet Tyce, Deepa Anappara, Hannah Begbie and tutor Kiare Ladner as just a small sample of past students, this year’s cohort proved they were hot on those published heals with a night of readings that really took our breath away.

 

Before we began there were a few announcements. We were very sad to say that Sufiya McNulty was unwell and unable to read her extract at the Showcase, but her wonderful piece is available in the anthology. More on that below!

 

We also wanted to acknowledge the sponsor of the Novel Studio Scholarship, George Politis. Originally set up in 2019 and sponsored by Harriet Tyce, the new scholarship, known as the Captain Tasos Politis scholarship after George’s late father, provides a full year’s fees for a student from a low-income family. We were so pleased to have George in the audience supporting yet another cohort of new writers. Thank you, George!

After a few more thank yous to City George’s Short Courses team and the new director, Dr Holly Shiflett, the night opened with some very warm and wise words from alumna, Anna Mazzola.

 

Novel Studio Alumna Anna Mazzola

Anna joined us from the Connaught Hotel awaiting the awards ceremony of the CWA Dagger Awards. Her fifth novel, The Book of Secrets, was shortlisted for not just one, but two awards: the KAA Gold Dagger and the Historical Dagger. We are delighted to be able to congratulate her on winning the KAA Gold Dagger for the best crime novel of the year. She was only minutes away from discovering her win when she spoke of the importance of building a cohort of supportive writing buddies and making the most of every success for the long haul of writing that should always be about loving the process. Congratulations, Anna, we’re so delighted for you and excited that you were able to join us on the night!

 

Suitably buoyed by Anna’s words, the readings began with a heart-stopping extract from Rosalind Ginsberg. Her novel Things to do in Dalston When You’re Dead explores quite what happened to counsellor Melanie Little after she disappears on holiday. Rosalind’s extract examined quite why documentary-maker Anne was so keen to unravel the mystery of Melanie’s disappearance. What is there to do in Dalston when you’re dead?

 

Brought to life by Rosalind’s tale, we shook things up further as we entered a dance rehearsal. Top dance student Jordan Star was about to perform fouetté turns as punishment for her late arrival to the rehearsal, when she was joined by an even later student and the pressure began to mount further. Transported into the rush of movement and intense emotions of these young adult lives, Maddie Silvs read the extract from her novel, Stardust to great effect, leaving the audience as breathless as her characters.

 

Before we could get too comfortable back in reality, our next writer, Emma O’Driscoll, took us back through time to eighteenth century Wiltshire and a jolting carriage ride to the rotten borough of Hynedon. The extract from her novel, Trial by Fire, set a scene for momentous events to come, ending on an ominous note. ‘You mark my words’ her character exclaims, ‘one of these days there’s going to be a very serious accident.’

 

With our minds swirling in contemplation of what might happen next, we were forced to leave our curiosity on hold for Aoife Sadlier as she introduced us to her novel, Paloma and the Octopus. There we found Kaya desperately seeking connection with the magical Paloma, an alter-ego with a moustache and watermelon breasts who promises to come to Kaya’s aid in rediscovering her childhood toys and her sense of joy.

 

The image of a ripened peach sunset lingering, we stepped out of Kaya’s magical real world and headed for Mexico City and the antics of an Irish Writer, Seamus, in an extract from Daragh Thomas’s novel, Dogdealer. As Seamus desperately rushed through the city to catch his flight, we followed his turbulent mind and disrupted gut right out onto the ground with a puddle of vomit in which Seamus saw his artistry flourish. A character we’ve all grown to love to hate, Daragh’s compelling prose always induces rye smiles if not laughter.

 

Grins on our faces, we said goodbye to Seamus and his vomit-stained shoes for another reality entirely as Eva Nip read an extract from her novel, Insatiable. We stepped into a dream of Freya’s, an American university student learning about herself and her Chinese heritage through a connection with her dead grandmother, Popo. We listened in horror as Popo tried to hold on to objects breaking apart in her grasping fingers leaving trails of destruction that seemed to make their way out of the dream and into reality.

 

With Popo’s cries ringing in our ears, we fled from America to the Democractic Republic of Congo. Merveille Ondekane read an extract from her novel, Little People, taking us into the oppressive sick room of Thérèse’s mother, whose cursed foot was not only causing her pain but souring her attitude to her daughter. Announcing that she planned to sell her house and move away to live with her sister, long-suffering Thérèse was clearly at the start of a day of uncomfortable revelations.

 

What will happen to Thérèse? We’ll have to read the novel to find out and there was no time for further speculation as we took fresh steps into the future and the speculative world of Rebecca Miles, who read from her YA novel, Elderado. A hard-hitting and nail-biting account of a lottery followed. We were terrified to learn that Kore had won a place at the eco-sanctuary, Elderado. But some technology had forced her hand to sign into the ceremony and Kore didn’t know what to expect as a cry rang out and interrupted the crowd’s celebrations and her own uncertainty.

