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Crafting Your Prose: A Masterclass on Literary Style

  • The London Bridge Hive 1 Melior Place SE1 3SZ London (map)

***SOLD OUT***

This masterclass, led by a veteran editor, will look at ways to adapt your voice in writing for different purposes and different styles. In the morning we’ll cover a writer-friendly overview of grammar and syntax, and in the afternoon we’ll discuss specific close readings from a variety of genres, including contributions from your own reading and writing. Throughout the day there will be writing experiments and editing exercises to put some of these ideas into practice. We’ll end the day with an informal Q&A with Sarah Shrubb, Head of Hachette Audio.


Program for the day

  • 10.00–10.45: Words: Understanding parts of speech

  • 10.45-11.30: Sentences: How syntax and sentence variety add mood and shift pace

  • 11.30–11.45: Break

  • 11.45–12.45: Space: How punctuation, paragraphs, breaks, and empty space can transform our words. We’ll also consider the idea of ‘rules’ in writing, and look at recommendations for useful guides on usage and style

  • 12.45–14:00: Lunch (we can give recommendations for places nearby at London Bridge and Borough Market)

  • 14.00–15.15: Style: Technique meets Taste as we examine examples from writers who’ve made their styles distinctive: minimalist, plain, classic, maximalist, baroque (and more).

  • 15.15–15.30: Break

  • 15.30–16.45: Industry speaker: Q&A - Sarah Shrubb, Head of Hachette Audio.

  • 16.45–17.00: Final wrap-up


Recommended reading:

Constance Hale, Sin and Syntax


Workshop Leader

Andrew Wille is an editor, book doctor, and writer. As senior editor at Little, Brown & Company in London and as a freelance editor, he has worked with many bestselling and award-winning authors. He studied and taught writing and publishing at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University, birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, and is particularly interested in contemplative and intuitive approaches to writing. More info and his blog at www.wille.org

Industry Guest

Sarah Shrubb: Head of Hachette Audio





£95.00