Writing Fiction Essentials: Character, Description and Dialogue
8 May 2027
10am Sat - 5pm Sun
Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
8 May 2027 - 9 May 2027
Study Format:
In-person day/weekend
Fees:
£260.00
Designed to deepen your understanding of the key components of creative writing, this weekend will boost your confidence in your ability to create the stories you want to tell and know how to tell them.
We will look in detail at the four pillars on which all great stories rely: character, dialogue, description and narrative structure. There will be ample opportunities throughout the weekend for you to experiment with a range of specific writing tools and techniques.
You will be encouraged to think in new and dynamic ways about these fiction essentials and the craft of storytelling they serve. Expect to leave with a spring in your creative step and equipped with an array of practical tips and ideas to inspire and hone your own writing.
Please note:
- This event will close to enrolments at 23:59 on 5 May 2027.
- Due to the nature of the contents of this day, it is not suitable for people under 18 years old
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Accommodation
Accommodation for Saturday night can be booked directly online, subject to availability, when you register your place via the ‘Book now’ button. This includes a buffet breakfast on the Sunday morning.
Our accommodation in Wellington Square has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation from Visit England. All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished with tea/coffee making facilities, Freeview television, private bath/shower rooms and free WiFi. For more details see our accommodation information.
If you wish to extend your stay with us, either before and/or after the event, please contact our Residential Centre for availability and discounted rates.
Call +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
Recommended reading
Mullan, J., How Novels Works (Oxford University Press, 2006)
Vogler, C., The Writer’s Journey 4th Edition (Michael Wiese Productions, 2020)
Wood, J., How Fiction Works (Vintage, 2009)
Programme details
Saturday 8 May
9.45am
Registration at Rewley House Reception
10am
Character in Place: How to start your story
11.15am
Tea/coffee break
11.45am
Character and Journey: How to develop narrative drive
1pm
Lunch break
2pm
Character, Plot and Conflict: How to create dramatic tension
3.15pm
Tea/coffee break
3.45pm
Friends and Foes and Others: How to develop secondary characters
5pm
End of day
7pm
Dinner (optional)
Sunday 9 May
8am
Breakfast (for those staying at Rewley House)
10am
The World of Your Story: How to develop scene-setting, description and metaphor
11.15am
Tea and coffee break
11.45am
Conversation, Conflict and What Goes Unsaid: How to develop character-led dialogue
1pm
Lunch break
2pm
Tell Your Story: How to develop your own narrative voice and style
3.15pm
Tea and coffee break
3.45pm
Shape Your Story: How to develop narrative point of view and how to edit
5pm
End of weekend
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Event fee (includes tea/coffee) | £260.00 |
| Saturday baguette lunch | £7.90 |
| Saturday dinner | £33.10 |
| Saturday hot lunch (two-course) | £22.40 |
| Single B&B (Saturday night) | £128.00 |
| Sunday baguette lunch | £7.90 |
| Sunday hot lunch (two-course) | £22.40 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Elizabeth Garner – Tutor
Elizabeth Garner is a novelist and editor with 25 years of experience of story-development in both film and publishing. She was written two novels: Nightdancing, which received the Betty Trask Award; and The Ingenious Edgar Jones, which was published to critical acclaim in the UK and USA. She has also published a collection of illustrated folk tales: Lost & Found. She is a freelance fiction editor and also teaches creative writing for Oxford Lifelong Learning.
Module code: O26P110LTR
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.
