What’s the format for the mentoring?
The mentoring takes as its core text the award-winning craft guide Unlocking the Novella-in-Flash: from Blank Page to Finished Manuscript (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2022), combined with one-to-one mentoring sessions (via Zoom) with Michael Loveday, an accredited creativity coach and novella-in-flash specialist. The programme is designed flexibly to help you write a novella-in-flash, and is divided into three Phases – Incubation, Development, and Integration.
Incubation – this phase helps you develop a cast of characters for your story, dig deeper into their personalities, and figure out the key settings for the story-world. You’ll end up with a rich set of ingredients that will make up the story scenario.
Development – you’ll spark the story’s engine by identifying conflicts, pressures, and problems for your characters, and by understanding more deeply how the characters exist in the physical settings of the story. You’ll identify turning points for the plot, key themes, and narrative tensions or contrasts.
Integration – you’ll write the remaining connective tissue linking the key scenes, figure out how to shape the overarching storyline, decide how to present and organise your diverse material, and – of course! – find an ending…
All three Phases include illustrative examples of published flash fictions, flexible writing prompts, and brainstorming assignments. As you go through the Workbook, you will have one-to-one, monthly coaching sessions as support.
The Workbook and the supporting Zoom calls are specifically designed for a flexible approach – think of it as the chemistry lab in which you incubate, nourish and nurture the beautiful, mad little organism that is your novella-in-flash/novel-in-flash.
Who is it aimed at?
The mentoring is aimed at people with some prior experience of creating stories (in any form), whether published or unpublished. It suits keen, committed writers who would like to embark on a major writing project but know they would benefit from in-depth support over a sustained period.
It’s especially suited to writers who want to embark on a journey to explore the craft of writing fiction.
But you don’t need to know in advance what you’d like to write about – the Workbook and the mentoring will help you figure this out.
How long does it take and how do I learn?
The mentoring fits flexibly around your own schedule. You can expect to complete a novella-in-flash within maximum 6 to 9 months if you maintain a regular commitment to write.
It’s a one-to-one dialogue and process of development, so you will write as often as you prefer, and you won’t have to spend time doing feedback for other writers – the experience is tailored around supporting you.
How much reading is involved?
The main craft guide is 200 pages long, covering everything you need to know about the novella-in-flash. There is an optional ‘case study’ element: your mentor can recommend additional novella-in-flash reading. The cost of purchasing the ‘case study’ texts is not included in the course fee. One further book, My Very End of the Universe (Rose Metal Press, 2014) is also recommended as an optional extra. This book is an anthology of 5 Novellas-in-Flash. It contains an excellent introductory essay plus one craft essay by each of the 5 authors. Available here: Link
What if I find I need extra help to complete the novella?
You can arrange extra support at any time during your mentoring for an additional fee.
Who does the mentoring?
Your mentor throughout the process will be Michael Loveday, a creativity coach, experienced editor, and Visiting Lecturer at Bath Spa University, with a specialism in the novella-in-flash/novel-in-flash. Michael is the author of the award-winning Novella-in-Flash craft guide Unlocking the Novella-in-Flash: from Blank Page to Finished Manuscript (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2022). More information about Michael can be found here.
What kinds of mentoring package are available?
Options include:
• 3 months of mentoring (via 60-minute Zoom calls)
• 6 months of mentoring (via 60-minute Zoom calls)
• OR Enhanced mentoring (6 months, via Zoom + emails between meetings + written developmental feedback + line by line edits)
• PLUS there are bursaries for writers who have experienced being marginalised (due to their ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, mental health condition, neurodiversity, or any aspect of personal identity).
All options include:
• Lifetime access to a Novella-in-Flash Facebook Group, featuring additional content. This group is not a feedback group but offers you further inspiration as you work through the course – and beyond!
• Please enquire here for info about prices.
When can I start?
The programme is currently open for bookings. Please get in touch here.
The Novella-in-Flash 