I am loving the Getting Started course; the content and structure are excellent. I am learning as much from reading everybody else’s work and critiques as I am from writing — and from trying to form coherent critiques of my own.

My character almost wrote the piece himself. I was amazed how much difference this exercise made to my writing.

The discipline of the Beginners’ Fiction course is helping me immensely; I’m writing much more regularly than before.

The Faber Academy Getting Started course definitely gave me the tools to tackle my short story, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

This course came at the perfect moment, jump-starting a transition out of a rut. And the book is progressing! I’ve made some significant breakthroughs that have helped me develop the organisation of the story, restore my confidence in my abilities, and feel energised about the project again. Also, I’m fully back into my yoga practice.

I plan to stay in touch with everyone after the course finishes. It has been a really valuable experience — everyone writes so well and has been so perceptive with their critiques.

My tutor had an incredibly wide-ranging knowledge of fiction and genre writing — I’ve found his help invaluable.

My tutor has been excellent: wise, astute and generous in his support and encouragement of us all. He also gave us the wonderful gift of a precise set of tools with which to proceed. The whole experience has been very instructive.

The course is really well thought out and I found it incredibly stimulating to have to consider the different genres. I loved having to read things I would not have ever considered and feel it has really helped me to extend my writing. Thanks to my tutor for so many constructive and encouraging comments. I…

Without doing this course, I wouldn’t have the idea for a crime novel, so this is interesting territory for me (as was the sci-fi, which may also continue in stages over a longer time). I’m going to continue this crime novel now while finishing the first draft of my historical novel, which was the original…

Thank you Heidi so very, very much for all your support and feedback during the course. I really appreciate you critiquing my work and also giving recommendations on how to proceed and improve my couple’s story. The course has been great. I’ve enjoyed it.

I found the range of people enrolled on the course created an environment filled with all sorts of skills, levels and genres, which created a brilliant forum of critique. From the first post, I felt accepted in the group and happy to share my work.