Inspire25
A year-long writing masterclass.
Get inspired.
You’ve started to write a story, a book, a collection of poems.
Or you’re partway through writing the novel you always wanted to create. You know that the next step is to navigate the world of publishing, producing, connecting with audiences
and readers. But it's also about mastery: harnessing your finest creative qualities on the page and off. How do you get from here to there?
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With rich masterclasses from the best industry experts, Inspire25 will be your cheer squad, your inspiration and your graduation cohort as you master the writing life.
Whether you’re at the first word or the first draft, Inspire25 will help you soar to the next stage. This year-long masterclass community will help you honour your commitment to completing a draft, a story, a collection of poems, a final edit,
and sending it out into the world.
For the past twenty-five years acclaimed author Dr Kathryn Heyman has helped writers around the world harness their own creative vision. Named ‘one of the world’s best creative writing teachers’ by Harpers Bazaar UK, she has coached both award-winning writers and those just starting to bring a precious story into the world. She has helped serious writers to publish their work and inspired those who wanted simply to revel in the private pleasure of creativity.
Kathryn Heyman is a revelatory teacher. I love her directness, her honesty, her clarity and her humour. There is always laughter, sometimes an epiphany – literally I feel like I’ve heard the slud and slide of pieces/words/stories falling into place. She is brilliant, and each time I have gone away with the confidence to know what to do.
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- Miranda Doyle, A Book of Untruths (Faber & Faber)
How does Inspire25 work?
Each month we meet for an inspiring live session, combining carefully curated writing exercises and strategies with masterclasses from leading industry insiders. Film scouts, publishers, agents, editors. Each one with a unique insight and skill to share with you, to help you become the best version of your creative self – and help your writing have its best champions.
Together, we will transform the words, and you will discover that you are also transformed. You will become the writer you are meant to be, and your community will be there to cheer you on.
Make 2025 your year of inspiration.​
The structure of Curious Incident owes a great deal to Kathryn Heyman... she was talking about narrative structure... as she spoke, the heavens opened, angels sang...
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- Mark Haddon, author of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Inspire25 includes:
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Ten months of accountability and support to help you reach your destination​
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Access to Kathryn Heyman’s suite of exercises and strategies to transform your writing practice
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The benefit of Kathryn Heyman’s thirty years of experience as an award-winning writer and revered mentor, guiding you to be your best creative self
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Ten monthly in-depth writing sessions, rich with Kathryn’s carefully curated exercises and guidance to help you deepen your writing, clarify your vision and expand your possibilities
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Eight industry guests for transformative Q&A masterclasses – book scouts, leading literary agents, publishers, editors and more
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The exclusive opportunity to connect with world-class industry professionals to deepen your immersion in the writing world
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Access to a library of inspiring conversations and resources to expand your imagination
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Access to all class recordings to keep you inspired whenever you need it
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Inspiring techniques designed to develop your own working practice
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A toolkit of techniques, strategies and exercises to sustain you in your future writing life
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Four bonus live online (and recorded) 50 minute masterclasses with Kathryn Heyman on:
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How to Write Without Fear (especially if you’re stuck)
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How to Write Scenes (even if you know nothing about drama)
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How to Listen to Your Characters (whatever stage you’re at)
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How to Polish Your Prose (no matter how messy)
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What is the Inspire25 schedule?
Monthly live sessions on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm Sydney/Melbourne time, online, wherever you are in the world.
Each month, we focus on a particular ‘creative virtue’ – those qualities that expand your writing and also expand you. In those inspiring two-hour sessions, Kathryn will guide you in expansive writing exercises and reflective strategies so that you will build a body of new writing and connect to a permanent flow of inspiration.
From March through to October, we will gather each month with an influential industry insider to gather exclusive tips and strategies to take your writing to the world. These one-hour long masterclass conversations will guide you into the writing world, revealing new avenues and connections. We’ll meet with a book-to-film scout, leading literary agents, a major publisher, a leading audio producer, an editor and more.
All live sessions take place at 7:00pm – 9:00pm Sydney time, with the exception of the four bonus one-hour masterclasses*
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February 5th – Openness
March 5th – Abundance
April 2nd – Attention
May 7th – Curiosity
June 4th – Compassion
July 2nd – Authenticity
August 6th – Offering
September 3rd – Hope
October 1st – Expectation
November 5th – Connection
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*Four bonus one hour masterclasses with Kathryn Heyman will take place on Tuesday evenings Sydney time. Dates TBC.
Kathryn is phenomenal. She is so warm and has this positivity and energy that makes people feel safe and heard. I love that she focuses on the whole writer. She does the writing exercises, but she also digs into the ‘why’ and ‘who you are as a writer’ – and I think that is often missing in writing courses.
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- Sam Lee, Immersion24 Student
What's my commitment?
Time: Two hours once a month for the live classes.
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Dates: The first Wednesday of each month from February 5th 2025 | 7:00 - 9:00pm Sydney time
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Cost:
Fee for payment in 2024: AUD $2300 + GST
Fee for payment in 2025: AUD $2500 + GST
How do I sign up?
Simply book your place for Inspire25 at the button below:
We want you to be able to be part of this amazing program. Contact us at admin@writermentors.com if you need to discuss a payment plan.
Kathryn is a truly inspiring teacher. She did not give up on my struggles to find the right shape for my story, drumming into me ‘structure and narrative arc’ until one day the penny dropped, and I finally understood what I needed to do. Mine was a long journey but Kathryn’s wonderful support undoubtedly helped me finally receive my two-book deal with Allen & Unwin – and I’m hugely grateful!
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-Tanya Heaslip, author of Alice Girl (Allen & Unwin)
About Kathryn Heyman
Dr Kathryn Heyman is the award-winning author of six novels and the acclaimed memoir, Fury, now in development as a feature film. She's also written many radio plays for the BBC and for stage in Australia and the UK. Kathryn taught creative writing for the University of Oxford and was the Writing Fellow for the University of Glasgow and Royal Literary Writing Fellow for Westminster College, Oxford. Kathryn is the director of the Australian Writers Mentoring Program and has coached many writers from idea to publication.
Have any questions? Contact us on admin@writermentors.com
Inspiring Expert Guests
Gain insights from leading industry professionals throughout the Inspire25 program.
International Literary Scout.
Catherine Eccles
Catherine Eccles is a literary scout and owner of Eccles Fisher Associates, one of the UK’s longest-standing scouting agencies, specialising in finding the best fiction and non-fiction for international publishing and film clients across 19 countries.
Publisher at Penguin Random House Australia.
Meredith Curnow
Meredith Curnow publishes fiction and non-fiction for Penguin Random House Australia. Meredith is a proud board member of Express Media, a national organisation providing support and development opportunities for young Australian writers.
Literary agent Alexander Aitken, London.
Lisa Baker
Lisa Baker is the international rights director at Alexander Aitken, a leading London literary agency. As a literary agent she represents fiction and non-fiction. Her authors include Max Porter, Jessie Greengrass, Niven Govinden and Megan Barke.
Director at Novel Concept Brand Management.
Alice Wood
Alice, former Head of Marketing and Publicity at HarperCollins Australia, led iconic book campaigns like Boy Swallows Universe and Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Now Director of Novel Concept Brand Management, she helps writers authentically share their stories and connect with their audiences.