the book doctor
and creativity coach
Writing Masterclasses
Philippa has a variety of writing courses available to suit all writers at all stages of their process. She runs two regular weekend Masterclasses at the Guardian in London: FREE YOUR CREATIVITY AND GET STARTED ON YOUR BOOK and HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR BOOK AND GET IT PUBLISHED. For writing courses abroad please visit WRITING HOLIDAYS.
Weekend Writing Masterclasses at the Guardian
FREE YOUR CREATIVITY AND GET STARTED ON YOUR BOOK
Sat 14 and Sun 15 July 2018
HOW DEVELOP YOUR BOOK AND GET IT PUBLISHED
Saturday August 19 2017
FREE YOUR CREATIVITY AND GET STARTED ON YOUR BOOK
Learn how to overcome writer's block, find your voice and enjoy the writing process
Whether you are an experienced writer or just setting out, marshalling your muse can be tough. If you are unsure how to get started or get into the writing flow, this is a nurturing environment in which to find your voice, capture your ideas or overcome writer's block. Book editor and writing coach Philippa Pride, who has worked with authors including Stephen King, can teach you a variety of techniques to help you tap into your creativity even when inspiration is running dry.
This weekend masterclass is designed for a variety of skill levels and offers a choice of exercises tailored to your individual ability and preferred outcome. With workshops on planning, structuring and pitching a book, it offers practical advice as well as a fantastic opportunity to get valuable professional and creative feedback in a supportive group.
This course is for you if...
- You're new to novel or short story writing and have a creative instinct, but don't know how to herd the cats of your imagination
- You want to learn techniques to establish a more disciplined or productive writing process
- You want to know more about the organisational aspects of writing a novel, including planning, plotting, structuring and scheduling
- You want to spend less time procrastinating and more time writing
Course description
- Exercises for creativity – enjoy the writing process
- Accessing your ideas
- Getting started, keeping going, taking stock
- Getting into a creative state for writing
- How to overcome obstacles and switch off your inner critic
- Painting and dancing with words
- Visualisations – the magic of imagery and metaphor
- Finding your unique voice
- Becoming the hero of your writer's journey
- Tips for writing – build and develop a toolbox
- What makes good story – how to shape your book
- Creating narrative drive and keep those pages turning
- Setting goals and a writing schedule to suit your life
- Structuring your book – the benefits of a chapter breakdown
- Moving from concept to final draft
- Plot, empathetic characters, dialogue, description
- Modelling on successful strategies
- If you are looking for a more advanced level class with Philippa you may be interested in her Develop your book and get it published course - see below.
Develop your book and get it published
WEEKEND WRITING MASTERCLASS AT THE GUARDIAN
Sat 5 and Sun 6 December 2015
Sat 6 and Sun 7 February 2016
No matter what is stopping you from finishing your book, this unique course will give you the tools to move forward
Starting a book, like setting out on any journey, is exciting. Halfway through, it can seem like a thankless slog, leaving you with no sense of where to go next. Accomplished editor and writing coach Philippa Pride can help you choose the right direction for progressing your book and inspire you to take it to a new level.
With enviable experience as a publisher and writing coach, Philippa looks at the creative process from artistic, commercial and neurological angles, and can give you the tools to do the same. From problems with structure and characters to motivational thinking and the world of publishing, you'll examine the science of engaging readers and publishers, as well as the art. It's a transformative course experience, which will change your approach to writing and give you access to reserves of motivation and discipline you didn't know you had.
This course is for you if...
- You want to kick-start your book at the mid-point, regain faith in your ability to complete it and get back a sense of purpose
- You're having trouble resolving certain plot or character issues
- You're failing to make progress with a book because you can't stop editing existing chapters and want to regain momentum
- You want to raise your writing game and discover how to get your book ready to be seen by publishers
Course description
This course is designed for anyone with a book in progress who needs help with technical or motivational issues. It mixes traditional coaching and editing with neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to enable writers to see the potential in their work and understand how to enjoy writing it, complete it and present it to agents and publishers with confidence.
Topics covered during the course include:
- How to keep writing – and enjoy it – chapter after chapter
- Enhancing the quality of your book – small changes for major effect
- Learn how to engage the reader through NLP
- Take stock – when to 'push on through' and when to look back
- How to stop rewriting that first chapter and crack on
- Secret tips from an editor
- How to make your characters come alive
- What editors are looking for – the science, the art and the passion
- Revision – learn how to switch from the intuitive first draft to the analytical rewrite
- What makes a bestseller – the power of modelling
- Understanding the publishing process and basic legal matters
- How to attract an agent, publisher and readership
- If you are looking for a beginner level class with Philippa click here for further details.
Mini-Workshops
The next chapter workshops
– exclusive to participants who have been on a previous course or done a series of one-to-one coaching sessions with Philippa. Please contact me for availablitity
‘It's rare and precious for an aspiring author to have access to someone like Philippa. She'll give you the encouragement you need to get started, the editorial expertise you need to make your book better, and practical tips from her years of experience to help you get your book published. Having someone with so much knowledge and experience working with some of the world's most successful authors giving feedback on your own project is priceless. I feel so lucky to have found her'
- Liz
Coaching and Consultancy
One-to-one creativity coaching, publishing consultancy and editorial feedback.
A certified NLP Master Practitioner and Coach, Philippa offers coaching, mentoring, NLP and consultancy to writers and other creatives.
Philippa‘ tailor-made packages can which include motivational coaching exercises, tips on how to start your book or keep writing, editorial feedback on chapters between sessions (subject to agreement and a reading fee) and advice on how to approach a literary agent or book publisher.
‘A wonderful writing coach and mentor. Like a creative midwife, Philippa has helped to nurture and coax my novel into life, encouraging me onwards when I’ve hit a block and offering practical guidance and feedback to help me shape and sharpen my narrative. She is endlessly patient and supportive yet manages to deliver constructive and incisive challenge just at the moment you most need it. For anyone looking to develop their writing or get a novel off the ground I really can’t recommend her highly enough.’
- Susie
Quick Links
Free Your Creativity and Get Started On Your Book
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