Would you like to write as well as Orwell? Are you inspired by the sentences of James Joyce and Hilary Mantel? Great literature can take many forms - but nearly always demonstrates a superior command of the English language.

In this short course, Madeleine articulates her useful strategies in writing better sentences. She takes both a macro and micro perspective: both word choice, syntax, and genre matter. Drawing on diverse examples, this course is ideal for beginners who are writing their first draft or editing prose. Please note these videos are better suited to fiction rather than non-fiction.

You will learn:

The importance of genre and form
How to create mental images
Best editing and rewriting practices
The value of style guides
Providing context
Making 'mirrors' - Madeleine's secret formula for writing better sentences.

This class is particularly important, as fiction writers must develop their skills in writing high-quality sentences. The ability to write well matters for long-term goals regarding publication, reaching readers, and pitching future projects. These skills can also apply to other literary pursuits such as poetry, historiography, and creative non-fiction. Best of all, the class project encourages an immediate application of the skills learnt here.

The technical requirements are simple. You'll need a word processor and a way to download documents. Those who want to add a visual element can use Canva or Adobe Express (among others).

Helen Larkin

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