 

Left speculating what might be next for Kore, we found ourselves at the final reading of the evening. Once again we travelled back in time and across continents to find ourselves revisiting the founding of America with Connor Maxwell as he read from his novel, Between the Lines. Inspired by true events, the novel explores the American Revolution from through the eyes of enslaved Apollo. We witnessed Apollo leading a hunt under the threatening eyes of his master, Custis Braxton and the extract and the readings ending with the threat of a whipping.

 

It was a dramatic way to end a night of riveting readings from a group of seriously talented writers. You can watch the readings for yourself here and read the extracts in the 2025 Novel Studio Anthology, which will be available here very soon! We couldn’t be prouder of these brilliant new writers starting their journeys into a publishing world that would be seriously remiss in not snapping them up. Congratulations Novel Studio Cohort of 2025, we can’t wait to find out what happens next and wish you the best of luck with your writing!

 

 

City Writes 2025 Summer Event 9th July: Competition Winners Announced!

June 30, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

 

This term’s competition to be part of the City Writes Summer Event on the 9th July over Zoom, has been fierce. We were sent a wonderful hoard of stories and the lucky winners joining alumna and debut author, Fiona Keating, are: Dominique Gracia, Clare O’Connor, Aditi Parekh, Safiyah Sobrany, Lois Thomas and Dilys Wyndham Thomas. For further details on these wonderful writers, see below, and register here to hear them read on the 9th July. It’s going to be a real showcase of the creative writing coming from City St George’s short courses. Prepare for an event filled with the mysterious, the uncanny, the eerie whisper of trauma rising unbidden, the longing for communion and the joy of travel. Don’t miss out on these budding talents! Register for your place now.

 

Dominique Gracia for her story ‘Jack’s Gal’. Dominique is a Crime and Thriller Writing alumna. Dominique Gracia researches Victorian literature and culture and writes short and flash fiction. She is fascinated by things that come up again and again, and run below the surface, from Greek mythology to cultural tropes that just won’t die, and the emotions that carry them along. Her first book-length collection of short stories—The Meinir Davies Casebook—follows Welsh female detective Meinir Davies across fin-de-siècle London, accompanied by Sherlock Holmes, Dorcas Dene, et al.

 

Clare O’Connor for an extract from her novel, Nonsuch Island. Clare is another Crime and Thriller Writing alumna. Clare O’Connor was born and brought up on the tiny island of Bermuda. Her debut mystery novel, Nonsuch Island, draws on her experience covering crime and politics as a newspaper reporter in her home country. With an MSc from Columbia University’s School of Journalism, she’s spent her career in magazine journalism, online media, and editorial strategy. She lives between Brighton and Oxford with her wife and stepchildren.

 

Aditi Parekh, a Writers’ Workshop alumna, for an extract from a longer short story ‘Happy Endings’. Aditi Parekh is writer based in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. In the past she worked as an actuary in the insurance industry for several years before quitting to explore other pursuits. She is currently writing short stories and working on her first novel.

Lois Thomas for her non-fiction piece, ‘A Warm Welcome’. Lois is a Narrative Non-Fiction student.

 

Lois Thomas grew up in Hampshire and has spent time in her mother’s home country of Japan.  After studying History at university, Lois worked in politics before training as a Clinical Psychologist, for which her doctoral project explored the therapeutic benefits of writing.  She has worked in NHS mental health services in London for over 15 years, specialising in therapy with adolescents and young adults.

 

Safiyah Sobrany, an Approach to Creative Writing student, for her piece, ‘When The Smoke Smells Like Marigolds’. Safiyah is an anthropology postgraduate and Religious Studies teacher with a gothic sensibility and a sense of cultural weight drawn to djinns, restless ancestors including the peculiar dinner parties they throw when no one is watching! Her work lifts the colonial dust that’s long settled on the gothic, reclaiming forgotten South Asian folklore and ancestral voices. She explores how histories shape identity in ways that are uncanny and deeply human.

Dilys Wyndham Thomas for her story ‘Bellybutton Baby’. Dilys is a Writers’ Workshop alumna. Dilys Wyndham Thomas lives in the Netherlands. Her poems and short stories appear in journals and anthologies, including Ink Sweat & Tears, New Flash Fiction Review, The Passionfruit Review, and Shooter. Rust & Moth nominated her for a 2026 Pushcart Prize. Dilys also runs workshops for Strange Birds Writing Collective and was an assistant poetry editor for Passengers Journal. She is working on her first novel. Find her online at dilyswt.com.

