“People sometimes say, "I want to write. Where do I start?" I say, start here... a practical, intelligent introduction to the craft.”

Clare Sambrook attended our first writing course in April 1999. Her first novel, Hide and Seek, was published by Canongate in May 2005. It became a Daily Mail book club choice and has been translated into twelve languages.

“I came to the class with a few ideas; four years later I had a major literary award. If you want to learn the ins and outs of fiction writing this is the course for you. ”

Dreda Say Mitchell secured the last place on our writing course in September 2001. Her debut novel Running Hot received rave reviews and in November 2005 won the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel. Dreda has gone on to write three novels: Killer Tune, Geezer Girls, and Gangster Girl, all published by Hodder.

“I came on this course after years of discouragement and the tutors' sensitivity and expertise turned me right around. These courses are simply the best.”

Rosemary Furber, has been attending one of our advanced courses on and off for several years. Her novel, The Most Intimate Place, was published by Maia/Arcadia in 2009.

“Maggie Hamand has a great gift for plot analysis... I found her analytical skills invaluable”

Alison Booth attended our residential course in France in June 2007 and October 2008 where she worked on her novel set in Australia. The book and two sequels have been sold to Random House Australia and the first novel, Stillwater Creek, was published in January 2010. The second in the trilogy, The Indigo Sky, was published in January 2011.

“The course at the Groucho Club was fantastic: the teaching was excellent and I learned the fundamental skills of story-telling, pace, character development and plot, which I've been developing ever since. I would highly recommend it.”

Naomi Wood attended our original course in April 2006, and went on to take an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, The Godless Boys, is published by Picador on 1st April 2011.

“I would not have written my novel without this course. You get discipline, you get delight! You get enthusiasm and encouragement. Whether you want to start, simply keep going, or need the feedback and the faith to finish, the course is inspirational”

Gerda Pearce joined our advanced course three years ago and has been attending ever since while working on her first and second novels. Her first novel, Long Lies the Shadow, is published by Maia/Arcadia in May 2011.