This course is designed for writers who are eager to learn at their own pace but also thrive in a supportive, interactive environment. Here's how it works:

1. Course Structure
This course is divided into seven modules, each designed to explore key aspects of fiction writing. With a total of 30 lessons, we’ll cover everything from story structure and character development to mastering dialogue and perfecting prose. Scroll down for a full breakdown of the course modules and lessons.

2. Lesson Formats

Each lesson will be available in two formats: as a PDF or as an audio version, so you can learn in whatever way is most convenient for you. Please note, we do use AI for our audio. You can listen to an excerpt from each lesson by scrolling down to the course breakdown. If you think you’ll learn best by listening to the lessons, please make sure you're comfortable with the AI voice before signing up.

3. Lesson Releases

To ensure that you have time to absorb and apply each lesson without feeling overwhelmed, the course is structured with staggered releases. The seven modules will be released over time, one at a time, allowing you to focus on each module’s content before moving on to the next. This way, you can fully engage with the material and take the time to practice and refine your writing without rushing ahead. Each new module will be released on its designated date, and you'll have access to it once the workshop for the previous module ends. This pacing is designed to keep you motivated and on track while providing ample time for you to apply what you’ve learned.

4. Module Release Order

The modules in this course will be released in a very specific order. This is because of the workshop aspect. To see the release schedule, scroll down. If you're curious about why the modules will be released in this specific order, we’ve provided a more detailed explanation in the FAQ section, where you can find additional information about the structure and rationale behind the schedule.

5. Workshops and Group Support

A few weeks after the lessons are released, a workshop for that module will begin in the accompanying Facebook group. In these workshops, we'll dive deep into each week's lesson, with interactive discussions and Q&A sessions to answer your questions and provide feedback on your writing. These workshops will help you apply the lessons to your own work, offering valuable insights and support from both the instructor and your peers. Please scroll down to see the dates of the workshops.

6. Feedback and Growth

Each week, during the workshops, you’ll have the opportunity to share your story (or portions of it) for feedback. This is entirely optional, so if you prefer not to share your work, that’s absolutely fine. You’ll still benefit greatly by participating in discussions, engaging with others' stories, and reviewing the feedback shared with them. Now, while we will do our best to provide feedback on as many stories as possible, we can’t guarantee that every writer will receive direct feedback from us each week. Just like in a traditional classroom, it's not always feasible for a teacher to give one-on-one attention to every student. 

It’s important to note that while we will keep feedback positive, encouraging, and respectful, everyone who submits their story for review must approach the process with an open mind. This means being ready to hear feedback that goes beyond simple praise like "amazing story."

The goal of these workshops is twofold. First, we want everyone to feel encouraged. When it comes to the outcome of writing competitions, most entries are a lot closer to winning than their authors might think. And we want our students to come away feeling encouraged by this.

But, the second goal of the workshop is to help our students identify those small areas for improvement and understand how to address them, which means they need to come to the group with an open mind, ready to hear constructive criticism. This process is about growth, and we want every writer to leave feeling empowered but also ready to take their storytelling to the next level.

7. Self Study

After each workshop for a module ends, you’ll have several weeks to work privately on your story, incorporating everything you’ve learned so far. This time will allow you to develop your writing at your own pace while having a strong foundation of knowledge from the lessons and feedback from the workshop to guide your revisions. However, you really can put as much or as little work into this experience as you want. You’ll still benefit from being part of the workshop group even if you don’t actively work on a story during this experience.

8. Ongoing Support

After the course ends, the workshop group will continue as a thriving online writing community. It will provide a space for you to stay connected with your fellow students, offering ongoing opportunities for learning, feedback, and support. By the end of the course, the group will be filled with skilled, informed, and engaged writers, all of whom will have shared the same comprehensive learning experience. Whether you're seeking advice, sharing new work, or looking for additional peer feedback, this group should be an invaluable resource to help you keep growing as a writer long after the course concludes.

Here’s what happens when you sign up for this course:

• Confirmation Email: As soon as you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email from us. If you don’t see it in your inbox right away, please contact us at info@globesoup.net. It’s important we have the correct email address on file for you, so we know where to send the course materials.

• First Module Delivery: On 13th January, you’ll receive another email with a link to download the first module. This gives you 2 weeks to read the lessons and prepare before the workshop group begins on 27th January. But don’t worry if you don’t have time to read the lessons before the workshop, you can read them during the workshop or even after. And if you sign up for the course after 13th January, don’t worry—you’ll receive the link to the first module as soon as you complete your purchase.

• Workshop Group Invitation: On 24th January, you’ll get an email inviting you to join the workshop Facebook group, where you can connect with other participants and get ready for the first session. Again, if you sign up after the 24th January, you’ll receive your invitation to join the workshop group right away.

