The Writers Bureau

You do not need any formal qualifications to enrol on a Writers Bureau course.

That said, you do need a good foundation on which to build, and this includes a good command of the language you want to write in. But don’t worry if your grammar and spelling are a little rusty. These things can be learned, will improve the more you write, and there are plenty of tools and apps out there to help.

You will need to be able to send your work in typed. But you don’t need to be able to touch type; plenty of people get along fine with just two fingers. The more you do, the better you get.

You’ll also need to be determined, have perseverance and a passion for writing, as well as being curious and willing to learn. With these qualities, there’s a good chance you’ll have some success with your writing.

All contact with your tutor is by email.

However, you can call our head office in Manchester during our office hours to speak with an advisor should you want to. Please see our contact details page for more information.

Throughout the courses there is guidance on how to find markets and how to contact editors and publishers to give you the very best chance of having your work accepted. Plus, your tutor with give you extra guidance on this when you send in your assignments.

One of the main aims of the courses is to help you understand how the publishing industry works so that you can stand on your own feet once you have completed your training with us. It’s not difficult to learn, and once you have acquired the necessary knowledge and techniques, these will last you all your writing life.

This will depend on which course you enrol on. As a guide we suggest that students spend a month on each assignment.

The courses have a time limit of two years but this should give you plenty of time to complete it and there are no deadlines within this time frame. You can submit your work as and when you like - you can even ask for an extension if you feel you might need it.