“The Complete Creative Writing Course provided me with the focus, community and inspiration I needed to begin a journey that culminated in my novel being published around the world, for which I’m eternally grateful.”
Alice Adams now runs The Complete Creative Writing Course, and began her writing career as a student on several of our courses. Her first novel Invincible Summer was published in 2016/17 in the UK & Commonwealth (Picador), US/Canada (Little, Brown), France (Albin Michel), Germany (DuMont Verlag), Italy (Mondadori), Denmark (Gads Forlag) and Brazil (Novo Concieto), and got great reviews around the world from the likes of The Times, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
“The Complete Creative Writing Course lifted my writing onto a new level. It was a thorough introduction to all aspects of crafting a piece of writing. The feedback was honest and constructive.
It was also balanced, unlike a certain other course I attended where it was considered a faux pas to offer any positive feedback. Writers need encouragement too, and that is what I got from the tutors. I felt a strong bond with the other participants and a sense that we were starting on an adventure together.
And now, after a million rejections, switching genres, from literary fiction, to short stories, to poetry, to despair; I’ve finally got a publishing deal. It’s for a non-fiction book, the last thing I ever thought I would write. Written in close collaboration with my partner, Jess; the last thing I expected to do. But it uses all the skills I learnt on The Complete Creative Writing Course, especially the telling of Jess’ personal story within the book. So I’m back in love with writing again, which is where it all started.”
– Rod Vincent & Jess Baker’s The Super-Helper Syndrome is published by Flint Press on 29th September 2022
‘I took my first CCW course at The Groucho Club back in 2012, when writing a novel was just a vague dream, and enjoyed it so much I signed up straight away for the Advanced Course.
Putting those first words onto a blank page is daunting and those courses somehow gave me the permission and the courage to do just that. It also got me thinking more realistically about what and how I wanted to write. I signed up again for a week’s course in the summer of 2018, when I had started the first draft of The Hidden Road and the next few months were very productive, with the words pouring out of me.’
– Andrew Tamworth
Set in 1981-2 and the current day, The Hidden Road is a character-driven coming-of-age drama, a tale of redemption and an odyssey that reflects on pivotal moments in our lives and how we become who we are. It was published by The Conrad Press in June 2022
“I learned so much from the CCWC tutors and also from the other students seated around the table. Most valuable of all was the opportunity to hear feedback in real time about my work from talented authors and peers. I also learned a lot by critiquing the writing of others. Plus, and this is important, I really enjoyed the sessions and the sense of community. After all, writing can be a lonely old business. The quality of my writing quickly improved when I started attending the CCWC and that, along with a big old dose of determination, is the reason that Odd Bird finally made it. ”
– Lee Farnsworth’s Odd Bird takes a light-hearted look at the battle of the sexes, drawing on the surprising parallels between the courtship behaviours of humans and birds, and is published by Farrago on 1st October 2020.
“I am so grateful for everything I learned on the CCWC. The classes were both informative and inspiring, and provided the perfect, nurturing environment for Finding Henry Applebee to take form. The manuscript report was equally invaluable, and resulted in me going back and doing some major rewrites – which felt quite daunting at the time – but I persevered, and it was definitely worth it.”
– Celia Reynolds’ debut novel Finding Henry Applebee will be published by HarperCollins in ebook on 4 October 2019, with the paperback to follow on 12 December 2019.
“I attended the Complete Creative Writing Course Summer School in 2016. I already had a strong story-line with well-developed characters, but in talks, workshops and exercises – not forgetting a trip to the nearby National Portrait Gallery – I learned the craft of putting it together into a readable and sellable work of fiction. I particularly remember needing to work on point-of-view and going away and substantially rewriting the book to incorporate what I had learned.”
– The Seaborne, the first book of the Island trilogy by A.G.Rivett, is published by Wordcatcher and is on sale from 7 November 2019.