From here on out, we’ll send emails when new modules are released, and emails when the workshops are about to begin. Since all the workshops take place in the same Facebook group, you’ll also see reminders there. Don’t worry—you won’t miss out on any important updates or sessions.

We’ve designed the system to keep everything straightforward and ensure you stay informed every step of the way. And if you ever have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out via the dedicated course email address, and we’ll be happy to assist.

I don’t use Facebook. Is there another way I can join in the workshops?

We’re using Facebook for our workshop group because Facebook groups are a convenient and user-friendly platform that allows for easy interaction, sharing of resources, and real-time discussions. Additionally, we already have an active and thriving community on Facebook, which makes it the natural choice for hosting this group. Now, we do understand that many of our email subscribers don’t use Facebook or have an account, but signing up only takes a few minutes, and you can create a dummy account specifically for the duration of the workshop. This allows you to join the group and participate in discussions without committing to regular Facebook use.

With a dummy account, you can keep your activity focused solely on the workshop, ensuring your privacy and minimising any unnecessary interaction with the platform. Once the workshop is over, you can simply deactivate or delete the account if you no longer wish to use it. You don’t even have to use your real name or a profile picture.

If creating an account isn’t an option for you, you’ll still have full access to all the course lessons delivered directly to you, so you can work through the material independently. Plus, you’ll be able to email your instructor directly if you have any questions.

Why are the modules being released in a different order?

The course has been designed to be read or listened to in a specific order, starting with Module One and ending with Module Seven. However, because of the feedback aspect of the workshops, we’ll be releasing the modules in the order that works best for giving feedback and critiques. For this reason, we’ll begin with Module Seven, which is all about the finer details, paragraphs, sentences, word choice, editing, and formatting. We believe it’s best to start here because if a story has issues at the foundational level, such as unclear sentences or poor formatting, it can distract from the larger structural or thematic elements. Addressing these smaller, detail-oriented issues first will allow us to focus more effectively on the bigger picture as we progress through the other modules.

The next module we’ll be releasing is Module Two, which is all about POV and tense. Again, because of the feedback aspect to the course, we think it’s essential to address point of view (POV) and tense early on. These elements are fundamental to how a story is experienced by the reader, and getting them right can significantly enhance clarity and engagement. By tackling POV and tense immediately after refining sentence-level issues, participants can ensure that their narrative choices are consistent and intentional, laying a solid groundwork for deeper analysis later on. After we’ve done these two modules, we’ll then go back to Module One, which deals much more with big picture elements.

OK, but why not re-number the modules then?

Well, after we’ve finished all the workshops, you’ll have all the lessons from the course in the right order, and you can keep these lessons as a PDF or audio course, and work through them or return to them sequentially at your own pace. The original numbering reflects the logical progression of skills and concepts, starting from the broadest storytelling principles (Module One) and gradually narrowing down to the finer details (Module Seven). By maintaining this numbering, we ensure that the course remains a cohesive resource for future reference.

Re-numbering the modules for the workshop phase could create confusion later when you revisit the materials in their intended sequence. Instead, we’ve chosen to prioritise flexibility during the workshop phase while preserving the structure of the course for long-term use.

This approach allows us to address immediate learning needs in the most effective way while ensuring that you still have a well-organised resource to return to whenever you need a refresher or deeper understanding. Think of the workshop phase as a customised path tailored to your growth, with the course materials ultimately forming a complete and logically ordered guide.

I’m worried I won’t have a lot of time to put into the course. Should I still sign up?

The choice has to be yours, of course. However, this is a long-running course and workshop experience spread out across the year. This means that the course is designed to be flexible and accommodate varying schedules. And since you will have lifetime access to the workshop group and can download the lessons to read or listen to in your own time, and since we may not run this course again in this capacity, we would encourage all those who are really keen to join now, even if their schedule is tight. The flexibility of the course will ensure you can engage at your own pace, and the lifetime access means you can revisit the materials whenever it's convenient for you.

I’m not in the UK, will there be a problem with time zones?

No, this shouldn’t be a problem. The workshops group is a constantly running thing, so you can post questions or ask for feedback any time. We’ll have students from around the world in the group, and your instructor will get back to everyone’s questions promptly, but when they are able to. You really shouldn’t have a different experience by not being in the UK.

Is this course only for people interested in writing short stories for competitions?

This course began as a way to help participants who take part in writing competitions, but its scope has expanded to benefit all fiction writers. While the lessons are tailored to help you craft stories that stand out in competitions, most of the principles and strategies covered are applicable to any form of fiction writing. Whether your goal is to win contests, secure a literary agent, or self-publish a novel, the skills you’ll gain in this course will elevate your storytelling and affect your writing across the board.

What types of fiction will I learn to write in this course?

