Do you have a brilliant idea for a novel but don't know where to start?
Join Chloe Timms, author of the speculative, acclaimed feminist novel, The Seawomen.
Chloe will reveal the key ingredients of a winning first chapter, how you can hook readers with a thrilling premise or unique voice. She'll offer her top tips for seeding in the world or setting of your story and creating the right tone. She'll also be sharing pitfalls and problems you might face - and how to avoid them! All this to help you write a novel opening that will capture readers and may lead you to future publishing success.
As an author who gained an agent based on the first chapter of her novel and a judge for the 2025 Women's Prize Trust's Discoveries, Chloe is the ideal person to get you started on your novel!
Discoveries is open for submissions until 13 January 2025. For more information, visit: www.womensprize.com/writers/discoveries.
This masterclass will take place online via Teams. It will also be recorded so if you are unable to attend live, you'll be able to catch-up and access the recording for up to two weeks after the event has taken place. The session will end with a brief Q&A, so come ready with your questions!
Chloe Timms is a journalist, author and podcast host from the Kent coast. After a career in teaching, Chloe gained an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Kent and won a scholarship to the Faber Academy. Chloe is a mentor to emerging writers and specialises in supporting fellow disabled writers. In 2022 Chloe launched her podcast Confessions of a Debut Novelist. The Seawomen is her first novel, published by Hodder & Stoughton.
Discoveries is the Women’s Prize’s writer development programme designed to address the specific challenges that women face as writers.
Unlike most initiatives of this kind, Discoveries is completely free, and writers are not required to have finished their novel, to enter.
The submissions window closes on 13th January 2025.
The workshop fee of £20 (incl. VAT) is payable in full online. Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on events@writersandartists.co.uk so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
This is a live online event which will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date. Please note, all event timings are in UK time.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
- It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made three bursary places available for this event as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page to find out how to apply for a bursary to the event.
- Payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on events@writersandartists.co.uk so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
- At the speaker's discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after the masterclass.
- A link to a recording of the masterclass will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- If you'd like to receive a transcript of the session, please do let us know and we can circulate following the session.
- This event will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email AccessWA@bloomsbury.com
