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The Clarendon House Master Author Programme - an Update


It’s been a while since I’ve spoken about the Clarendon House Master Author Programme. As some of you have expressed an interest, I thought I’d give you a quick update and as much guidance as I can at this stage as to how it works, costs and so on.

The whole idea of the Master Author Programme is to create confident and creative authors, who may then go on to become published and successful. Success would be defined by each individual - for some, it would be commercial success; for others, recognition and a secure knowledge that they could write and sell good books.

A large proportion of the programme would be going ‘back to school’ to study many of the greats and what made them great - the secrets of structure, character design, rhythm, pacing, authorial voice and all the rest of the ways in which master authors have established themselves through the centuries. This would be done through both modular courses and personal tuition.

The programme will require serious commitment, not only of time but of money. Though completely free or very inexpensive in its early stages, the educational steps will be laid out like those of a university over a three year period. Indeed, the comprehensive curriculum, with regular lessons with, and detailed feedback from me would be commensurate with studying at a university.

This isn’t going to be for everyone, not just because of the costs involved. So, who exactly is the Master Programme designed for?

You should consider the Master Programme if:

• you want to learn about literature - poetry, prose, plays - at a fundamental level, studying its principles in a way not possible through any other course anywhere in the world

• you are prepared to make a commitment of time each week over a three year period (with regular holiday periods allowed for, just like university)

• you want to learn with a view to applying techniques and principles to your own writing

• you have access to finances sufficient to cover the costs of the programme (scholarships and payment plans will be available if you are financially qualified)

• you have a sufficiently free lifestyle to enable you to do the programme without serious distractions.

You should probably not consider the Master Programme if:

• you consider that you have enough of a working knowledge of literature and its underlying principles to be a successful author

• you do not think you will be able to make a commitment of time each week over a three year period

• you consider that you know enough about the craft of writing

• you do not have access to finances sufficient to cover the costs of the programme even allowing for scholarships and payment plans

• your lifestyle would not enable you to do the programme.

The prices related to the programme and details of how it will work are available upon application only, as only writers who are seriously committed to long-term goals usually apply. I am currently compiling a guide (pictured) which will be free to download to answer at least some of your questions, but if you’d like to know more about the Clarendon House MasterAuthor Programme, please email me:

We can have an interesting discussion about it and how it might apply to you.

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