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WRITERS COURSE


Next Cohort Starts September 2024


HOW TO DESIGN A VIRTUE BASED NOVEL

As human beings we have an innate need to organise our sensations and feelings into a story. When this story leads us somewhere, it helps us navigate through life. When we have a story to hold on to it also gives us hope. And when a substantial number of people also embrace the same story, this becomes our culture. 

The craft of storytelling is an ancient one. With the gift of words, hearts can be moved. Yet not enough writers are authoring books for the Young Adult and Adult market that are couched within a framework of virtue. This writing course aims to address this need.

Rehan’s online course (via Zoom) over a 4-month period – 8 sessions of 90 minutes each, covers the following:

  • Module 1: How to become a writer? This section of the course focusses on the habits and practices writers need to instill in their lives in order to successfully write a novel.

  • Module 2: How to design the setting for a novel? What a writer must know about their setting, whether real or imagined and how to design it in order to obtain an emotional response from the reader.

  • Module 3: How to design the characters for a novel? Characterization refers to the visible attributes and history of a person. This is often the starting point to get to know the cast. If you want to create real characters, they need a personality and a history.

  • Module 4: How to design the plot for a novel? A well-designed plot progressively builds up the pressure in the story and forces characters into increasingly difficult dilemmas where they must make tough choices. The old saying the “plot thickens” is a useful one here.

    Learn more about my writing courses and contact me on info@rehankhan.com

Testimonials from previous students who have taken Rehan’s writing courses:


"Rehan’s course has been a huge blessing”.

As somebody with a yearning to write meaningful stories, but little sense of how to structure the process, Rehan’s course has been a huge blessing. Guiding us through the key building blocks of storytelling, and equipping us with the tools we need to craft and develop our ideas, Rehan has systematically shown us how to design sound foundations and frameworks for our novels. I’ve enjoyed his clear, engaging and encouraging style of teaching, and have gained a lot of creative confidence for my writing journey ahead."

– Neil King, Freelance writer, editor and content creator

"I benefited immensely from his classes”.

Rehan was made to teach this course. He imparts years of wisdom with the patience and experience of a great teacher. Warm and approachable, I benefited immensely from his classes, especially the important primers on building good habits to become a better writer. I think one of his unique qualities is the way Rehan combines sound scientific and sociological research to help writers better understand themselves, with a real appreciation for the fast-paced world we live in that causes endless distractions for the aspiring writer. His courses are a gem, and shouldn’t be missed"

– Dr Faris Abdelhadi, Scholar

"Beautifully designed, informative and enjoyable”.

This course offers an excellent breakdown of the pillars on which a novel is designed and built. Rehan's ideas are well explained with concrete evidence and examples, and a friendly, supportive tone. I particularly liked the clarity in the approach to writing character and developing plot. Rehan's approach is direct and confident, while allowing you to discover and develop your own preferred systems. The course notes are also a very helpful reference."

– Flora Rees, Head of Programming at Emirates Literature Foundation

"Best writing course I have ever taken”.

“This is an excellent course for both beginner and professional writers who are seeking to improve their ability to design and write a novel. Rehan is a very experienced writer who shares the best of what he has learned about the craft in this course. Not only does Rehan break down and simplify the process for writing a novel, but he does it in a way that is both entertaining and educational. He gives a variety of interesting examples and practical exercises to put his teachings into practice. After finishing the course, I felt inspired to write more fiction and continue working on my novel. As someone who has read numerous books and attended several courses on writing, I can honestly say that this is the best writing course I have taken. I highly recommended it to any person seeking to become a better writer”

– Mostafa Allam, Advisor, Schwarzman Scholar, INSEAD MBA

"A Perfect Guide to Writing a Novel”.

“This is a great course for anyone interested in the subject. Mr. Khan delves successfully into the whole architecture of writing a novel from its early inception all the way to the actual task itself. Implementing a thorough analysis of what constitutes the very ecosystem of a novel, he provides a series of apt examples to demonstrate every aspect of creating a story with resonance and depth. Highly recommended.”

– Dimitrios Katsantonis, Writer and Producer

"Brilliant course, highly recommended!”.

“I absolutely loved this course and can't recommend it enough. Writing a plot-driven novel might seem like a daunting project so a course that helps break down the process is what every writer needs. Rehan is clearly quite passionate about writing and planning and this is evident in every module. The course really helps writers navigate the entire process of planning a novel by encouraging them to think carefully about every aspect. It's definitely a course for writers who are serious about their craft...probably the only course they'd need.”

– Lamya Tawfik, Writer, Copywriter

"Loved the emphasis on plot and structure”.

"We're often told that there's no one way to write a novel, but if you've tried the 'go with the flow' approach and it either just hasn't worked for you or you've reached a point where you're really stuck, Rehan does a great job of explaining how structuring and designing your novel beforehand can help lay stronger foundations for your novel, save you valuable writing and editing time in the long-term, and figure out what is/isn't working and why. ”

– Annabelle Corton, Literature Festival Programme Curator & Radio Producer/Presenter