 

Following these fantastic writers will be Writers’ Workshop alumna, Fiona Keating whose mesmeric debut, Smoke and Silk is a historical thriller taking you into Victorian London’s Chinese community with opium smuggling, murder and romance.

 

City Writes Summer 2025 is going to be sizzling. Register here to join us on the 9th July at 7pm over Zoom. See you there.

 

Competition Deadline for City Writes Competition is this Friday!

June 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

City Writes is the creative writing showcase event for all the fantastic writing coming out of City St George’s short courses and we need your submissions for this term’s online event on the 9th July at 7pm. We’re looking for the best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction from current students and alumni of City St George’s creative writing short courses.

 

This term our guest is Writers’ Workshop alumna, Fiona Keating whose mesmeric debut, Smoke and Silk is a historical thriller taking you into Victorian London’s Chinese community with opium smuggling, murder and romance.

 

For your chance to join Fiona Keating on stage with five other authors on the 9th July 2025 over Zoom, all you need to do is submit your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction (we do accept young adult fiction but don’t currently accept children’s fiction) on any subject to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.2@city.ac.uk with details of the City St George’s short course you are taking or have taken by midnight on Friday 13th June. That is this Friday! Further submission guidelines and details can be found here. You can also get ahead and Register here for the event on the 9th July 2025 at 7pm on Zoom.

 

Get submitting and good luck!

Author Fiona Keating

Final Call: One Week Left to Apply for The Novel Studio

May 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Time is running out for one of the most established and successful novel development programmes in the UK. Applications for The Novel Studio close in just one week, and if you’ve been considering taking your fiction to the next level, this is your moment.

Why The Novel Studio?

For over twenty years, The Novel Studio at City St Georges, University of London has been quietly building an impressive track record in writer development. This isn’t about churning out cookie-cutter novels – it’s about nurturing individual voices and helping writers create work that genuinely connects with readers.

Our alumni have secured major publishing deals, been shortlisted for prestigious awards, and built sustainable writing careers. More importantly, they’ve done so across every genre – from literary fiction to crime, science fiction to historical novels.

A Programme Built for Results

What sets The Novel Studio apart is its comprehensive approach to novel development. Over 30 intensive weeks, you’ll move through three carefully structured terms:

Foundations focus on the crucial early work – research, plotting, and concept development. Without this groundwork, some novels can flounder. On the Novel Studio you’ll receive structured guidance to ensure your novel has solid bones from the start.

Craft Development is where the real magic happens. Through workshop sessions and detailed feedback, you’ll master the essential elements that to develop your novel – character, voice, dialogue, pacing, and narrative drive.

Industry Focus prepares you for the realities of publishing. You’ll meet agents, authors, and editors, understand the current market, and most crucially, prepare your work for professional submission.

Industry Access

Every successful application to the Novel Studio is automatically considered for our agent competition, with the top three manuscripts reviewed by Lucy Luck, top literary agent at C&W Agency.

But it doesn’t stop there. Your work will be professionally edited and included in an anthology that’s sent to every UK-based literary agent.

The programme culminates in an industry showcase where you’ll present your work directly to agents.

Flexibility Without Compromise

Understanding that writers come from all walks of life, The Novel Studio now offers both London-based and online experiences. The London studio provides face-to-face workshops and direct networking in the heart of the literary world. The online option delivers the same intensive programme with full access to the virtual writing community.

Crucially, both options maintain the same rigorous standards, same tutors and same feedback structure.

Supporting Diverse Voices

The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship proides full funding for a talented writer from a low-income household. It’s a recognition that great stories can come from anywhere, and financial barriers shouldn’t prevent exceptional voices from being heard.

Last Chance

Applications close in one week. If you’re serious about your novel, if you want professional development within a supportive community, if you’re looking for genuine connections to the publishing world – this is your opportunity.

The Novel Studio doesn’t just teach craft; it opens doors.

To apply, email shortcourses@citystgeorges.ac.uk

Your novel – and your writing career – deserve this level of professional support and industry access.

Ready to join the ranks of published Novel Studio alumni? The clock is ticking. Full course details here.

Thinking Small and Large: the Fascinating Story of Microbe Power by Narrative Non-Fiction Tutor Peter Forbes

May 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Author and Narrative Non-Fiction Tutor, Peter Forbes

 

Peter Forbes has been teaching City St Georges’ Narrative Non-Fiction short course for almost a decade and in that time has shepherded countless students towards publication. This year sees the publication of his new book, Thinking Small and Large: How Microbes Made and Can Save our World. Ahead of its launch, we caught up with Peter to find out more about the book, his teaching and the mighty power of microbes.

