'Allow your characters to say and do things that feel uncomfortable to you as write'
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Lucy Apps was a student on our flagship London-based Writing Your Novel – Six Months course in 2017. We caught up to discuss her time studying with us, her approach to writing complex relationships and the inspiration behind her heart-breaking debut novel Gloria Don't Speak – out now with Weatherglass Books and named one of Observer's best debut novels of 2026.
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What advice would you offer to writers tackling difficult relationships on the page?
For me the difficulty was making it feel very real, and showing the relationship in a way that allows the reader to see why both characters would be invested in it. That means creating a character who sometimes behaves in abusive ways but still feels like a complex person and not a one-dimensional villain. My advice would be to develop an understanding of the motivations of your characters – know what they need and desire from each other and the particular ways they are vulnerable to being hurt by each other.
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5 essential editing tips to make your novel fly |
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We know it can be daunting to start the editing process – but it can also be fun because it is at this stage of rewriting that your story can really start to shine. Here CBC's founder and Managing Director Anna Davis shares her tips to help you make real progress with your edit. |
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Interrogate your material.
When you’ve finished your read-through, take some time to ask yourself every question you can think of about what is and isn’t working in your novel – and in the case of what’s not working, push yourself to think about why, and about what may be needed to remedy the problem.
Don’t be afraid to make radical changes.
Sometimes it’s through wild experimentation that you can sort out the problems in your novel. I’d recommend stepping away from your manuscript to write new material freely. If you come up with something you like, you can figure out how to work it into your draft. |
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If you've got a complete draft of your novel and want to find out how to make it the very best version of itself, join Anna's popular one-day Zoom course, The Rewrite Doctor, running 18 Mar. Discover her tried-and-tested editing method and get her feedback on your work. Or for a deeper dive into the process, apply for our three-month online Edit & Pitch Your Novel – Advanced course, starting 24 Mar. |
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Join a flagship novel-writing course this spring |
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We're currently reading applications for four of our flagship three-month courses. We'll be running two online and two London-based groups, starting in April. If you're ready to take your writing seriously, nail your novel and build confidence in your pitch, be sure to apply. We can't wait to read your material! |
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Writing Your Novel –
Three Months |
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Writing Your Novel –
Three Months |
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3 Months | Online | £1,900 |
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3 Months | London | £2,100 |
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Much-loved tutors Christopher Wakling and Suzannah Dunn will lead one-to-one Zoom tutorials, teaching sessions and workshops on our bespoke Learning Platform. You’ll attend a Zoom masterclass with Curtis Brown literary agent Sheila Crowley and award-winning thriller author Louise Candlish, as well as getting advice on writing your pitch letter and synopsis. Plus get an industry-oriented tutorial and a chance to share your work with the Curtis Brown and C&W agents. Starts 13 Apr. Scholarship place available ( Jennie Godfrey Novel-Writing Scholarship for Writers with Low Income). |
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'It was transformative in many ways. The CBC course gave me the structure and motivation I needed to push forward with my writing goals.'
– Abigail Johnson, author of The Secret Collector |
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'Workshopping the novel with people who were interested in the same things and took the writing process very seriously was invaluable.'
– Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat |
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Take the next step in your writing journey! |
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Curtis Brown Creative Cunard House 15 Regent Street London, Greater London SW1Y 4LR |
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