“I couldn’t have done it without these courses – they were invaluable for shaping my writing, making me think critically about every word and phrase, and have helped me grow as a writer.”
– Former CWCC student Lizzie Barber’s debut novel My Name is Anna is published by Century on 10th January 2019.
“Your course gave me a lot of confidence in my work and after I read my first 1200 words to the class I went home and wrote 3000 more. And then I just kept going and going.”
– Sam Coley won Hachette Australia’s $10,000 Richell prize for his first novel, State Highway One.
“People sometimes say, ‘I want to write. Where do I start?’ I say, start here… a practical, intelligent introduction to the craft.”
– Clare Sambrook attended our first writing course in April 1999. Her first novel, Hide and Seek, was published by Canongate in May 2005. It became a Daily Mail book club choice and has been translated into twelve languages.
“I came to the class with a few ideas; four years later I had a major literary award. If you want to learn the ins and outs of fiction writing this is the course for you.”
– Dreda Say Mitchell secured the last place on our writing course in September 2001. Her debut novel Running Hot received rave reviews and in November 2005 won the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel. Dreda has gone on to write three novels: Killer Tune, Geezer Girls, and Gangster Girl, all published by Hodder.
“Maggie Hamand has a great gift for plot analysis… I found her analytical skills invaluable.”
“The course at the Groucho Club was fantastic: the teaching was excellent and I learned the fundamental skills of story-telling, pace, character development and plot, which I’ve been developing ever since. I would highly recommend it.”
– Naomi Wood attended our original course in April 2006, and went on to take an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, The Godless Boys, was published by Picador in 2011, and her second, Mrs Hemingway (2013) was shortlisted for the 2014 International Dylan Thomas Prize for young writers.
“I would not have written my novel without this course. You get discipline, you get delight! You get enthusiasm and encouragement. Whether you want to start, simply keep going, or need the feedback and the faith to finish, the course is inspirational.”
“I came on this course after years of discouragement and the tutors’ sensitivity and expertise turned me right around. These courses are simply the best.”
“When I signed up for The Complete Creative Writing Course many years ago I had no idea that it would be the beginning of the long path that led me to writing and publishing Leopold Blue. I learnt an enormous amount about the craft and the act of writing and met some wonderful writers who remain a huge support and source of inspiration.”
– Rosie Rowell attended our original course and then the Tuesday afternoon Advanced course for many terms. Her debut novel Leopold Blue was published by Hot Key books in January 2014 and won the 2015 Branford Boase Award for an outstanding debut children’s novel. Her second novel, Almost Grace, was published by Hot Key in June 2015.
“The Complete Creative Writing Course got me writing again after years of horrible block. The wisdom and sensitivity of the teachers is exceptional. I’ve now got a published novel thanks to Maggie Hamand’s encouragement and insight. I’d recommend her courses to anyone who seriously wants to write.”
– Jennifer Nadel was an experienced broadcast journalist who attended a number of CCWC courses and then went on to take an MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths where she is now studying for a PhD. Her first novel, Pretty Thing, is published by Corsair (Little, Brown). Set in the sweltering hot summer of 1976, Pretty Thing is a powerful coming-of-age novel, a story of first encounters, lost hope and last chances. It pits true love against real life and asks: is love really all you need?
“Maggie’s writing courses have given me the ongoing support and teachings I needed to get my book published. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get published.”
– Azi Ahmed attended our advanced courses and workshops on and off for several years. During this time she was working on her memoir which became Worlds Apart: A Muslim Girl in the SAS, published by Robson Press in June 2015.
“Maggie Hamand’s course at the Groucho Club imparted confidence and technique. Maggie is the perfect teacher – she gently, but deftly coaxes out of you the story that wants to be written.”
“Maggie’s excellent classes were my first steps in taking my writing seriously. They provided inspiration and gave me the tools to take my idea and turn it into a novel that people would want to read. I also made several friends who still encourage me and provide feedback on my writing today.”