What you will learn
What is involved
What you need to know
What you can do next

So You Want to Write a Novel?

Course Overview

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a novel or are you currently writing one? Then this workshop is for you. Award-winning fiction author, Paula Roe, will not only cover the creative stuff (genre, plot, characters, conflict) but also the big-picture things (indie or traditional publishing, the business of writing, social media, marketing and agents) plus how to stay motivated in the face of rejection.

Learn about today’s publishing opportunities, plan your writing career and get honest answers and information from a multi-published author who’s been there, done that.

If you’re serious about kick starting your writing career, then make sure you come along to this workshop.

Paula Roe is a regular Borders Books bestseller and one of only five Australian authors who write for Harlequin Desire, a line published by Harlequin Enterprises, the biggest romance publisher in the world. Harlequin books go out to over 28 countries and are translated into 28 languages in 114 international markets on six continents. Before publication, Paula’s writing won and placed in various contests, including Wisconsin Romance Writers Fabulous Five Silver Quill, Magnolia State Dixie First Chapter, Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald Award and the Valerie Parv Award.

Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney. We have campuses in Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!

Learn more about this course

What you will learn

Course outline

In this course students will learn:

  • How to define their genre and identify tropes
  • Various writing techniques to successfully develop and plot their novel
  • The differences between indie and traditional publishing, the basic structure of a publishing house, the pros/cons of small publishers
  • The myths and realities of what agents and editors do
  • The pitfalls and highlights of social media
  • The value of websites, mailing lists, business/marketing plans

Course outcome

By the end of the course students will be able to:

  • Define their targeted genre and identify the popular tropes
  • Gain practical tools to further improve their creative writing
  • Gain an insight into the publishing industry
  • Create an action plan for their writing goals

What you need to know

Entry requirements

The ability to read and write in English at an intermediate level or higher.

What you need to provide

  • Pen and pad or laptop

Coming soon

There are currently no classes scheduled for this course.

Please check back later as classes are added regularly or get in touch for more information.

Contact us

Delivery Mode

To meet the needs of our students Macquarie Community College balances delivery and engagement across permanent, regular and temporary delivery sites and offer face-to-face, remote zoom classes and self-paced learning options.

Ways to Study

  • On campus

Our college campus locations are:

    • Blacktown
    • Chatswood
    • Carlingford
    • Epping
    • Ryde
    • Mt Druitt
  • Virtual classroom
  • Complete workplace training
  • Combine ways to study

FAQ

How you got questions? Please see our comprehensive FAQ page for everything you need to know about Macquarie Community College, our policies, student support, application and enrolment procedures.

How to Enrol

Step 1 - Choose Your Course

  • Select the non-accredited short course you are interested in.
  • Find a day and time that suits your schedule.

Note: Enrolment is open to anyone 18 years or older.

Step 2 - Enrol and Verify

  • Click ‘Enrol Now’ after selecting your course and schedule.
  • Enter your details on the enrolment page.
  • Verify your email through a secure link sent to your email address.
  • Complete the secure checkout and payment process.

Ensure you read the Terms and Conditions available at: Macquarie Community College Terms and Conditions. For assistance, call customer service at 1300 845 888.

Step 3 - Receive Your Enrolment Details

  • You will receive an immediate enrolment confirmation email upon successful enrolment. Check and read the attached Terms and Conditions.
  • The payer of the enrolment will receive a tax invoice immediately after processing.
  • You will receive a course reminder email a day before your class begins.
  • For Online Zoom classes, a Zoom link and password will be emailed the day before class. Use the same link and password for subsequent sessions if applicable.