 

  1. What first sparked your interest in microbes?

 

I spent the first half of my life not at all interested in microbes, so I was very typical of the readers I’m trying to reach. I read chemistry at university and what interested me most even then was geochemistry and the origin of life. Very little was known about the origin then and my life went in a different direction – I was editor of the Poetry Society’s magazine Poetry Review for sixteen years. But I had also, when I worked as a natural history desk editor in the pre-Poetry Review phase, become deeply interested in biology. I learnt that the amazing abilities of some animals and plants lay in the nanoworld inside their cells – the protein nanomachines. After Poetry Review, I started to write on biological topics and my first two books were about creatures like the gecko with their incredible adhesion, the lotus plant with its water-repelling properties, spider silk with its incredible strength, and the remarkable range of mimicry in nature. These led inexorably to the microbes in which the protein nanomachines that lie behind all life’s amazing properties first developed.

 

  1. Could you share a surprising discovery about microbes that changed your own perspective during your research?

 

There were many but the big discovery was that the early microbes were able to create biomass through the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide without the now universal process of photosynthesis. And today, in our efforts to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, technologists are using some of those ancient bacteria to make ethanol and hence jet fuels, chemicals, materials and even food from carbon dioxide – the very substance that is causing global heating. The uncanny convergence of this four-billion-year full circle in the life of the planet is the single most astonishing discovery I made.

 

  1. What were the biggest challenges in translating complex scientific concepts about microbes into accessible narratives for general readers?

 

The book is called Thinking Small and Large because I believe that the scale at which life operates is very hard for people to grasp. We have evolved to deal with the world we can see but life’s processes operate on a scale of around a million times smaller than anything we can see and in the environment on a vast scale through processes that are just as invisible as the workings of the inside of the cell – the global transfer of gases between living things, the air, the waters, the rocks and the soil.

 

I want readers to be able to grasp that the world inside the cell – itself so small to our normal perception – is actual enormous. Inside every living cell is a gigantic, elaborated world like a 3D nano-Venice with teeming chemical routes worming their way through the cell in all directions, with nano analogues of settlements, stores, factories, highways, power stations, subway lines, cars – giants of the infinitesimal, as my late colleague, the sculptor Tom Grimsey called them.

 

  1. What’s one misconception about microbes you hope your book helps to correct?

 

The biggest and most damaging misconception is that microbes primarily exist to prey on us. We are very much latecomers in life on earth; microbes (bacteria and other single-celled creature), had the world to themselves for over 3 billion years. Homo sapiens has been around as a species for 300,000 years and as a major ecological disrupter for no more than about 10,000 of them. Microbes are incredibly chemically versatile and opportunistic, with a dazzling ability to evolve new biological machinery and so, yes, some eventually evolved to be parasitic on human beings as well as fulfilling other functions in the biosphere.

 

  1. You balance roles as both an author and educator of narrative non-fiction. How does your teaching influence your writing process, and vice versa?

 

The best way to learn anything is to try to teach it. Teaching writing helped me to find a rationale for what makes writing effective and appealing to read: the compositional techniques that anyone can employ once they know what they are. Teaching writing also teaches you to practice what you preach. And on the course I experience a wonderful range of styles and subject matter.

 

  1. How has your background as a poetry editor influenced your non-fiction writing and teaching?

 

I always tell the students that poetry is the non-fiction writer’s friend. Poetry is obviously an art in which every word counts – whatever else it is it cannot be just workaday, just about fit for purpose language. And good non-fiction should be just as well composed. I urge them to read their drafts aloud and to take note of the rhythm. “Sound as the echo to the sense” is a very good motto. And apposite poetry quotation is one way to inject another dimension into the subject (with the caveat that if the poetry, however short, is in copyright permission to reproduce is mandatory and expensive).

 

  1. What advice would you give to aspiring UK non-fiction writers trying to make specialised topics engaging for mainstream audiences?

 

I believe you need to research your subject from as many different viewpoints as possible. I always say that when you compare your book text to the sample chapter and synopsis you wrote at the start you should find that most of it emerged from research after the book was contracted: the best material and stories were unknown to you when you wrote the proposal. That means following every angle that the research brings up: travel to the key places if you can; talk to as many people as possible; bring your lifetime’s reading to bear on your subject.

 

  1. What are you working on now?

 

Writing a book is a long and exhausting process. Your subject doesn’t stop developing when the book text is complete and it’s good to follow up with some articles. It is a great time in science. It’s easy to lose sight of this in the current global turmoil. Like poetry, science is a great source of hope and inspiration to me.

Thanks so much, Peter! For anyone interested in the book, you can pre-order HERE.

And for anyone wanting to take Peter’s course, see HERE for more information or HERE for our full range of writing short courses.

