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Curtis Brown Creative
@cbcreative.bsky.social
2.8K followers 110 following 1.5K posts
Start your story with expert teaching from acclaimed authors, leading literary agents and top publishers. Writing courses online and in London. Home of #WriteCBC.

https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/
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Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 15d
2026 promises to be another exciting year for book releases!

From gripping thrillers to enchanting fantasies, here are some of the must-read debuts by our talented former students that you should be adding to your reading lists this year.

Which of these are you looking forward to picking up? 📚
Debut novels by CBC alumni we can't wait to read in 2026
Check out this round-up of must-read debuts by our talented former students publishing this year.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
cbcreative.bsky.social
Spend five weeks learning the writing secrets of much-admired literary author Tessa Hadley 📖

Join our online course Writing Literary Fiction with Tessa Hadley to raise your writing game and master your craft.

📆 Course starts next Thurs, enrol now:
Writing Literary Fiction with Tessa Hadley | Online Course
Critically acclaimed author Tessa Hadley on how to sharpen your sentences and scenes, raise your writing game and master your craft. Embark on a journey into the heart of fiction-writing and discover…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 3:41 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Writing a memoir and don't know where to get started? ✍️

Bestselling memoirist and tutor of our online Writing a Memoir course, Cathy Rentzenbrink, shares her four steps to get you started:

1) Read recently published memoirs
2) Find your voice
3) Plot and plan
4) Write a compelling opening
Writing your memoir: Four steps to get you started
Bestselling memoirist Cathy Rentzenbrink's four step guide to getting started with your memoir. Cathy shares her thoughts on life-writing and advice for aspiring memoirists.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 1:25 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Explore what makes a compelling historical novel on our six-week Writing Historical Fiction course!

Bestselling author @stephmerritt.bsky.social will equip you with the tools to research your story, construct your plot & bring your chosen historical moment to life ✍️

Starts next Thurs:
Writing Historical Fiction with Curtis Brown Creative
Travel to the past and explore what makes a compelling historical novel with SJ Parris.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:10 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Learn more from bestselling historical fiction author @katemossewriter.bsky.social on our five-week online course Writing Fiction with Kate Mosse!

You'll learn how to develop rich narrative worlds and voices & find joy in your writing ✨

Course starts next Thurs, enrol now:
Writing Fiction with Kate Mosse | Online Course
Kate Mosse, eight-million-copy bestseller, shows how to bring your passion to the page in compelling fiction with vividly realised settings. Discover the stories that only you can tell, develop rich…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 4:56 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'There’s nothing unpolitical about intimate stories of family life' ✍️

Acclaimed writer Tessa Hadley shares her advice on writing intimate stories.

Learn more from Tessa and discover a new way of thinking about your craft on our Writing Literary Fiction with Tessa Hadley course. Starts next Thurs.
Tessa Hadley: 'There’s nothing unpolitical about intimate stories of family life'
Critically acclaimed author Tessa Hadley on writing intimate stories, her favourite writers and her early morning writing routine.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 2:13 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Time is running out to join our four-week online course: The Literary Agent – with Jonny Geller!

Literary agent for David Nicholls’ #OneDay and Curtis Brown CEO @jonnygeller.bsky.social explores the role of the agent in the author’s professional life & how to go about getting one.

Begins Thurs:
The Literary Agent – with Jonny Geller | Online Course
Get the inside track on what a literary agent does, how to get one, and how a good agent can help you build a career as an author. Join Curtis Brown’s Jonny Geller – one of the best-known agents…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 12:39 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Lauren Schott Pearson: ‘I love watching writers re-discover what they first loved about their story’

We caught up with tutor & author Lauren Schott Pearson to discuss her pitching advice and the inspiration behind her debut adult novel #VerySlowlyAllAtOnce out this week with @hqstories.bsky.social
Lauren Schott Pearson on pitching your novel
We caught up with CBC tutor and author Lauren Schott Pearson to discuss what she enjoys most about working with budding writers and her debut adult novel Very Slowly All at Once.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 11:05 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Make real progress with your novel in our popular How to Write Your Novel series ✍️

Join one of our bestselling six-week online courses: Starting to Write Your Novel, Write to the End of Your Novel or Edit & Pitch Your Novel.

Courses start on Thurs: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/creative-wri...
January 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'When I’m on the hunt for debuts, I’m looking for a story that acts as a bridge – taking me on a journey from somewhere familiar to somewhere new.'

@jonnygeller.bsky.social – CEO of Curtis Brown and one of the UK’s foremost literary agents – shares 5 ways of approaching your elevator pitch:
How to write your elevator pitch
The elevator pitch is a crucial component of your pitch letter to a literary agent, it is a pithy sentence or two that conveys the book’s hook or central concept. Jonny Geller – CEO of The Curtis…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 3:14 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Learn how to write compelling fiction for teenagers and children on Writing YA & Children’s Fiction!

You'll get teaching from award-winning author @catwrote.bsky.social plus a masterclass with Curtis Brown agent Steph Thwaites & bestselling author @struan-murray.bsky.social.

