Find Your Story

Event information

Every novelist knows the feeling: you've poured yourself into your story, but something isn't quite working – and you can't see what. That's where a great editor comes in.

In this immersive two-hour masterclass, writer, editor and literary translator Eleanor Updegraff will take you inside the editorial process, sharing the practical knowledge and insider expertise she has developed working with some of the UK's leading publishers, including Penguin Random House, Canongate and Scribe. Whether you're drafting your first chapter or polishing a near-finished manuscript, Eleanor's warm, attentive approach will help you hear your own writing more clearly – and make it sing.

Over the course of the session, Eleanor will guide you through the craft of editing from the inside out: how to identify what your story needs, how to strengthen your voice, and how to see your work the way a professional reader would. You'll leave with practical tools you can put to use straight away, along with a few of the tricks that only come with years at the editorial coalface.

And there's something even more valuable on offer: every participant will receive personalised written feedback on a 1200-word piece of their own work, submitted in advance. This is a rare opportunity to hear what a professional editor really thinks – not a general critique, but specific, considered notes on your writing.

Places are limited to keep the session intimate and the feedback meaningful. If you're serious about your novel, don't miss it.