Join esteemed author Claire Thomas in this practical short course on finding ideas for fiction.
Between now and 11.59pm (AEDT) Sunday 23 March, KYD members can enjoy $50 off this course! Become a KYD member before 23 March to receive this discount.
This is a course about ideas for fiction. We will interrogate the idea of an idea—how to recognise and accept one. We will also consider ways of finding new ideas, through observation, curiosity, memory and the self. Finally, you will learn a bit about managing ideas. This course is for people who think they have no ideas, as well as those who have many ideas but cannot work out how to best pursue them. Ideas are a confidence trick, and this course hopes to offer you both inspiration and practical strategies so that your ideas might become fiction.
You will learn:
- That an idea can be almost anything at all
- How to value the ideas you already have
- How to find new ideas for the writing of fiction
- How to practically and creatively manage your ideas
- Confidence in your ability to recognise, cherish and trust your ideas
Scroll down to see the full course curriculum and a list of frequently asked questions.
KYD Members receive a 10% discount on this course and all other KYD online courses throughout the year. Become a member here, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Want to buy a course for a friend? Purchase a gift voucher here.
Your Instructor: Claire Thomas
Claire Thomas is a writer from Naarm/Melbourne. Her debut novel, Fugitive Blue, won the Dobbie Award for Women Writers and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. The Performance, shortlisted in the 2022 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and longlisted for the Miles Franklin, was published with Hachette (ANZ), Riverhead Books (Nth America), W&N (UK), Gallimard (French), Hanser Verlag (German), Alba Editorial (Spanish) and is forthcoming in Arabic with Sefsafa Publishing House. Claire has an Honours degree in English and Art History, a MA in Creative Writing, and a PhD from the University of Melbourne. She has worked as a lecturer, supervisor, mentor and teacher for many years.
Claire’s third novel, On Not Climbing Mountains, will be published in early 2026, and was written with the support of a 2023 residency at the Fondation Jan Michalski in Montricher, Switzerland.
Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish. We encourage you to approach this material not just as lessons to be finished once and for all, but also as a collection of resources to which you can return time and again.
How long do I have access to the course?
Forever! After enrolling, you have unlimited lifetime access to this course - across any and all devices you own.
Does the teacher provide feedback?
No. If you are interested in receiving feedback on your project, we encourage you to check out KYD's Manuscript Assessment Service: https://killyourdarlings.com.au/shop/manuscript-assessments/
How do I access my course?
All our online workshops are hosted at workshops.killyourdarlings.com.au, via the Teachable platform. You can access your workshop by logging in at that link, or by following the link in your welcome email when you enrol. Please note that as the Teachable platform is a separate website to KYD you will need to create a new account, and will not be able to use your KYD login details.
I'm a KYD member. How do I receive my 10% discount?
Click on 'Enrol in course for $99'. Enter the coupon code that was emailed to you when you became a KYD member at checkout, underneath the tutor's photo.
What if I have another question?
You can email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!