From Novel Studio to Publication Success: Alumni Spotlight

May 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Just two weeks remain to apply for the 2025 Novel Studio programme at City University. As the 30 May deadline approaches, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our remarkable alumni who have transformed their writing dreams into publishing reality.

Turning Writing Dreams into Publishing Reality

When it comes to the Novel Studio, it’s not just about learning the craft of writing – it’s about joining a community that supports your journey from first draft to publication and beyond. Our alumni success stories speak volumes about the programme’s ability to nurture talent and launch writing careers.

Lara Haworth: From Novel Studio to Nero Award Shortlist

When Lara Haworth joined the Novel Studio in 2018, she already showed tremendous promise, winning our Literary Agent Competition that same year. Fast forward to 2024, and Lara’s debut novel Monumenta has been published by Canongate and shortlisted for the prestigious Nero Award.

“My time on the Novel Studio was completely transformative,” Lara says. “Being read. It was such a relief… it was a privilege to read my peers’ writing too – to lose myself in their worlds, and bring my sensibilities as a writer to their work.”

For Lara, the Novel Studio provided not just creative guidance but practical industry knowledge: “The course also taught me that books don’t live in a blank space. They’re deeply connected to the world, most pressingly, the publishing world… it was so very helpful to be given the tools to do this, to knock on all those guarded doors.”

Jo Cunningham: Cosy Crime Success with Two-Book Deal

Jo Cunningham’s journey to publication showcases the perseverance that the Novel Studio helps to cultivate. After completing the programme, Jo continued refining her craft until her fifth novel, Death by Numbers, caught the attention of the Soho Agency.

This led to a two-book deal with Constable, with her debut cosy crime novel published in August 2024 and a sequel, Pet Hates, scheduled for August 2025.

“Persistence and resilience,” Jo advises when asked about essential qualities for writers. “It took me many years from starting to write novels to reach the publication stage. The main thing you must do is finish the novel.”

Jo credits her writing courses at City University as instrumental to her development: “I’ve benefitted enormously from taking courses, getting feedback at workshops, and reading books to help improve different writing skills – structure, character, productivity.”

Dr Deepa Anappara: International Literary Acclaim

Another shining example of Novel Studio success is Dr Deepa Anappara, whose debut novel Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line received extraordinary international acclaim. The novel was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time and NPR, and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.

Deepa’s remarkable literary journey continues with her second novel, The Last of Earth, forthcoming from Oneworld in 2026. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages, and Time included her debut in its list of ‘The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time’. Deepa is now part of the teaching team on City St George’s Creative Writing MA.

Join the Next Generation of Novel Studio Success Stories

Could you be our next publishing success story? The Novel Studio provides the perfect environment to develop your novel with expert guidance, constructive feedback, and industry connections.

New for 2025: Two Ways to Experience the Novel Studio

We’re excited to announce that for the first time ever, the Novel Studio will be offered in two formats:

  • Online Studio – Our current online course experience
  • London Studio –  The same exceptional course content and teachers, delivered at our central London campus

This flexibility allows writers from anywhere to benefit from our renowned programme without compromising on quality or experience. Whether you prefer in-person interaction or need the convenience of online learning, the Novel Studio can now accommodate your needs.

With just two weeks left to apply for the 2025 programme, now is the time to take that crucial step toward realising your writing ambitions.

Applications close on 30 May 2025.

For more information and to apply, visit The Novel Studio or email Emily.Pedder.1@city.ac.uk with any questions.

Five Novel Writing Challenges The Novel Studio Helps You Navigate

May 1, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Novel Studio Published Alumni

Every writer’s journey is unique, but certain experiences are near universal when crafting a novel. At The Novel Studio, we’ve worked with writers for over twenty years, supporting them through creative challenges and celebrating their path to publication. Here are five common experiences many novelists encounter, and how our programme can help you navigate them with confidence and skill.

  1. From Spark to Sustained Fire

That initial burst of inspiration – the character who won’t leave your mind, the what-if question that keeps you awake at night – can be magical. Yet many writers find that transforming that spark into a sustained narrative requires a different kind of creative energy.

Our Term One “Foundations” phase allows you to nurture that initial concept. You’ll learn to test your idea’s potential, discover its hidden depths, and build the framework that supports a complete novel. Our approach helps you preserve that initial creative excitement while developing the structure and scope your story needs to thrive.

  1. Navigating the Narrative Middle

Even bestselling authors acknowledge the challenges of the middle sections of a novel. This is where characters reveal unexpected depths, plot threads interconnect, and the narrative rhythm finds its true pace.

Our Fictional Techniques sessions in Term Two focus on the skills you need to create compelling scenes, maintain momentum, and ensure every chapter serves your story’s purpose. Regular workshop feedback on your work-in-progress will also help you refine and strengthen your middle sections, transforming them from potential stumbling blocks into the heart of your novel.

