Developing your Fiction with Dr Melanie Golding
A course of five sessions over 12 weeks, beginning 24th April 2026,
continuing 8th May / 12th June / 26th June / 10th July , 1.30pm - 4pm at The Exchange, Stroud
Do you have a fiction project bursting to be written, or already started? Perhaps a novel or a collection of short stories that you have begun but could do with some supportive eyes on? Mel Golding’s Developing your Fiction course is for you!
In this course we will look at some different starting points when beginning to edit your fiction, using a variety of creative exercises to help us to move forward, touching on various aspects of fiction including, but not limited to a brief overview of:
· Plotting and planning
· Characterisation
· Prose style
· Voice
· Pace
· The art of completion
Participants will be asked to develop work they have created either during the course or previously, and will have the opportunity to share work in progress with other members of the group. There will be the choice to receive gentle, supportive feedback on individual works if desired.
Some recommended reading will be given, which may include short fiction, long fiction, flash fiction and micro fiction as well as short novels.
In the final session we will look at publication in various ways, how this is achieved for different kinds of fiction, and the various issues that may arise before, during and after a work is published.
By the end of the course you will have learned:
· Techniques in continuing, planning next steps and balancing aspects of prose writing
· A range of self-editing skills
· How to plan an ending and work towards it using the tools learned on the course
Practicalities
A course of five sessions over 12 weeks, beginning 24th April 2026,
continuing 8th May / 12th June / 26th June / 10th July
1.30pm-4pm
Course fee £150 / £125
Venue
The Exchange, Brickrow, Stroud, GL5 1DF.
What do participants say about Mel’s course?
Melanie’s Developing your Fiction writing workshop helped me break a ten-year writing block - and finally put pen to paper of a novel a decade in the making. I’m now five chapters and 5000 words in to my first draft. The feedback from Mel and the group she facilitated was invaluable for shaping my novel’s direction. Highly recommend! ~ Participant on Developing Your Fiction
I've found both Mel's workshops to be so informative, well-structured and helpful in me becoming more confident in my writing. She ensures that the workshop format of giving and receiving feedback for your work is done in such a way that each person receives useful, specific guidance and suggestions on how to develop their work, in a positive format. I have been inspired by what I've learnt from both courses and would recommend them to anyone wanting to write. ~ Participant on Beginning to Write Fiction and Developing Your Fiction
Your Tutor
Dr Melanie Golding is the author of three traditionally published novels, the first of which, Little Darlings, became an e-book bestseller and has been optioned for screen by Free Range Films. She works as an associate lecturer at Bath Spa University on the MA in Creative Writing, and freelance as an editor, mentor and writing coach.