Write A Tiny Novel
For people with a novel to write.
A free five day course to take you from idea to first outline.
It’s time to get your story written.
And we’re gonna show you how!
Join us for a whistlestop five-day writing challenge in which we show you how to outline the major points of your novel, how to motivate yourself to show up every single day, and how to get those ideas out of your head and onto paper.
Sure, it’s not a complete novel, but in just five days we’re going to do amazing things with the way you see your story and your writing process.
You’ll walk away with something story-shaped; a tangible tale you can hold in your hand that looks remarkably like a very tiny novel.
The Sacred Writers' HQ Promise
We’ll get your butt in a chair and words out of your fingers
Fall in love with your writing.
Get your story written.
Grow a meaningful, joyful and sustainable creative writing practice.
(Also drink a lot of tea and eat a lot of biscuits).
What you'll learn
The basics of structuring your story
How to start growing your idea into something bigger
What your story looks and feels like
Who you are
You have so many stories in your head and sometimes you write them down and sometimes you don’t. Often you overthink it, or all the threads get tangled and you wish you could make some glorious, Technicolour order out of it all.
Or you have a vibrant, urgent story idea and have no idea where to start – you just need a little pointer in the right direction.
Most of all you are ready to stop fucking about and start writing.
Write A Tiny Novel
A life-changing whirlwind tour of how stories work and how all the bits of your story fit together, carefully designed to kickstart your novel and set you towards writerly bliss <marketing jazz hands>
- Get your novel idea out of your head, onto paper, and into a story-shaped order
- Work out the basic outline of your story from beginning to end via the middle
- Learn how to motivate yourself to write regularly and find out how to grow your story even further
What's included
- Five text-base course units
- Easy to follow exercises
- Support forums and access to the best writing community this side of the internet
- Love and validation and more writing-based pep than you can shake a stick at
- Snacks*
*bring your own snacks
Sneakypeaky
LESSON 1: Time vs words
Before we even begin the most important thing you can ever learn about writing is that the when is just as important as the how. Because if you want to write a novel, you actually have to write a novel.
LESSON 2: Eating an elephant
This isn't an instruction manual for how novels have to be - we're not asking you to write a cookie cutter, join the dots story. We’re showing you a guide, not a straitjacket, starting with the very first bite of your story. So where do we start? Let's find out...
LESSON 3: Beginnings and endings
Find out where your story begins and where it ends, plus discover our secret magic story planning sauce that immediately gives your idea form.
LESSON 4: Middle bits
How do you get from A to Z via the rest of the alphabet? You won't know yet. That's what the writing process is for. But you can start giving yourself some landmarks to aim for. This is how.
LESSON 5: Bring it all together
How do you bring all these lessons together to make something story-shaped? What do you do next? How is it possible that we've created something so cohesive in such a short space of time? That's the WHQ magic ✨
The Writers' HQ Support Forums
Exclusive access to the WHQ forums get support and advice from your peers and Team WHQ. Including guidance on how to give and receive creative feedback.
Ready to stop fucking about and start writing?
Meet your instructor
Sarah Lewis
Sarah has spent the last 15 years supporting writers to get the stories out of their heads and into the world in a way that is joyful, sustainable and meaningful. She does not think you need to write every day to have a solid writing practice.
Nice things people said
WHQ is quite simply writer heaven. An inexhaustible source of knowledge, good advice and stimulation, this community is the perfect place to share passions and feed off of the positive energy of a truly wonderful bunch of human writerbeings.
Terry H
I really loved this course and it’s made me get off my arse and write something, whilst of course sitting on my arse with a cup of tea writing.
Sally
Thank you for the most inspiring, expansive and forgiving incentive to write that I’ve seen in a long time!
Regina
This course got me writing again after a break of nearly 20 years. Writers’ HQ is amazing! A motivating, practical, friendly course with exercises to do and a nice positive forum to discuss how it’s all going.
Catherine L
Ready? It's time to stop fucking about and start writing
Drink tea, eat biscuits, write stories, be happy
- Instant access to Write A Tiny Novel
- The guidance you need to get it written
- Easy to use strategy and tools
- A huge, supportive community of new writer friends
Farquar
How much time will I have to do the course?
An entire lifetime! Although we recommend you blat through it in a week or two for maximum impact. Once you’ve signed up to Write A Tiny Novel, you’ll have lifetime access to the course and select parts of the forum.
Can you really learn creative writing?
Yes, much like you can learn to paint or play music or learn any other art or craft. But this course isn’t about learning creative writing per se. This is about learning to sit your butt down and do the writing in the first place. We can hone your craft later.
Will I get a publishing deal?
Not as part of this course, and not through Writers’ HQ.
Be very wary of anyone who promises you publishing riches beyond your wildest dreams.
Will you read my fiction?
Alas! We love your stories but Team WHQ is a very smol team made of very smol people so we cannot personally read your stories. However! The forums are full of writers and readers sharing work and feedback and support, so that’s your go to place.
I don’t like swearing or jokes forged in the depths of the Internet
Awesome! You do you. We’ll do us. We’re probably not for you and we wish you the very best with your writerly endeavours.
I’m a little bit (maybe a lottle bit) scared. Help?!
Writing can be scary. Fulfilling your dreams can be scary. Prioritising yourself can be scary. You know what else is scary? Living in the shadow of what you could have done. Buckle up, writer. We’ve got your back. We’ll do this together.