  1. Finding Your Writing Community

Writing requires solitude, but completing a novel thrives on connection. Many writers discover that sharing their work with trusted peers, receiving thoughtful feedback, and celebrating small victories along the way enriches both their manuscript and their creative life.

Whether you choose our London Studio or Online experience, you’ll become part of a supportive community of fellow novelists. Our workshop structure creates natural momentum and accountability, while our feedback process ensures constructive guidance at every stage. Many of our alumni describe this creative community as the unexpected gift of the programme – relationships that continue long after the course concludes.

  1. Refining Your Craft Elements

Every writer has natural strengths – perhaps you excel at dialogue, or description – but many of us also have elements of craft that feel less intuitive, areas where targeted guidance can transform our writing.

The Novel Studio addresses core elements of fiction craft through dedicated workshop sessions and a focus on fictional technique. You’ll develop character, voice, dialogue, and narrative drive through exercises and expert guidance. By the end of the programme, you will be closer to identifying your unique voice while strengthening any areas that need additional attention.

  1. Preparing for the Publishing Journey

Completing a manuscript is a significant achievement – and also the beginning of a new phase in your writing journey. Understanding the publishing landscape, connecting with the right agent, and presenting your work professionally all require specific knowledge and skills.

Our Term Three “Industry Focus” prepares you for the next steps in your publishing journey. You’ll meet agents, authors, and editors who provide insider perspectives on the current market. You’ll craft a professional submission package and practice presenting your work to an audience. The programme culminates in our industry showcase where you’ll connect directly with agents, with your writing featured in our anthology sent to all UK-based literary agents.

Beyond Craft: Creating Opportunity

The Novel Studio offers more than craft development and industry preparation—it creates unique opportunities for your writing career:

  • Agent Connection: All applications are automatically considered for the Novel Studio Competition, with the top three reviewed by Lucy Luck at C&W Agency
  • One-to-one Guidance: Personal tutorials each term with experienced authors and editors
  • Public Reading Experience: Structured preparation for sharing your work with audiences
  • Professional Network: Join our growing list of published alumni

Whether you’re at the beginning of your novel writing journey or looking to take your manuscript to the next level, The Novel Studio provides the creative guidance, craft expertise, and supportive community that helps writers thrive.

Deadline for applications is 30 May 2025.

For more information visit our dedicated Novel Studio page HERE.

The Novel Studio 2025-26: Now Available In-Person and Online

April 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

 

 Applications are now open for our acclaimed year-long novel development programme

For over two decades, The Novel Studio has guided aspiring novelists through the journey from initial concept to professional submission package. We’re delighted to announce that for the 2025-26 academic year, The Novel Studio will be available in two formats: our fully online option and a return to in-person at our central London campus.

Same Expert Guidance, Two Ways to Experience It

Whether you choose to join us in London or connect from anywhere in the world, you’ll receive the same comprehensive curriculum, expert instruction, and professional development opportunities that have helped our alumni secure major publishing deals and literary recognition.

‘We’ve designed both delivery options to provide choice for our prospective students,’ says Emily Pedder, Course Director of The Novel Studio. ‘Our commitment to nurturing each writer’s unique voice and providing personalised feedback remains at the heart of everything we do.’

The Novel Studio Experience

Over 30 intensive weeks (two evening sessions per week), you’ll progress through a carefully structured programme:

Term One: Foundations

  • Develop your novel concept through guided research and exploration
  • Study novel structures across genres
  • Position your work within the current literary market

Term Two: Craft Development

  • Participate in structured workshop sessions with detailed feedback
  • Master essential craft elements including character, voice, and dialogue
  • Develop pacing and narrative drive

Term Three: Industry Focus

  • Connect with agents, authors, and editors
  • Prepare a professional submission package
  • Participate in our industry showcase

Both delivery options include one-to-one tutorials with each tutor every term, ensuring personalised guidance throughout your journey.

Two Pathways, One Community

London Studio Experience

  • Face-to-face workshops in our central London location
  • Direct networking opportunities with peers and industry professionals
  • Immersive writing community experience
  • Access to London literary events

Online Studio Experience

  • Live virtual workshops with the same expert tutors
  • Digital resource access
  • Vibrant online writing community
  • Virtual networking events
  • Identical feedback structure and professional development opportunities

‘I benefited enormously from being able to develop my novel in an environment that was both demanding and supportive, and my writing improved considerably over the course. The tutorial guidance is excellent and sensitively applied. The standard of students is very high, and one of the best benefits was forming a long-term relationship (and friendship) with such talented fellow-writers,” says Penny Rudge whose debut novel Foolish Lessons in Life and Love was published by Little Brown.

