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Original poster

'How To Read a Novel' FutureLearn course - Anyone else doing it?

25 replies

SadAboutTheBoy · 25/07/2017 17:35

www.futurelearn.com/courses/how-to-read-a-novel

This free course with FutureLearn started yesterday, and on a whim, I joined.

Really enjoying it so far - from the perspective of both a reader and an aspiring writer.

Wondered if anyone else is doing it? If not, there's still time to join... Smile

OP posts:
hollytom · 25/07/2017 21:02

I signed up yesterday but not really started it yet. Did one of the future learn courses before which I enjoyed

dazzlingdeborahrose · 25/07/2017 21:09

Me! I'm going to start it tomorrow because I was out on Monday evening.

Medeci · 26/07/2017 10:23

Thanks for posting this OP, wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Have signed up as looks like it'll be really helpful. I'm struggling to work out how to structure my first novel and already got a few pointers from the course.

hippyhippyshake · 26/07/2017 10:44

I'm signed up but haven't started yet. Waiting for my dd's to go on their holidays so I can settle down and enjoy the books undisturbed!

Bookreader2403 · 26/07/2017 16:24

I signed up for it a while ago but I haven't started on it yet. Hoping to make a start tonight once the little one has gone to bed.. and stopped chattering non-stop 🙉🙉🙈

Original poster
SadAboutTheBoy · 26/07/2017 16:37

Glad a few folk are doing it. Apparently over 10,000 have signed up Shock !

If you do it, can I suggest you try to read and post in the comments sections a bit too, as some of the discussion in there is interesting and useful.
It's a bit intimidating though when you see there are already 900+ comments or something, however you can soft by most recent, most liked etc which helps.

OP posts:
Medeci · 26/07/2017 18:23

Agree, the comments are really helpful. Was amazed to get a couple of replies to one of my posts. There's so many people signed up, wasn't expecting anyone to notice me.

InigoTaran · 26/07/2017 19:16

Thanks for this OP, I've just signed up, amazed so many pp from around the world are doing it!

Murine · 26/07/2017 23:50

I am doing it after it popped up in my Facebook newsfeed yesterday, I already had The Sport of Kings on my kindle waiting to be read as I'd picked it up in their sale for a bargainous £1.99.

verona · 27/07/2017 18:11

Just signed up for this too. Thanks for posting about it

AWhistlingWoman · 27/07/2017 21:41

Thank you for posting. Have recently finished The Sport of Kings so I'm looking forward to this.

Cherrypi · 27/07/2017 23:01

Ooh looks good. Thanks for posting. I've just joined up.

Dunlurking · 28/07/2017 09:52

I'm on this as well. Wondering if we could have discussions on here? I rarely participate in the discussions on FutureLearn courses as the huge numbers make it a bit pointless. I just read some of the most liked postings - as Sad suggests further up thread.

Dunlurking · 28/07/2017 09:59

Sad I'm an aspiring writer as well. Also hoping it will be helpful for the writing. I've just finished this Oxford Conted course where we covered most of the Futurelearn week 1 topics in a practical writerly way.

Cherrypi · 30/07/2017 16:56

I've enjoyed the first week. I don't fancy reading the sport of kings though. I've learnt lots of new things already.

hippyhippyshake · 31/07/2017 19:45

Enjoying it so far. Lots of comments about books that sound interesting reads so have made a list for future library trips. Already flicking through my favourite books at home and thinking in terms of the narratives, not something I've ever dwelt on before. (Unless it's first person present tense which I hate).

RubyRoseRing · 01/08/2017 23:34

I signed up, also on a whim. Began the material just yesterday and then out all day today. Plan to catch up tomorrow. I like it so far and ds who is 19 (and an avid reader) was following the videos with me.

OnlyTeaForMe · 02/08/2017 18:24

I've just started this too!
Completed week 1, but have only just started Week 2 as was away for the weekend.

I'm also not sure about the Sport of Kings. I found the author interview a bit weird. Interesting debate in the comments section about whether an author should discuss their work afterwards, or just 'put it out there' for readers to interpret as they like. Personally I like hearing authors talk about their influences and thoughts, but I suspect that makes me not a very 'literary' person! Grin

thepatchworkcat · 02/08/2017 18:27

Ooh I thought about doing this... might sign up

lucydogz · 03/08/2017 23:00

There's a very good reason why it's cheap murine.

Dunlurking · 04/08/2017 06:24

OnlyTea I completely agree about Sport of Kings and the author interview being a bit weird. I like to understand the author's influences and thoughts as well. I wonder what on earth she can find to talk about at book festivals if she doesn't include that sort of chat.

OnlyTeaForMe · 04/08/2017 11:35

Dunlurking - I don't think she DOES book festivals at all. The books being discussed on the course are all shortlisted for the James Tait prize and the authors invited to the Edinburgh Book festival for the awards evening. She seems to be the only one not attending.

Murine · 04/08/2017 19:23

Grin lucydogz I'll not rush to finish my current read to get onto it then!

Dunlurking · 04/08/2017 20:40

OnlyTea I see what you mean - her name isn't in bold in the programme, and it says some of the authors will talk about their work. How ungracious.

Dunlurking · 26/08/2017 14:51

Is anyone still doing this? I've been very spasmodic and I've just reached 4.13 where we write a 250 word assignment. Before I set to and do it, has anyone found it a useful exercise?

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