Twelve writers will join as Members of the National Academy of Writing for 2011

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2011 NAW Dates:

The Academy will meet on Wednesday afternoons and early evenings on 24 days over an eight month period

March 30 – November 09

30/03  Introduction/orientation/time-tabling

NAW writers will meet the Director, Course Co-ordinator, the NAW Patrons delivering the course, and members of the NAW Board

06/04 –25/05 Three eight-week NAW sessions
22/06 –10/08
07/09 –26/10

Each 8-week session includes six Consultation Days and two Patron Visit Days

26/05 –21/06 Two three-week writing breaks
11/08 –06/09

During the writing breaks each writer will receive a one-hour individual mentoring session to discuss work-in-progress and set achievable goals.  There will be no NAW meetings during the writing breaks.

W/c 01/11 Final individual feedback

Every writer will receive individual feedback on their completed project from the NAW Director

09/11  Anthology Launch and Showcase 

The Eight-Week NAW Session

Each eight week session will run as follows:

Week 1 Consultation Day
Week 2 Consultation Day
Week 3 Patron Visit Day
Week 4 Consultation Day
Week 5 Consultation Day
Week 6 Patron Visit Day
Week 7 Consultation Day
Week 8 Consultation Day

NAW Consultation Day

2 – 3 pm Masterclass (Conservatoire-style open criticism) by Course Director

Each week a Masterclass involves two NAW writers.  In the eight-week Session every writer has the opportunity to have their writing master-classed once (and three times over the full course).

The NAW Masterclass is a public close-reading of an extract of about 3000 words.  The reading aims to replicate the response of a professional ‘gatekeeper.’ 

The Masterclass offers a regular source of detailed editorial feedback and a productive complement to workshops and patron-led discussions. 

3.30 – 5.30 pm NAW Patron-led discussion

An NAW writer-patron will read two pieces of writing (3-5000 words) submitted in advance by NAW members.  The patron will then lead a two-hour craft-based exploration of any aspect of writing technique that emerges from that week’s reading.  The Patron may use examples from their own work or from other writers.  There will be one NAW writer-patron for each of the first two sessions.

NAW Masterclasses and NAW Patron-led discussions assume that all writers face similar technical challenges.  Issues connected to a specific text will be instructive for all.

6-7.30 pm Workshop

Two texts will be workshopped by the entire class. In each session every writer has the opportunity to have their writing workshopped once (and three times over the full course).The Director will chair the workshops.

This structure of the standard NAW Consultation Day allows every writer to receive some kind of targeted feedback on their work every other week. 

In NAW Session 3 (07/09 –26/10) the Patron-led discussion will be replaced by a discussion of professional and practical writing issues based around the NAW Anthology.  These meetings are designed to help writers understand the challenges of book publishing and the discussions will focus on NAW writer texts and be led each week by a different expert.

07/09  Who does what in publishing?
14/09  Editing/copy-editing/proof-reading
28/09  IT platforms and opportunities
05/10  Freelance journalism
19/10  Generating publicity
26/10  Reading to an audience

NAW Patron Visit Day

2 – 2.30 pm Sandwich Lunch – NAW Visiting Patron + Director + Course Coordinator + NAW writers

2.30 - 4.00 pm Patron talk including Q & A

The Patron will focus on technical issues connected with the craft of writing.  In addition to the talk and Q & A, this is an opportunity for NAW writers to meet informally and discuss any organizational questions with the Course Coordinator and Director.  

Writing Breaks

In between Sessions there will be a three-week break for writing and assimilating the input and feedback received over the previous intensive 8-week Session

During the Writing Breaks each writer will receive a one-hour Mentoring meeting with the Course Director to supply a progress report and ‘strategic’ overview of their full work in progress.

After the end of the final session every NAW writer will receive individual feedback on their completed project from the Course Director

Anthology and Showcase

All writers will be expected to contribute both to the NAW Anthology and the NAW Showcase. 

All submissions for the Anthology (approx 5000 words for each piece) will be received midway through Session 2, edited by the end of Session 2, and sent to the publisher in time for the November launch date.

The NAW Anthology will be published to launch at the NAW Showcase which will take place at Foyle’s bookshop on 9 November 2011 

NAW writers remain Members of the National Academy of Writing, and are welcome to attend all future NAW events (except Consultation Days), including Patron Visit Days and Showcases.

The 2011 NAW course will take place at the Free Word Centre, Farringdon Road, London.

How To Apply

Places on the 2011 National Academy of Writing course are available to authors of all genres of narrative prose.  The Academy meets in London but recruits nationally and is open to all. 

Potential members of the Academy will be referred by NAW partner agents who identify talent in a submitted manuscript.  Writers may also apply directly after contacting either the Director or Course Co-ordinator. 

Places will be allocated solely on the strength of a writing sample of about 5000 words.  There is no interview, no specified age-range, nor any requirement for previous educational qualifications. 

Fees 2011

The fees for the National Academy of Writing 2011 are £4000.  

Membership of the National Academy of Writing implies a commitment to attend all NAW sessions in 2011.  Members are expected to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Academy, including Patron Visits, publication in the Anthology, and the Showcase at the end of the course.

Application deadline for 2011

31 December 2010