Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 12h

The synopsis is a short, lively overview of your novel. When you're getting ready to submit to literary agents, it sits alongside the opening of your novel and your agent pitch letter.

Follow our top tips on how to write a really good one-page synopsis:

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

1 3

Reposted by Curtis Brown Creative

Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social · 15h

Introducing our judges for the 2026 Women’s Prizes! Chaired by the former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard and Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, these two incredible panels include poets, broadcasters, founders, comedians, DJs and more. Learn more at: womensprize.com/meet-the-jud...

1 2 5

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 15h

Harness the power of what’s said and unsaid in your fiction and learn to write authentic conversations that lift your story off the page 🌟

Join our four-week with bestselling author Laura Barnett! Dialogue – The Deep Dive starts next Thurs, enrol now: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/dialo...

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 16h

'Science Fiction isn’t about accurate prediction, it’s about the eloquence and wonder of our ideas, our imaginings' 🛸

Read our interview with Adam Roberts, award-winning author and tutor of our upcoming Writing Science Fiction course.

Adam Roberts on writing science fiction | Author interview

Award-winning science fiction author Adam Roberts on his life-long love of the genre, the recent SF he's enjoyed reading, and his tips for budding writers.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 17h

Applications for our Writing YA & Children’s Fiction are closing soon! 🖍️

Take your young adult or children's novel to the next level – get feedback and industry insights on our online course: Writing YA & Children’s Fiction – Three Months with teaching from prize-winning author Catherine Johnson.

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

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

Do you have ambitions to write TV drama? 📺

Our six-week online Writing TV Drama course with expert tutor, screenwriter & showrunner, Colin Teevan, will teach you the fundamentals for writing a pilot.

Course starts 23 Oct. Enrol now: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...

1 1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

'Great characters are the beating heart of novels, and that’s possibly even more the case for YA and middle grade fiction' ✨

Award-winning YA author & CBC tutor @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social shares her advice for creating characters that younger readers respond to:

How to create a young adult or middle grade protagonist

Great characters are the beating heart of novels, and that’s possibly even more the case for YA and middle grade fiction. So how do we go about creating compelling characters that younger readers…

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

✍️ Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book: On our combined ten-week course, you'll learn from children’s book illustrator & author Sarah McIntyre & David O'Connell as they share insights into picture book creation.

Enrol now:

Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book with Curtis Brown Creative

Our 10-week writing and illustrating a picture book course helps you learn how to bring new worlds to life on the page as you create stories and characters that capture the imaginations and hearts of…

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

✍️ Writing a Children's Picture Book course: Turn your ideas into fully-fledged storybook texts for 2-6-year-olds with top children's author-illustrator, David O'Connell.

Enrol now:

Writing a Children's Picture Book course with Curtis Brown Creative

Turn your ideas into fully-fledged storybook texts for 2-6-year-olds with advice from children's author, David O'Connell.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

Last chance to join one of our online picture book courses, starting this Thursday!

Both courses are suitable for complete beginners, aspiring artists and those who want to learn more & improve their skills!

Find out more below 🧵

Children's Picture Book Courses | Curtis Brown Creative

Learn how to bring new worlds to life on the page as you create stories and characters that capture the imaginations and hearts of young readers.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 1d

Sasha Butler: 'I’m always looking for a love story, or a point of connection between characters' 💕

We caught up with CBC alumna Sasha Butler to discuss her debut novel #TheMarriageContract, out now from @saltpublishing.com!

Sasha Butler on writing historical fiction

Sasha Butler studied on our How to Write Your Novel series from 2020-2021. We caught up to discuss her debut historical romance, The Marriage Contract.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1 4

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 2d

'Characters need to be more than just vehicles for your story. They must be living, breathing and real, with believable motivations and compelling arcs' 💭

Here are five tips with examples from our brilliant tutors to help you write captivating three-dimensional characters:

How to write three-dimensional characters

Characters need to be more than just vehicles for your story. They must be living, breathing and real, with believable motivations and compelling arcs. Here are five tips with examples from our…

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1 1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 2d

Create a compelling emotional landscape for your characters and learn how to write relationships that readers can invest in 💞

Our Relationships in Fiction – The Deep Dive course will help you write convincingly about love, loss & connection.

Enrol now, course starts 16 Oct:

Relationships in Fiction – The Deep Dive | Online Course

Bestselling author of relationship-centred fiction Laura Barnett will help you write convincingly about love, loss and connection – and create relationships that provide a key source of conflict,…

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 2d

'The opening scene of your pilot is your contract with the viewer. In other words, it makes a promise to them about what they’ll be getting in this drama.'