Apply by 9 Feb:
Writing YA & Children’s Fiction – Three Months | Online Course
Learn how to write exciting and engaging YA, Middle Grade, and Children's Fiction on our three-month online course with author and tutor, Catherine Johnson.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 1:46 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
The @creativefutureuk.bsky.social Writers’ Award #WritingCompetition for underrepresented writers is officially open! ✍️

It’s free to enter & 15 winners will receive £25k of prizes 🌟 The theme this year is 'Material'.

Find out more, including how to enter:
Creative Future Writers' Award - Creative Future
The Creative Future Writers Award is an annual development programme for talented writers from a wealth of diverse backgrounds that are under-represented in mainstream publishing.
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January 26, 2026 at 11:22 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Former Writing a Psychological Thriller student, @lizwebbauthor.bsky.social, shares her top tips on how to create atmospheric settings using examples from her latest novel, #TheSaved 📖
How to create atmospheric settings
Thriller author Liz Webb reveals how she create atmospheric settings that serve the style and tone of her novels.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 4:56 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'Great novels are made in the rewrite' – Anna Davis, Edit & Pitch Your Novel Tutor

If you’ve written a novel and are looking for advice on how to polish it and pitch it to agents, our online Edit & Pitch Your Novel course is for you!

Starts 29 Jan: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/edit-...
January 23, 2026 at 2:18 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'Short stories are at their best when they work as an invocation of tone or mood, a small slice of something tangible' ✍️

We asked our expert tutors and former students for advice on how to navigate the challenges of writing short fiction.

Read full advice blog:
How to write short fiction
Start your writing journey with expert teaching from acclaimed writers and top literary agents. Courses online and in London.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 12:52 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Learn how to bring your real-life stories to the page with bestselling memoirist, Cathy Rentzenbrink, on our six-week online Writing a Memoir course ✍️

Next Writing a Memoir course starts 5 Feb. Enrol now: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...
January 23, 2026 at 11:31 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Write and edit a complete short story and learn essential writing techniques on our Writing Short Stories course!

Shape brilliantly disciplined prose with teaching from award-winning writer, Cynan Jones.

Course starts 5 Feb, enrol now: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...
January 22, 2026 at 5:05 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'Every writer, no matter how successful, struggles and has to keep learning how to tell stories' 📚

We spoke to CBC editor and tutor of our Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass course, @richardroper.bsky.social about his writing routine and what he enjoys most about working with aspiring authors.
Richard Roper: 'Every writer, no matter how successful, struggles and has to keep learning how to tell stories'
We spoke to we spoke to CBC editor and tutor of our upcoming Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass course, Richard Roper about his writing routine and what he enjoys most about working with CBC…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 3:45 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Need some great advice to help you reach the end of the first draft? 💭

Develop the skills & techniques that will get you over the finish line with teaching from CBC's founder Anna Davis on Write to the End of Your Novel.

Starts next Thurs, enrol now: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/write...
January 22, 2026 at 1:11 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Lisa Walker: 'The suspense comes from having a group of characters who are all potentially villains in the story' 📚

We caught up with CBC alumna Lisa Walker to discuss her debut thriller #ThePact, out next week with HQ.
Lisa Walker on writing a dual timeline
We caught up with Lisa Walker, author of The Pact, to discuss her time studying with us and the psychological fiction that has inspired her.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 11:05 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
We're thrilled that former CBC student & author of the highly anticipated debut #TheLoweJob Grace Alexander and C&W agent Susan Armstrong will be masterclass speakers on our upcoming three-month Writing Your Novel course in London!

Find out more: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...
January 21, 2026 at 4:53 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'There’s nothing unpolitical about intimate stories of family life' 🏠

Acclaimed novelist and short story writer, Tessa Hadley, shares her advice on writing intimate stories.
Tessa Hadley: 'There’s nothing unpolitical about intimate stories of family life'
Critically acclaimed author Tessa Hadley on writing intimate stories, her favourite writers and her early morning writing routine.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Explore what makes a compelling historical novel on our six-week Writing Historical Fiction course!

Bestselling author @stephmerritt.bsky.social will equip you with the tools to research your story, construct your plot & bring your chosen historical moment to life 📜

Course starts 5 Feb:
Writing Historical Fiction with Curtis Brown Creative
Travel to the past and explore what makes a compelling historical novel with SJ Parris.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'Some of the greatest moments in my career have been launching debut novels'

@jonnygeller.bsky.social (top literary agent & CEO of Curtis Brown) on his career highlights and advice for #AmQuerying authors ✍️

Read the full interview on our blog:
Interview with Jonny Geller literary agent & CEO of The Curtis Brown Group
Literary agent and CEO of The Curtis Brown Group Jonny Geller on how the publishing landscape has changed since he first started out, his career highlights and his advice for new writers looking for…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 11:10 AM
cbcreative.bsky.social
'Even if what you’re writing is very personal to you, you can gain a lot by listening to others’ perspectives on it.'

Multi-award-winning author @wylmenmuir.bsky.social reveals four top tips for aspiring narrative non-fiction writers and memoirists.
4 tips for writing narrative non-fiction and memoir
Award-winning author Wyl Menmuir shares his four top tips for aspiring narrative non-fiction writers and memoirists.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 5:06 PM
cbcreative.bsky.social
Last chance to enrol on our Character Development – The Deep Dive course!

Build captivating and memorable characters with believable motivations and compelling story arcs 💫

Enrol now, starts this Thurs: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/chara...
January 20, 2026 at 3:32 PM