Ben Pienaar was born in South Africa and emigrated to Australia in 1999, where he pursued his dream of writing horror fiction.
Since then he has published a number of short stories in various anthologies including Dark Moon Digest (PPM Publishing), Best Hardcore Horror (Red Room Press) and others. In addition, his debut novel ‘Holly and the Nobodies’ won the Aurealis Award for ‘Best Horror Novel 2021’.
He lives with his wife and daughter in Melbourne and spends his spare time surfing, playing chess and training martial arts.
Start Date: 9th January 2024
Duration: 6 Weeks
Price: $299
Places Remaining: 2
Start Your Novel: Join Our 6-Week Online Writing Course
Kickstart your journey into the world of novel writing with our 6-week online writing course. Designed to inspire and guide aspiring authors like you, our course offers personalized guidance, weekly assignments, and flexible learning modules. Whether you’re starting out or seeking fresh inspiration, this course is for you. Hurry, register early to secure your spot, as our courses are in high demand!
Course Highlights:
- 6-week duration with weekly modules, requiring just 2-3 hours of commitment per week.
- No set class times; access new text lessons whenever it suits you during the week for maximum flexibility.
- Receive personalized feedback from dedicated tutors based in Australia, open to students globally.
- Lifetime access to course materials after completion.
How It Works:
Upon course registration, you’ll receive an email from your tutor on the course start date containing the first module. Make sure to check your Spam/Junk folder for this email. Each week, you’ll submit your written assignments for personalized feedback from your dedicated online tutor, ensuring you stay on track and can monitor your progress.
What You’ll Learn:
Our ‘Begin Your Novel’ course equips you with the tools and guidance to develop and refine your novel idea, characters, themes, and plot. Through weekly writing assignments, notes, and reading resources, we’ll guide you through a six-week journey that will transform your writing and your characters. Here’s an overview of what to expect each week:
Lesson 1: Getting Started
The first lesson begins by introducing you to key concepts in a novel. You will learn how to develop ideas through engaging exercises and how to begin your novel.
Lesson 2: Crafting Characters and Knowing Your Characters
The second lesson is all about characters. You will learn critical elements of characterisation, such as how to create character motivation and how to develop your characters.
Lesson 3: Constructing Your Plot
The third lesson focuses on the plot. You will learn how to plot your novel and how to write subplots to keep your readers engaged.
Lesson 4: Voice/Narrative Structure/Dialogue/Narrative Perspective and Point of View
The fourth lesson teaches you how to write convincing dialogue and which narrative voice works best for your novel. You will focus on different points of view in novels and try writing your own dialogue.
Lesson 5: Build Your Scaffold
The fifth lesson is where you get your novel down on paper. You will learn how to write key plot moments and how to end your novel.
Lesson 6: Drive Your Story Forward
The final lesson puts everything together by filling in the details of your novel. You will learn about the next steps in how to edit your novel and how to get your novel published.
Embark on Your Novel Writing Journey Today
Seize this opportunity to hone your craft and bring your novel to life under the guidance of experienced tutors. With limited spots available, early registration is highly recommended. Enroll now and commence your adventure into the world of novel writing!