Acclaimed TV dramatist and showrunner Colin Teevan shares six tips to help you write a gripping opening to your drama pilot 📺

How to write a great opening to a TV drama pilot

Acclaimed TV dramatist and showrunner Colin Teevan shares six tips to help you write gripping opening to your drama pilot. The opening scene of your pilot is your contract with the viewer. It should…

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

3

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 2d

Turn your ideas into fully-fledged storybook texts for 2-6-year-olds with advice from children’s book author & illustrator @davidoconnell.bsky.social! 🖼️

Our six-week online course will teach you the fundamentals behind writing a picture book.

Course starts next Thurs:

Writing a Children's Picture Book course with Curtis Brown Creative

Turn your ideas into fully-fledged storybook texts for 2-6-year-olds with advice from children's author, David O'Connell.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1 1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Bring your fiction to life with dynamic relationships! Join our four-week course: Relationships in Fiction – The Deep Dive 💞

Bestselling author Laura Barnett will help you write convincingly about love, loss and connection.

Course begins 16 Oct: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/relat...

2

Reposted by Curtis Brown Creative

Lia Jashanmal @liaj-writer.bsky.social · 5d

CBC Summer School was a game changer! I fully recommend it! So great to have in person lessons, and to meet other writers. The tutor was AMAZING! Showed me my writing in a new light. Most sentences need to change in some way. A lot of work but I think I’m making progress (or at least I hope so!!)

1 1 3

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

We spoke to Anna Freeman, novelist, radio presenter & tutor of our upcoming Showing & Telling – The Deep Dive course, about her advice for aspiring authors, fictional dinner guests and Peaky Blinders!

Read full interview:

Anna Freeman on writing | Author interview

Anna Freeman, novelist and tutor of our upcoming Writing Your Novel – Six Months course, shares her advice for aspiring authors, talks fictional dinner guests and Peaky Blinders.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

1

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Last chance to apply for Writing Romantic & Commercial Fiction!

Learn from bestselling author @rowancoleman.bsky.social and join a masterclass with @cressmclaughlin.bsky.social and her literary agent Alice Lutyens.

💌 Applications close next Friday: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...

2

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Huge congratulations to CBC alumna Rosanna Pike who won the @goldsborobooks.bsky.social 2025 #GlassBellAward last night for her debut novel #ALittleTrickerie! 🎉

1 3

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you to everyone who joined us for #WriteCBC!

Shout-outs go to: @sarahwriteaway.bsky.social, @juliegfox.bsky.social, @spanglyspecs.bsky.social & @gingercrone.bsky.social!

And a special thank you to our guest @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social for setting such a wonderful, spooky task! 🎃

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 6d

#WriteCBC task from @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social: Halloween is coming, so let’s introduce a spooky setting! The house lights dim, and the curtain rises on your location: where are we? What small details intrigue us in the opening lines? And why does it make us feel subtly uneasy?

2 1 17

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Our #WriteCBC runners-up are @midnightreader.bsky.social and @gail67.bsky.social‬‬! 🔮

Huge congratulations to you both, you’ve each won a £50 course discount!

We can’t wait for you to join one of our courses soon:

Creative Writing Courses | Online and in London

Study with Curtis Brown Creative – the only writing school from a major literary and talent agency. Our lessons are practical and positive. We'll help you write the story you want to tell, find your t...

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

2 10

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 5d

Congratulations to our October #WriteCBC winner, @mrscarlielee.bsky.social! 🦇

You’ve won an online writing course (worth up to £230). We absolutely loved how you used a small-town tale to build such an unsettling atmosphere.

Read the winning entry here:

#WriteCBC tip and task from Ally Wilkes

This month's tip and task comes from Ally Wilkes, former CBC student and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of All the White Spaces and Where the Dead Wait.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

10 29

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 6d

'Let yourself take time to wonder about things and people, and see where your curiosity takes you' 🤔

Wondering how you should go about developing a character from nowhere? CBC founder, Anna Davis, shares her 6 top tips for building a character from scratch.

Read full advice blog:

6 ways to build a character from scratch: Tips from CBC Founder Anna Davis

How do you build a character from scratch? CBC founder and MD Anna Davis shares her top tips and practical advice for building an authentic and believable character.

www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk

5

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 6d

We’re really enjoying reading all of your #WriteCBC entries so far. You have until 10am tomorrow to join in on the fun! 👻

Curtis Brown Creative @cbcreative.bsky.social · 6d

#WriteCBC task from @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social: Halloween is coming, so let’s introduce a spooky setting! The house lights dim, and the curtain rises on your location: where are we? What small details intrigue us in the opening lines? And why does it make us feel subtly uneasy?

2 15