Developing Your Novel – the first of two linked workshops

In association with Fiction and Fairy Lights Bookshop, we present two workshops, with tutors Alison May and Janet Gover.

Developing Your Novel – 20th February 10am-4pm

This workshop is aimed at writers at any stage of their career. Whether you have a full draft that needs reworking or the very beginning of an idea, this workshop is for you. We’ll look at the essentials of the novel – plot, characterisation and setting. We’ll help you build a toolkit of skills to write and edit your manuscript.

You can fulfil that desire to make your story the best it can be. Then follow up with our Slush Pile Day.

Slush Pile Day – 10th April 10am-6pm

The perfect next step, this day is aimed at writers ready to submit their novel to agents or traditional publishers. We’ll help you create and polish your submission pack, looking at query letters, synopsis writing and honing a killer opening, as well as looking at how to pitch your novel.

Then your opening words will go to our expert panel for instant feedback. Skip the slushpile and hear what industry professionals think of your work.  All attendees will have the chance to submit their first 500 words for industry feedback. This must be original work, created without the use of generative AI. Submissions will be read to both the group and the industry panel, who will give immediate feedback. All readings will be anonymous. (Attendees will receive details on how to submit closer to the date.)

Book the workshop that suits you, or book both workshops together, and receive a discount

The workshops fees:

Developing Your Novel only £65

Slush Pile Day only £125

Both days booked together £170

To book your place go to –  https://forms.gle/vubbo3WYqBFwjFcd6

Workshop Location:

Both workshops will be held at Fiction and Fairy Lights, 6 Market Street, Hednesford, Staffs WS12 1AF   https://fictionandfairylights.co.uk/

There is a train station a five minute walk from the shop with a line from Birmingham.

About Your tutors:

Alison May is a novelist and short story writer and a former Chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She writes romantic comedies as Ally Sinclair and most recently as Amelia Berry. Alison has been shortlisted in both the Love Stories and Romantic Novel of the Year awards. Along with Janet Gover, Alison also writes reinterpretations of misunderstood classic novels, under the penname Juliet Bell. Her most recent release, Stirring Up a Love Story came out in spring 2026, and she is currently working on her first crime novel.

Alison is also qualified teacher with a degree in Creative Writing and, as well as working one to one with developing novelists, has taught for Writing West Midlands, the National Writing Centre and the Open University. Past students and mentoring clients have gone on to achieve agent representation, publication with traditional publishers – including Avon, Boldwood, Bookouture, Fourth Estate, Headline, Head of Zeus and HQ – and to self-publish successfully.

Janet Gover worked as television journalist, first in Australia, where she grew up, and then in Asia and Europe. As a journalist, she discovered that most interesting people are often the ‘ordinary’ people – who sometimes have quite extraordinary stories to tell.

Her first fiction was published in 2002. Since then she’s written 19 books and won writing awards in the UK, USA and Australia.

Janet co-ordinated the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writers Scheme for several years and has taught at universities and writers conferences. She enjoys working one to one with writers to develop their writing skills and story ideas, as well as working with a finished manuscript to help it be the very best it can be.

You can learn more about Alison and Janet at https://fictiontutors.co.uk/