Mentoring programmes and online writing courses

[John Dean]

Novelist John Dean is offering online courses for writing groups who may be struggling to meet in person during the current coronavirus restrictions.

Crime writer John, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway and has been a creative writing tutor for twenty years, will run courses that can be tailored to each writing group’s needs and can take in a variety of genres.

The course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the group, will help writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers.

When they enrol, groups will be set exercises and offered ongoing feedback, primarily in prose formats such as short stories and novels.

John is a member of the UK-based Crime Writers’ Association, has had 19 novels published and is with London-based publisher The Book Folks. His novels regularly appear on the Amazon best-seller lists.

He said: “A lot of writers are telling me that they are struggling to find their motivation the longer that the lockdown restrictions continue and I hope that my course will help to spark some creativity.

“Hopefully, I can also help aspiring writers to develop their craft and, because the course is online, it does not matter where they live. In recent years, I have worked with writers living everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand as well as across the UK.”

There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course, which will be conducted via email and costs £30 a person for groups (minimum of four people) or £45 for individuals.

For further details, you can contact John at [e-mail] or ring 07889 554931. You can find out more about John’s writing at his website www.johdean.ning.com