A Novel Approach with David Butler

Course Summary

In this ten-week course, facilitator David Butler will help you to workshop your novel-in-progress by examining areas such as point-of-view, structure, effective openings, dialogue, humour, irony, etc., in order to help you create a page-turning work of fiction. By the end of the ten weeks your novel will be, as Alfred Hitchcock phrased it, ‘life with the dull bits cut out’.

Course Outline

For the first few weeks, participants will be looking in detail at great examples from literature, focusing on such key areas as structure, openings, character, dialogue, point of view etc. During this part of the course, homework exercises will be set to develop and hone each of these skill-sets.

More importantly, as the course progresses, participants will be asked to submit a minimum of two more substantial extracts from their own works in progress. These will be examined in detail by the entire group, with constructive feedback being offered.

Course Outcomes

One of the most important capabilities for any writer is the ability to assess, criticise, and improve his or her own work in progress. This is at the heart of this ten week course.

In addition, participants will gain an insight into what makes for a solid structure, an effective opening, dramatic dialogue, memorable characterisation, and so forth.

David Butler’s novels include The Judas Kiss and City of Dis, both from New Island, and the story collections No Greater Love, (Ward Wood), and Fugitive, which was published in 2021 by Arlen House. City of Dis was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, 2015. His two most recent novels, Prague 1938 (Dedalus, 2021) and Jabberwock (Dedalus, 2023), are published under pen-name Dara Kavanagh.

Review of City of Dis on Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-butler/city-of-dis/

Review of The Judas Kiss on Publishers’ Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-84840-168-6