Faber Academy course

[INeedABiggerBoat]

I'm writing my application for the Faber Academy online course on writing first 15,000 words. It's bloomin' expensive I know but I need extra impetus to find time in a very busy schedule to write and feel as though I've taught myself as much as I can and really need help on finding my way through a tricky plot and character arc...

But now I'm getting nervous because I'm writing a YA urban fantasy - are they going to turn their noses up at this genre even if I'm not a totally dreadful writer? Has anyone else focused on YA/ fantasy and done one of these courses??

Hi @MotherOfTwoDragons - agents contacted me after the anthology was sent out asking to read the full manuscript when it was finished. I finished it a few months later and sent it some of the agents who'd already expressed an interest, and some who hadn't, and got 3 offers of representation within 24 hours. I think they pop you to the top of the queue, as it were, because they're aware that Faber graduates do tend to get snapped up quite quickly - bit of a self-perpetuating cycle. Not necessarily fair to other authors who are just as good but didn't do the course, but I guess that's partly what you pay the (large amount of) money for.

THank you for replying. Well, going on one of these courses shows talent and commitment I guess. Not everyone gets a place, it’s hard work hitting deadlines and doing critiques; often people are fitting it around other stuff like work and family. So well done for doing it and for getting this far-gives us all hope!

@INeedABiggerBoat - thank you so much for the feedback. Really helpful. And MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS on getting signed. I hope you've had a positive response from publishers. Only worry now is I won't be able to make regular sessions, as baby has now arrived (which is why I've taken a while to reply - sorry! ) - thats why I was looking into the Ink Academy course as its 1-2-1 so super flexible. Will def consider FA once everything has settled down again though. (This took me about half an hr to write as 1. brain slow so tired and 2. onehanded while feeding - apologies if any doesn't make sense...)

Hello! I have recently moved to London and am considering applying to Faber’s ‘Getting started with your novel’ course. I am keen to go for the online one, as I plan to apply for jobs too, and would like the flexibility of an online course. But am wondering if the online course will be on par with the in-person one in terms of quality of feedback, interaction, exposure to agents. If anyone has any advice on this, I would really appreciate it. Many thanks!

@INeedABiggerBoat I hoping to get onto the course in September! Anxiously waiting to hear back.

Congratulations on your agent! Did you get a publishing deal?

Very reassuring to hear many of your course-mates got agents, too.

And I wonder how much - on average - Faber academy graduates (based on the ones you know who were successful) can expect to earn on their first novel? Although perhaps that’s a “how long is a piece of string?” question...

Hi @Wanderlustnow good luck!

I did get a publishing deal - won't go into details because it could be outing but while it wasn't for a life-changing amount it is, with foreign rights, just about enough to live on. I can't really speak for many others on the course as I don't know the ins and outs of their deals. A few seem to get massive 6 figure ones, some probably get the average advance (£5k) and most, like me, somewhere in between.

Ineedabiggerboat - huge congratulations on your deal! That’s wonderful news! You must be so happy.

Good to know about the advance amount. I know it’s not all about the money, but I am doing it in the hope of getting a deal - and do hope for the advance to be a small “salary” at least. All a dream at the moment.

Again, such big congratulations. It’s a hard industry, so you and your classmates must be super talented!

@WanderlustNow I think advances will depend a little on the genre you're writing to be honest. Apparently mine was very good for YA, but it probably would be considered nothing compared to, say, the kind of sums you can get with a psychological suspense/thriller.

That’s good to know, thank you!

I am at a much earlier stage to you but wondered about the Faber Academy so it was good to read that it is useful. I have signed up for one of their beginners courses to give me some more structure.

@INeedABiggerBoat - really interesting to read about your experiences.

When you did the course did you or anyone else on it also work at the same time? I'm wondering how realistic it would be for me to work 4 days a week while also doing the course and writing a novel.

Also, did anyone change their idea for a novel part-way through or have any doubts about which of their novel ideas to focus on? I have a few different ideas in a few different genres and the main thing putting me off applying is that I feel I need to have certainty about which one to focus on, yet I feel I need support to work out which one is best for me.

@Wanderlustnow - did you get a place?

@myhouseistoocold I think everyone on my course was working throughout, most full time and some in very demanding jobs (lawyers etc) so it’s definitely possible to do it while working part time.
I don’t think anyone in my class changed their idea part way through, but several started with a few ideas and decided which one to focus on within a few weeks.
Hope that helps!

That's very helpful, thanks @INeedaBiggerBoat :-)