Expert Tuition from Published Authors

All Novel Studio workshops are taught by either Dr Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone or Dr Kiare Ladner – both published authors and industry professionals who bring decades of writing and teaching experience to the programme. The same tutors teach both our in-person and online sessions, ensuring consistent quality across both delivery options.

Dr Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

Dr Kiare Ladner

Our tutors provide not only craft expertise and encouragement but also current industry insights, helping you navigate the publishing landscape with confidence.

Industry Connections

All Novel Studio participants benefit from our established industry connections:

  • Industry Showcase: Present your work to agents at our end-of-year event
  • Anthology Publication: Your work will be professionally edited in an anthology sent to all UK-based literary agents
  • Agent Access: All applications are automatically considered for the Novel Studio Competition, with the top three manuscripts reviewed by Lucy Luck, literary agent at C&W Agency

Join Our Community of Published Writers

The Novel Studio has an impressive track record of alumni success across all genres – from literary fiction to crime, historical to fantasy, and everything in between. Our graduates have secured major publishing deals, been shortlisted for prestigious awards, and established successful writing careers.

Will your novel be next?

Applications Now Open

How to Apply: Email shortcourses@city.ac.uk with a 2000-word sample of your original fiction and a CV which details any writing experience you may have.

Application Deadline: 30 May 2025

Scholarship Opportunity: The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship provides full funding for a talented writer from a low-income household. Please indicate on your application if you wish to be considered.

Open Information Session

We will be running a virtual information session on 30 April from 5.30-6.15pm. Sign up HERE.

 

We look forward to receiving your applications!

 

City Writes Soars in Spring

March 31, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Guest alumna Han Smith in conversation with Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

 

The 26th March marked nine years of the creative writing showcase event, City Writes. In person for the first time since the pandemic, this celebration of the writing coming from City St George’s short courses was a bumper edition with readings from competition winners, tutors and the Goldsmiths Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith. It really was a creative writing extravaganza of a night with drinks, nibbles, book signing, course discounts and lots of networking. Students and alumni met tutors, writers and agents on a balmy Spring night and it was, quite simply, a delight.

 

Hattie Nash

We began the evening with three of our competition winners. Approach to Creative Writing alumna, Hatty Nash made us all laugh (a little nervously) with her story ‘Brainrot’ in which an unsuspecting office worker literally moulders in her ergonomic chair. Aaron Payne, a Short Story Writing alumnus, gave us an extract from his longer short story, ‘Scoop’ next. He dropped us into a graveyard in the drizzle and dazzled with metaphoric and symbolic connections as his character prepared for a funeral. Aaron was then swiftly followed by another Approach to Creative Writing alumna, Mya Shakur, whose story ‘Sandwich Bag’ made us witness to a painful punishment. A mother cuts off her daughter’s hair and puts it in a sandwich bag on a shelf in her daughter’s bedroom. The humiliation of a bad haircut hung over the audience.

Mya Shakur

Aaron Payne

Two of City St George’s short courses tutors took to the stage next. First up was Novel Writing and Longer Works tutor, Martin Ouvry. We were treated to an extract from the opening of his Arts Council funded novel, The Cost of Living. A casual but flashy meeting with an old school friend quivered with a sense of unease. The London of cocktails and globetrotters was quickly changed for the closer quarters of a less-fashionable London bedroom as Crime and Thriller Writing tutor Caroline Green read from her novel, Sleep Tight. The first in a series of DC Rose Gifford thrillers, the audience was very relieved not to be going home after this terrifying invader of rest unfolded.

Jonathan Gibbs of the Creative Writing MA and MFA at City St George’s encouraged us to investigate the higher education on offer here at City St George’s. He’s running a taster session later in April for those keen to find out more.

After a short interval to top up drinks and chat, we were back with two further competition winners. Narrative Non-Fiction alumna, Ellen Bassam, started us off with her story of ghosting in the age of dating apps and mobile phones, ‘Two y’s and no smiley face’.

Judging by the audience’s laughs and groans this was a story that really struck a chord. Ellen was followed by fourth time winner of City Writes, Tunde Oyebode. A Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop alumnus, Tunde read his story, ‘Immaculate Education’. An extract from a longer piece, we listened to a dark and uncomfortable tale of sexual and physical abuse in a boarding school in Lagos. There was audible silence as the story ended.

Tunde Oyebode

Ellen Bassam

Following this was Tunde’s former Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop tutor, Katy Darby. A writer of historical fiction, Katy gave us a steamy encounter from a work-in-progress set in the closet of a large house in the Victorian era. There were some flushed faces as moved from fiction to fact with our final tutor reading of the evening from Fact-based Storytelling tutor, Jem Batholomew. Jem has just signed a contract with Faber to publish his non-fiction book, Threading the Needle, about poverty in the UK. We were treated to an extract from this work, challenging the comforts of warm seats and free drinks and nibbles. Jem suggested a night of readings to get tutors and students together and his reading lingered as we prepared to hear from Short Story Writing alumna and guest, Han Smith.

Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking is Han Smith’s debut novel and was shortlisted for the 2024 Goldsmiths Prize. We were very lucky to hear two extracts from this fragmentary series of portraits that ask us how the past is remembered when the system is forcibly trying to make us forget. It’s a thought-provoking novel written in precise and tender language that speaks directly to our modern ‘post-truth’ age. There’s desire, activism, exploitation and fear. Han read beautifully and answered questions from Novel Studio tutor, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone and audience before all the tutors were invited to join Han for a brief, broader Q&A.

This marked the end of the night, with book signing from Han Smith and thanks yous to Emily Pedder, Robert Lastman and Patsy Collison. Do buy Han Smith’s fantastic novel, Portrait at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking here. And look out for details of City Writes next term, which will be back online, but we will be joined by Writers’ Workshop alumna and debut novelist, Fiona Keating, whose novel Smoke and Silk (Mountain Leopard Press, 2025) comes out on March 27th. We’ll see you in the summer term!

Writing in the age of AI: Transforming Copywriting and Content Marketing

March 31, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, artificial intelligence is revolutionising how we approach copywriting and content marketing. For students entering this field, understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations is no longer optional—it’s essential professional knowledge that could define your competitive edge in the industry.

How AI is Changing Content Creation

The emergence of sophisticated AI writing tools has fundamentally altered the content creation process. These tools can now:

  • Generate first drafts of marketing copy in seconds
  • Adapt messaging to different audience segments
  • Create variations of headlines and calls-to-action for A/B testing
  • Optimise content for search engines
  • Identify trending topics and content gaps

For copywriters and marketers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The mechanical aspects of content production — once time-consuming barriers to creativity — can now be delegated to AI assistants.

From Volume to Strategy: The New Human Advantage

With AI handling production volume, human copywriters are being elevated to more strategic roles. The competitive advantage now lies in areas where humans still decisively outperform machines:

Strategic Thinking

Understanding brand positioning, audience psychology, and market differentiation remains a distinctly human strength. AI can execute, but humans define the “why” behind content strategies.

Brand Voice Development

Creating authentic, distinctive brand voices that resonate with specific audiences requires cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and creative intuition that AI tools still struggle to replicate.

Emotional Resonance

The most effective marketing copy connects emotionally with readers. Human copywriters understand emotional nuance in ways that AI, for all its pattern recognition capabilities, cannot yet match.

Cultural Context

Understanding cultural references, sensitivities, and zeitgeist moments requires living in and experiencing culture — something AI systems, trained on past data, inherently cannot do.

Practical Applications for Modern Copywriters

For students learning copywriting and content marketing, here are some practical ways to leverage AI while developing essential human skills:

  1. Use AI for Research and Ideation AI tools can analyse vast amounts of content to identify patterns, topics, and gaps in existing content landscapes, providing valuable starting points for original content creation.
  2. Employ AI as a First-Draft Generator Use AI to generate initial content drafts that you then refine, enhance, and infuse with brand voice and emotional resonance.
  3. Leverage AI for Content Optimisation AI excels at identifying SEO opportunities, readability issues, and potential audience responses — use these insights to strengthen your content.
  4. Focus Your Expertise on Strategy As AI handles more production aspects, develop your strategic thinking, audience understanding, and creative direction skills— areas where human input remains irreplaceable.

Preparing for the Future

The UK content marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with AI integration. For students preparing to enter this field, focusing on these key areas will help you thrive:

  1. Learn to collaborate with AI tools rather than compete with them
  2. Develop your unique creative perspective that AI cannot replicate
  3. Hone your strategic thinking and audience understanding
  4. Stay informed about AI capabilities and limitations
  5. Experiment with AI tools to understand where they add value

AI is not replacing copywriters and content marketers — it’s transforming their roles. By automating routine aspects of content creation, AI frees us to focus on strategy, creativity, and emotional connection. This shift represents an evolution of the profession rather than its replacement.

For anyone interested in using AI alongside their content and copywriting, take a look at our short courses in Introduction to Copywriting (next course starts April 12), Introduction to Branding (next course starts 17 May) and Content Writing (next course starts 13 June).

Or if you’re interested in our other writing short courses at City St Georges, visit our home page HERE.

For more on all our short courses, why not come along to our virtual open evening on Wednesday 2 April? Sign up here. As a bonus for attending, you’ll receive 10% off your short course if you book by midnight on Thursday 3 April.

 

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