Inspire26
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?
With inspiring private conversations from the best industry experts, Inspire26 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, Inspire26 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.
- Miranda Doyle, A Book of Untruths (Faber & Faber)
How does Inspire26 work?
Each month we meet for an inspiring live session, combining carefully curated writing exercises and strategies with private conversations 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.
Deepen the inspiration by registering before December 5th
Register for Inspire 26 by December 5th to be part of the Deep Dive tribe. For these
earlybirds, your year of inspiration will be deepened by weekly audio notes from me,
guiding you in setting an intention and practice for the week ahead. With strategies,
reflections and exercises, these notes will mean that you always have a focus for
your creativity. The empty page or empty screen will be an inviting, not daunting.
Every Monday, from the beginning of February until the end of November, your guide
will be waiting for you to listen to when your walking, driving or writing.
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...
- Mark Haddon, author of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Inspire26 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
- Industry guests for transformative Q&A masterclasses – film producers, leading literary agents from Australia and the UK, 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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Invitations to additional online conversations and first options on in-person events
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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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For earlybirds only (registering by December 5th), weekly audio guides with focused strategies, reflections and exercises, designed to connect you with your creative instinct and transform your daily habits.
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For those registering by the end of October, a full month of new unique writing prompts, to guide you into a creative flow and set your year off to an inspired start.
What is the Inspire26 schedule?
Monthly live sessions on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm Sydney/Melbourne time, online, wherever you are in the world, from February to November.
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 exclusive conversations will guide you into the writing world, revealing new avenues and connections.
We’ll meet with a BBC radio book and drama producer, a film producer focusing on adaptations, two leading literary agents (one from Australia, one from the UK), Australian and British publishers, coaches and internationally renowned writers.
All live sessions take place at 7:00pm – 9:00pm Sydney time
Inspiring Expert Guests
Guests for 2026 include Sarah Lambert, producer and screenwriter. Sarah was the creator, producer and showrunner for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, starring Sigourney Weaver and adapted from Holly Ringland’s novel of the same name. Sarah has adapted several novels and memoirs for screen, as well as original stories; BBC radio drama and book producer Gaynor McFarlane, literary agent Pippa Masson from Curtis Brown, as well as UK and Australian publishers and agents, presentation and pitching coaches, and renowned writers
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.
- Sam Lee, Immersion24 Student
What's my commitment?
Time: Two hours once a month for the live classes
Dates: The second Tuesday of each month from February 10th 2026 | 7:00 - 9:00pm Sydney time
Price until December 31st 2025: AUD $2300 incl.
2026 price: AUD $2600 incl.
We want you to be able to be part of this amazing program. If you would prefer to pay in instalments, please contact us at admin@writermentors.com to arrange a payment plan.
We will then invoice you for a deposit of $650 AUD, followed by three further payments of $550 AUD on February 25th, March 25th and April 25th.
How do I sign up?
Reserve your place for Inspire26 using the button below.
Please register with the email you wish to be contacted on throughout the course. This will be our primary way to reach you.
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!
-Tanya Heaslip, author of Alice Girl (Allen & Unwin)
About Kathryn Heyman
Dr Kathryn Heyman is the award-winning author of seven 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. Her new novel, Circle of Wonders will be published by 4th Estate/Harper Collins in April 20226
Have any questions? Contact us on admin@writermentors.com