Live online courses

‘It was terrific the way it was all broken down with homework and worksheets added.’
’I enjoyed hearing about Helen’s practical advice, and the week on structure was excellent.‘
Recent Participants
Write A Radio Drama in Five Weeks course
Write A Podcast Drama
in 5 Weeks
Dates: Thursdays 7-9pm, 28 September, 5 October, 12 October, 19 October, 28 October 2023.
Location: Live online teaching via Zoom
Cost: £175 for all five sessions
Join my online classroom and write a complete audio podcast drama over five weekly sessions. These live, interactive online classes will introduce you to the industry of audio drama, and allow you to learn the skills necessary to write drama for radio and podcasts.
We will look at the new opportunities in this growing industry and explore how to structure podcast drama, how to sustain tension in plot, how to build dramatic audio characters and how to write convincing dialogue. We will consider the state of the market now, and what commissioners are looking for from writers.
Each week members of the group will share their writing-in-progress, and by the end of the five weeks you will have a complete podcast drama idea, and a plan for what to do with it next.
Prior to the class you will be sent a listening list of podcast dramas to inspire and educate you about the form. We will discuss and learn from these dramas in the class.
No prior writing experience or knowledge of audio or podcast drama is necessary.
Write a Radio Drama in 5 Weeks
Tuesdays, 7-9pm, live teaching via Zoom Online Meeting
Dates: Tuesday 26 September, 3 October, 10 October, 17 October, 24 October 2023
Join me in Writing West Midland’s online classroom and write a complete audio drama over five sessions. These live, interactive online classes will introduce you to the industry, and allow you to learn the skills necessary to write drama for BBC radio and podcasts.
This small and friendly group of up to 14 students will look at the new opportunities in this growing industry and explore how to structure audio drama, how to sustain tension in plot, how to build dramatic audio characters and how to write convincing dialogue.
We will consider the state of the market now, and what commissioners are looking for from writers.
Each week members of the group will share their work in progress, and by the end of the five weeks you will have a complete 45 drama, and a plan for what to do with it next.
Prior to the class you will be sent a listening list of audio dramas to inspire and educate you about the form.
No prior writing experience or knowledge of audio drama is necessary.
Kickstart Your Graphic Novel in Five Weekly Sessions
Tuesdays, 7-9pm, live teaching via Zoom Online Meeting.
Dates: Tuesday 25 April, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May 2023.
Join our online classroom and Kickstart Your Graphic Novel over five weekly sessions.
These live, interactive online classes with two award-winning tutors will introduce you to the art, craft, and industry of graphic novels, and help you develop the skills to create one of your own.
The course is taught by Carol Adlam and Helen Cross who have previously worked together to create highly acclaimed graphic publications including Ministry of Women, The New Wipers Times, and Amy in Love.
Carol is an artist specialising in graphic novels and narrative illustration whose graphic novel The Russian Detective will be published by Jonathan Cape in 2024. Her graphic novel Thinking Room won a World Illustration Award in 2018. She is Senior Lecturer in Illustration at Nottingham Trent University and has taught illustration for the slow journalism quarterly Delayed Gratification, New Art Exchange, The National Archives, and the House of Illustration. More details available from www.caroladlam.co.uk (twitter @1badlamb; Instagram @caroladlam.illustration).
The tutors will be joined for one session by industry guest James Spackman, Literay Agent at The BKS Agency (www.thebksagency.com), where you will be able to learn from his experience and ask individual questions.
The course is strictly limited to 15 participants to ensure personal attention.
Recent Testimonials
“Excellent tutor with a wealth of practical experience. Helen enabled everyone to contribute”
Participant
Write A Radio Drama
in Five Weeks course 2023
“An excellent tutor, Helen Cross, who really knew her subject and was able to pass on her enthusiasm”
Participant
Write A Radio Drama
in Five Weeks course 2023
“A really helpful, informative, efficient, fun and exciting course!’