Aspects of Novel Writing with Catherine Prasifka

Course Summary:

Are you an aspiring novelist with an idea for a novel but no clue where to start? From structuring the story to discovering your style to honing your creative practice, this course will give you the tools you need to get started.

Participants will be expected to complete in-class exercises every week and there will be discussions based around the work produced in class. Readings will be given out in class and students are invited ask Catherine for specific individual feedback.

Course Outline:

Each session will cover a different aspect of novel writing. That aspect will shape the workshop exercises and discussion, though of course it’s all interlinked.

• Week One: Structuring a novel
• Week Two: Developing themes and maintaining interest
• Week Three: Dialogue and expository material
• Week Four: Narration style
• Week Five: Editing
• Week Six: Sustaining a creative practice and industry insights

Course Outcomes:

Participants will be given a series of tools they can use when writing their novels, which hopefully gets them to think about their work in a new way, and dispels any mystery around the novel writing process.

Catherine Prasifka is the bestselling author of two novels, None of This Is Serious and This Is How You Remember It. She holds a BA in English literature, an MLitt in fantasy literature, and an MA in Irish folklore and ethnology. She was appointed as Writer Fellow for Trinity College Dublin in 2024. She is currently the Writer-in-Residence for Maynooth University and Kildare Libraries. The Guardian has described her work on the lives of young people and social media as ‘essential’.

Booked out? To be added to the waiting list for this course, please email info@irishwriterscentre.ie.