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Curtis Brown Creative
@cbcreative.bsky.social
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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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
The synopsis is a short, lively overview of your novel. It sits alongside the opening of your novel and your agent pitch letter in your pitch package, and it lays out the complete narrative arc of your plot 📈

Follow our top tips on how to write a really good one-page synopsis of your novel:
How to write a synopsis for your novel
The synopsis is a tricky beast, but it's an essential tool in pitching to agents. Read Anna's tips on how to write a really good synopsis for your novel...
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:08 PM
We're so excited about our new programme of live events!

We're hosting monthly online (and London-based) events for budding writers with world-class authors, top publishers and leading literary agent guest speakers. Tickets start from just £12.

Find out more:
Live Events Programme | In Conversation with Esteemed Authors
We’re delighted to announce our new programme of live events! Every month we’ll run at least one event for budding writers with world-class authors, top publishers and leading literary agent guest…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Maame Blue: 'Relationships are fundamental to who we are, so they need to be written about' 💞

We spoke to award-winning author & CBC editor Maame Blue about her approach to crafting authentic relationships and what she loves most about working with budding writers.
Maame Blue: 'Relationships are fundamental to who we are, so they need to be written about'
We caught up with award-winning author Maame Blue to discuss her approach to crafting authentic relationships, her reading recommendations and what she loves most about working with budding writers.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Do you want to write a memoir and don’t know how to get going? Or perhaps you’re already at work on one and are looking for some guidance to help you? 📖

Our Writing a Memoir course taught by Cathy Rentzenbrink starts in just one week! Enrol now:
Writing a Memoir course with Curtis Brown Creative
Learn how to mine your memories and learn how to bring your real-life stories to the page on our Writing a Memoir course with bestselling author, Cathy Rentzenbrink.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Get to the heart of your story and write a great synopsis!

Join bestselling author and experienced editor @richardroper.bsky.social for a two-hour Zoom masterclass on how to write a compelling one-page synopsis for your novel.

Runs next Weds:
Writing Your Synopsis – Masterclass | Zoom Course
Join author and experienced editor Richard Roper for a two-hour Zoom masterclass on how to write a compelling one-page novel synopsis.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 4:53 PM
'Every historical novelist will have a different approach to how much research they do before writing. I would say it depends very much on the scope of your story'

Bestselling author, @stephmerritt.bsky.social, shares 6 tips to help you research your historical novel 🔎
6 tips to help you research your historical novel
Bestselling historical novelist S J Parris shares six tips to help you research your story as you bring history to life on the page.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Our six-week Writing Short Stories course starts next week!

Hone your storytelling skills & shape brilliantly disciplined prose with teaching from award-winning short story writer and novelist, Cynan Jones.

Learn more:
Writing Short Stories | Online Course
Discover the wonders of the short story form and learn how to write and shape your own stories with Cynan Jones.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Manish Chauhan: ‘Don’t let research overpower the human elements of the story’ ✒️

We caught up with CBC alumnus Manish Chauhan to discuss his debut novel #BelgraveRoad, out now with @faberbooks.bsky.social!
Manish Chauhan on writing a dual narrative
In this interview Manish Chauhan, author of the debut novel Belgrave Road, shares her advice on writing a dual narrative and creating a strong sense of place.
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:05 AM
'It’s the texture of everyday life that matters' 📖✨

Bestselling author and Founder Director of the Women's Prize @katemossewriter.bsky.social shares her approach to writing and researching historical fiction.

Read the full interview:
Kate Mosse on writing | Author interview
Bestselling author Kate Mosse is known for writing breathtaking depictions of landscapes, epic and immersive historical worldbuilding and captivating relationships between characters. We spoke to…
www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 5:05 PM
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
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
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
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
'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
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
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
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
'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
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
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
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
'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
'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
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
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