This course is not genre-specific and is designed to help writers across all genres. Whether you write literary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, or any other genre, the principles and techniques taught in this course are universally applicable. However, we should point out that most of the stories we link to in this course are literary fiction because these are the stories that typically do best in open writing competitions. However, the principles and techniques in the course itself are applicable to all genres.

How long is the course, and what is included?

The course consists of 7 modules, with 30 lessons in total. The length of each lesson varies, but on average, the audio versions are about an hour long, although some are longer and others are much shorter. The workshops vary in length from 2 weeks to 6 weeks, depending on the number of lessons and the complexity of the module. Each workshop is designed to provide ample time for discussion, feedback, and practical application of the lessons. This flexible structure ensures that you can dive deeply into each module’s material while progressing at a manageable pace.

What is the structure of the course?

Scroll down to see a breakdown of the modules.

Will there be live sessions or Zoom meetings?

No. The lessons come in PDF and audio, so you can read or listen to them when you have time. The workshop Facebook group is where most of the interaction takes place, and you can engage with it at your own pace. There are no live sessions or Zoom meetings, giving you the flexibility to participate when it suits you. You can join discussions, ask questions, and provide/receive feedback whenever you’re ready, making it a convenient, self-paced learning experience.

Do I need to complete the course in a specific time frame?

We recommend that students read the accompanying lessons before the workshop for that module begins, but if you don’t have time, you can join in with the workshop without having read the lessons. You don’t need to worry about falling behind.

Are there any deadlines or formal assignments?

No, although we will provide some recommendations of things to prepare or tasks to complete before/after each module. However, these are all only suggestions, and you certainly don’t need to hand anything in to us. You get to decide how much you want to put into this experience.

How do the workshops work?

Each module workshop runs for a certain number of weeks, during which time students will be able to discuss the lessons, ask questions, and put forward their writing for feedback, if they wish.

Do I have to participate in the workshop group?

No, there is no requirement to join the workshop groups. You can simply download the lessons and read them in your own time. However, since the workshop group requires no participation or commitment of time, we might recommend joining anyway. We’re sure you’ll pick up some valuable insights from the discussions and feedback shared by fellow writers. We really don’t mind if you simply lurk in the group!

Can I choose how much I engage with the course material and workshop group?

Yes, there is no requirement for participation. You can engage with the course material and the workshop group as much or as little as you like. The course is designed to be flexible, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Whether you prefer to simply read the lessons in your own time, listen to the audio, or actively participate in the workshop discussions, the choice is entirely yours. The goal is to ensure that you can tailor your experience to fit your schedule and comfort level.

What happens if I miss a workshop session?

While we do encourage people to join in the workshops if they can, it’s really not a problem if you happen to be busy during the specific time the workshop is running. You can easily scroll back and catch up on anything you missed, and we’re happy to return to previous topics if someone missed a workshop and wants to ask a question about something we’ve already covered.

How do I contact the instructor for support?

When you sign up, you’ll be sent the special email address you can use to contact the instructor.

What formats are the course materials available in?

PDF and MP3.

How will this course help me with writing contests and publication?

Yes, we believe it will. At least, this is what the course and workshop package has been designed for, and we’re confident everyone will get a lot out of the experience.

How can this course benefit me if I want to write a novel instead of short stories?

This might not be the best course for someone looking for help writing a novel specifically. However, the course has been designed to elevate your writing across the board, so the skills you’ll gain can easily be applied to longer works, including novels.

How much time should I expect to spend on the course each week?

The course consists of 30 lessons to read or listen to. The average length of a lesson is about one hour. However, there’s nothing to say you need to read or listen to one lesson per week. When it comes to working on your writing during the course, the amount of time you put in will depend entirely on you. As long as you have a story or part of a story you can get feedback on, there’s no requirement to actually work on that story during the course if you don’t want to.

Do I need any prior writing experience to join this course?

This course is probably best suited to those who have written a few stories before. However, there’s nothing to say you can’t read the lessons and participate in the workshops if you haven’t written any fiction. You’ll still learn loads that you can put into practice when you do start writing stories.

Can I still access the course after I complete it?

While we do recommend you download all the lessons as they get released, we firmly believe that signing up for the course means you should always have access to the materials. So, if something happens and you don’t get to download the lessons, just email us and we’ll send them to you.

Is there a money-back guarantee or refund policy?

We have a reasonable money-back policy. If you sign up, read the first few lessons, join the workshop group, and decide it’s not for you, we can refund you. If, however, you’ve been given access to multiple lessons and have participated in the groups, then we can’t refund the course, as you will have already accessed a significant portion of the content. Our policy is designed to ensure that you have enough time to explore the course material and determine if it's the right fit for you, while also protecting the value of the content provided. If you have any concerns about the course, please reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to assist before you make a final decision.