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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261012
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UID:9325-1791763200-1806969599@thecommonroom.org.uk
SUMMARY:Faber Academy: Writing a Novel (6 Months\, Evening)
DESCRIPTION:This is Faber Academy’s flagship course\, which has seen alumni such as S.J. Watson\, Saara El-Arifi\, Rachel Joyce\, Gail Honeyman and Alice Feeney go on to conquer bestseller lists around the world. Designed by the Director of our Fiction Programme\, Richard Skinner\, it’s a six-month deep dive into the art of the novel\, with sessions on every aspect you’ll need to take you from the bare bones of a draft to a finished novel. You’ll also hear from guest speakers including published alumni\, acclaimed authors and industry professionals. \nIt’s also a chance to build a writing group that you can take with you into your future writing career. Over the course of the six months\, you and your classmates will give feedback on each other’s work\, honing your own editorial eye as well as helping them develop their stories\, and will be there to cheer each other on as you approach the finishing line of your first draft. \nThis fifth iteration of Writing a Novel in Newcastle will be taught by Richard T. Kelly. Born in Newcastle\, Richard has written much about the north-east\, in particular his debut novel\, Crusaders (Faber\, 2008)\, and has taught Writing a Novel in London since 2017. \nOf Crusaders\, New Statesman said: ‘An ambitious and convincing account of political chicanery\, ideological quandaries and gang violence in 1990s Newcastle… In Crusaders\, the north-east has found a new champion.’ \nIs this the right course for me?\nThis is an advanced course\, designed as a practical alternative to a Creative Writing MA. Accordingly\, it’s not suitable for writers who would consider themselves complete beginners. That doesn’t mean you need to have taken courses before\, but it does mean that you need to feel confident that you’re ready to start work on your novel. You will also need to have an idea for it – it might be one you’ve been working on for a while\, or it could be something a little more unformed that you’re hoping to pin down with the help of the course.
URL:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/event/faber-academy-writing-a-novel-6-months-evening/
LOCATION:The Common Room\, Westgate Road\, Newcastle upon Tyne\, NE1 1SE\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Wring-A-Novel-6-Months.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270130T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270130T160000
DTSTAMP:20260827T160327Z
CREATED:20260827T160327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T160327Z
UID:9322-1801303200-1801324800@thecommonroom.org.uk
SUMMARY:Faber Academy: Writing Day with Chris Power
DESCRIPTION:What makes a good short story? Many writers are drawn to the form\, but find it tricky: where do you start\, how many words should it be\, what should you leave in or take out\, what form should this take. And the biggest question of all\, is this a short story or is it a longer piece of fiction? \nIn this one-day course with acclaimed short-story author Chris Power\, you’ll learn about the art of the short story and its form – discussing work from writers such as Kevin Barry\, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah\, Carmen Maria Machado and George Saunders – before beginning to flesh out one of your own. \nIn the company of up to nineteen other writers\, this short story masterclass is a supportive and lively environment to get under the skin of one of the most exciting and ambitious forms of storytelling. \nThis workshop is for writers of all backgrounds and skill levels\, who are looking to explore and experiment with the form of the short story. You might be a novelist who wants to expand their writing toolbox – writing short stories is an excellent way to sharpen your editing skills! – or a poet\, non-fiction writer or memoirist taking their first steps into fiction. \nSchedule\nThis course takes place over a full Saturday\, at The Common Room in Newcastle city centre. \n10.00–11.30\nStarting at the\nbeginning\nIn our first session we’ll look at some openings of short stories to better understand the immediacy with which they plunge us into a world. We’ll discuss the way in which the short story form means there’s no time to waste. Then we’ll try creating some stories of our own. \n11.30–13.00\nWhat is\nyour story?\nWe’ve touched on the how\, but what about the what? We’ll look at a selection of short stories\, that take subjects ranging from the mundane to the outlandish\, and how they turn each of them into something extraordinary. Then we’ll discuss what aspects of our own lives – or purely imaginary events – we might want to transform into fiction\, and why the short story might be the appropriate choice. \n13:00–16.00\nStructure and\nediting\nIn the afternoon\, we’ll turn our attention to structure and editing. \nWhen you break down most successful short stories\, they turn out to be very carefully structured. We’ll look at the classic dramatic form of three-act structure and create a (short) short story based on its principles. \nNo piece of writing comes out right first time. We’ll look at some principles of editing that will help you in all your future projects. And at the end of the day we’ll have some time for any questions you might want to ask about Chris other aspects of the writing process.
URL:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/event/faber-academy-writing-day-with-chris-power/
LOCATION:The Common Room\, Westgate Road\, Newcastle upon Tyne\, NE1 1SE\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Wring-Day-Chris-Power-.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270205T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270205T220000
DTSTAMP:20260805T094124Z
CREATED:20260805T093859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T094124Z
UID:9288-1801857600-1801864800@thecommonroom.org.uk
SUMMARY:Will Mars: Life's A Joke
DESCRIPTION:After years spent knocking on closed industry doors\, Will shared his story online — and audiences decided to kick them open instead. \nMillions watched. Hundreds of thousands followed. One question kept appearing: \n“Why isn’t this guy famous?” \nSo Will is finally doing what nobody expected: his debut tour. \nExpect a relentless barrage of razor-sharp one-liners\, hilarious true stories\, and a comedy show about never quite fitting in — a working-class lad who became middle class\, a northerner in the south\, and a comedian who built his own route when the usual doors stayed shut. \nThe industry didn’t create this tour. The audience did. \n— \n18 years + only
URL:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/event/will-mars-lifes-a-joke/
LOCATION:The Common Room\, Westgate Road\, Newcastle upon Tyne\, NE1 1SE\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thecommonroom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Will-Mars-Event-Image.png
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