Novel Writing: Developing Characters, Settings and Plot

Level(s) of Study: Short course
Course Fee:
£280
Start Date(s): 4 November 2026, 27 January 2027, 14 April 2027
Duration: Wednesdays 10 am - 12.30 pm, six weeks or Wednesday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, three days
Study Mode(s): Part-time
Campus: City Campus
Entry Requirements: More information

Introduction:

Whether you’ve got a great idea but aren’t sure how to begin or have an unfinished manuscript gathering dust under your bed, this practical and playful course will offer exercises and advice to get your novel underway.

The course will suit both the beginner and those with more experience who are interested in honing a novel or who are seeking fresh inspiration.

Through a series of practical, playful exercises and published examples, you will gain a crucial understanding of essential writing elements, such as character, setting, and plot, and start writing or revising your novel with excitement and confidence.

You’ll be part of a creative writing community; one that promotes discussion, collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas.
Benefit from learning with an active, expert writer-tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in a wide range of genres.
Get published with our student anthology; every term we ask for submissions and print a short anthology of your original creative writing, which you can keep after the course.
Study Creative Writing in a UNESCO City of Literature. Nottingham is a place of discovery, exchange, ideas and learning for everyone who loves words and stories. Our vision as a UNESCO City of Literature is for a city where everyone is reading and writing their way to a better life.

‘Our tutor was exceptional. Well prepared with excellent ideas, activities and tips. I found her very inspirational and was sorry when the course ended.'

‘I picked up tips and ideas for finishing a novel' MB

‘This course has re-stimulated my efforts to finish my second novel and write my third. I wanted to improve my writing skills and better understand technique and structure and have come away with definitive methods and ways to improve my writing (I particularly enjoyed looking at dialogue and scene setting), thank you Megan!’ AP

‘Everything I wanted from this course was covered. I experienced writer's block and needed to renew my joy of writing and my self-belief in my writing capabilities. I got lots of feedback and have come away with the belief that I will write and complete my first novel. I enjoyed the creative writing exercises, which challenged and pushed me.' PK

‘I have really enjoyed this course. The atmosphere has been welcoming and free, giving me confidence to share my work. I have taken away lots of good advice as well as valuable methods to help in the process of writing my novel. LW

‘I have a much better idea as to how to approach my novel, I feel that my confidence has improved, and I now have the ability to start my novel. Megan is an excellent tutor, she achieved just the right balance between writing exercises and teaching. Every task she set was incredibly helpful’ CS

What you’ll study

You’ll embark on a journey of novel writing, designed to inspire and guide new and experienced writers in developing the skills and confidence to bring your stories to life. With supportive guidance, you’ll delve into the fundamentals of storytelling and craft, discovering the tools you need to shape your own narrative.

During this course, you will:

explore essential aspects of novel writing, including character development, crafting vivid scenes, structure, pacing, and plot
put these skills into practise through a series of creative writing exercises
better understand your unique writing ‘voice’ and the story you want to tell
develop a clearer understanding of your own unique writing ‘voice’ and the story that you want to tell
reflect on your personal motivations and intentions as a writer to help define your project’s direction
engage in constructive feedback sessions to gain insight into how your writing resonates with others
learn about the habits, techniques, and routines that can support a sustainable writing practice.

Through this course, you’ll gain practical experience, inspiration, and a stronger sense of direction to continue developing your novel with renewed focus and clarity.

You’ll gain invaluable tools to develop your unique writing style, along with techniques to bring clarity, focus, and excitement to your novel.

With each session, you’ll deepen your understanding of the craft, from creating compelling characters and atmospheric settings to building plot momentum and writing dynamic scenes.

Through guided exercises, feedback, and supportive discussions, you’ll build confidence in your storytelling and refine your narrative skills.

By the end of the course, you’ll leave with a toolkit of strategies to continue writing, a deeper connection to your own creative voice, and a solid foundation to carry your novel forward toward completion. You’ll know where you will want to head next with your writing and have the skills and confidence to carry on.

You will also have a network of fellow writers and potential collaborators with whom you can progress your work further.

Character and Point of View

Delve into the heart of your characters, understanding them as complex individuals with unique desires, fears, and motivations. By developing multi-dimensional characters, you’ll bring a sense of authenticity and depth to your novel. You’ll also experiment with various points of view and tenses, exploring how different perspectives can shift a reader’s experience and bring new layers to your storytelling.

Setting, Structure, and Plot

Setting the scene is crucial to immersing readers. You’ll learn how to create vivid, compelling worlds that feel real. By tapping into the senses and carefully considering atmosphere, you’ll strengthen the reader’s connection to your story’s environment. You’ll also dive into structure and plot, learning how to organise your narrative in ways that build suspense, engagement, and drive the story forward.

Suspense, Action and Interaction, Dialogue, and the Components of a Scene

Sustaining momentum in a novel is key, and you’ll focus on building powerful scenes and keeping your reader invested. You’ll work on creating sharp, believable dialogue and learn how to structure scenes for maximum impact. From building suspense to exploring pacing, these exercises will prepare you to tackle your novel’s arc confidently. You’ll also discuss practical considerations for taking your writing forward.

How you’re taught

You will receive guidance and feedback in a supportive seminar environment, engaging in classroom discussions, critiques, and practical writing exercises.

This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.

98% of previous course attendees were satisfied with the course, received the attention they needed and would consider doing another short course at NTU.

Contact hours

You will receive 18 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.

Tutor profiles:

Lucy Grace writes poetry, flash, short and long fiction.

She is based in North Nottinghamshire and writes about nature, deep-time, geology and climate-change, reflecting how these affect human lives and relationships.

Her first degree is in Geography, and subsequent Masters Degrees are in MA Education (University of Leicester) and MA Creative Writing (Nottingham Trent University).

She is in the final year of a full-time creative-critical AHRC-funded PhD at NTU, titled, ‘Stories in Stones: Mines, Memory and the Geological Imagination in the Anthropocene.’

Around twenty of her pieces are featured in anthologies and she has won or been shortlisted for many awards (Winner – Writers and Artists Yearbook Short Story Award, and placed in others including Aesthetica, Mslexia, Bath, Bridport, Fish, Exeter, Alpine Fellowship, Bristol Prize, Berlin Prize, Scottish Short Story Award.)

Her draft novels have been longlisted in the Bath Novel Award (twice), the Mslexia Novel Award, the Lucy Cavendish Debut Novel Award (twice), the Exeter Novel Prize and won first place in the Blue Pencil Novel Pitch Prize.

Two of her climate stories have recently been optioned for screen. She is keen to develop the relative literary silence of the coalscape and encourage unheard voices.

Her latest short story was longlisted in the 2025 Aurora Writing Prize, an award judged by Irenosen Okojie.

Careers and employability

The course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the creative writing industry; students who have taken this course have gone on to build a portfolio of published work through submitting to literary magazines or self-publishing, progressed onto degree courses and embarked on careers in writing, publishing and teaching.

This course is your toolkit to ensure that you are well-prepared to pursue a successful career in the competitive field of creative writing.

On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.

Are you interested in progressing your writing?

Find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

BA Creative Writing

MA Creative Writing

PhD

Campus and facilities

You will be studying creative writing in a UNESCO City of Literature, and be based in the School of Social Sciences on the City Campus.

You will find modern teaching spaces and quiet study environments to develop your ideas and writing.

You’ll have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

Entry requirements

Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: No experience is required

You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £280.

Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, including great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you to the first session: