Pen to Print: How to write (and finish!) your novel in 2025

Would you love to write a novel but can’t seem to find the right idea? Or maybe you have an idea for a book but don’t know how to get past the first thousand words. If you’re a frustrated writer who’s unsure of how to turn their dream into a reality, then this event is for you.

As a former national journalist-turned-author, I’ve spent nearly 30 years writing in lots of different forms, and I know how hard it can be to turn an idea into something tangible. During this event, I’ll show you how to master it, with tips including:

How to come up with ideas that will work.

What’s your genre? How to choose the right one for you.

How to juggle writing with a busy life. Believe me, it can be done.

Planning your novel – is it really necessary or can you just wing it?

Writing your pitch – how to create a compelling read.

Formatting requirements – what you need to know before you send your manuscript anywhere.

Finding an agent (and whether you actually need one).

How to get your book published, and which publisher is the right one for you.

What’s the ultimate goal? To see your book on the big screen or to achieve literary acclaim?

There’ll also be time for a Q&A, so come along armed with any questions you might have. Let’s make 2025 the year you finally wrote your book!

About the course tutor

Rachael Tinniswood spent years working as a magazine and newspaper journalist, writing for publications such as The Telegraph, The Sunday Mirror, Cosmopolitan, Prima and Woman, before securing a four-book deal with HarperCollins imprint One More Chapter where she writes as Jessie Wells. She now juggles writing with a career in finance and a busy family life, and is on an endless (and fruitless!) quest to find more hours in the day.