Course notes
67 pages
Master literary techniques and turn your wildest thoughts into fantastic fiction.
Alan Moore
Storytelling
Join the maestro of storytelling and learn to create mesmerising fiction by mastering inventive language, characterisation, world-building and more.
33
lessons,
6 hrs
Course notes
$90
The Course
Alan Moore has dedicated his life to writing and now he's letting you peek in on his previously private process. This writing course will inspire you to create mesmerising fiction by interweaving language, story, character, setting, world-building and more. Let this esoteric genius inspire you to build a life as a writer and deliver your very best work.
Your Maestro
This creative writing course comes from the incessantly imaginative bestseller, Alan Moore. His writing straddles genre with comics like From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Swamp Thing, and modern literary classics, including Jerusalem, a 1,266-page experimental epic novel set over centuries and realms in his hometown of Northampton.
He made it on to Time’s 100 Best Novels list and has won numerous awards leading to cult-like, legendary status and critical acclaim. Each morsel of wisdom out of Alan’s mouth will have you thinking in a new way.
Lessons
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7 mins
Welcome to Alan’s world. Where magic and storytelling intertwine, and good writing is valued over public opinion.
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6 mins
Delve into the history of writing modifying consciousness from stone-age magic and the bardic tradition to you, now, typing away.
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4 mins
Everybody can (and probably should) write. The first step is to develop yourself by cultivating an aesthetic and political viewpoint.
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12 mins
Learn about the four classical elements you should master as a writer – coins, sword, cup and wand.
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8 mins
How to read anything and everything with a critical eye and come away with learnings on effective writing techniques.
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8 mins
Alan talks about mining your imagination for story gold without getting caught in a cave-in at the pit.
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9 mins
Just how powerful are words? Understand how language is our foremost technology and makes up the entirety of our conscious awareness.
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11 mins
Discover how writing affects the brain and how a little wordplay can spark synapses in a very satisfying way. Just ask Shakespeare.
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9 mins
A consideration of the pros and cons of simple, plain English versus decorative, decadent language.
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13 mins
Develop your literary ear by learning to identify and employ rhythmic elements in your writing.
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9 mins
A few tips for keeping your reader engaged with innovative writing, and an introduction to the masters of literary invention.
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10 mins
Get your imaginative tale in order with a three-act structure and the perfect narrative format for your story.
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8 mins
Alan talks about getting to know the tropes of different genres so you can mix them up and break the rules.
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11 mins
Witty, horrific, satirical? Past or present tense? First or third person? With a slight shift you can change everything.
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8 mins
Explore how time passes within the narrative and in the process of reading as well as how to employ pace, comedic timing and time travel.
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14 mins
How to delightfully deceive and betray your readership and have them thank you for it.
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20 mins
Inhabit your characters with conviction to convince your readers they are real people. Here’s how.
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16 mins
How to make fantastical, impossible, detestable, reprehensible characters realistic and relatable.
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18 mins
Learn about how place will help you develop your story and the psychology of your characters.
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15 mins
Tips for creating new worlds, including a close-up look at how Alan built Neopolis from the pavement up.
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17 mins
Using memories, historic details, speech and slang to immerse your readers in the time of your story.
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7 mins
Comics, screenwriting for film or television, novels, theatre, poetry, song-writing – a lot of writing skills can be used across disciplines.
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23 mins
‘The Orson Welles of comic books’ (The Times) tells the truth about the comics industry and the extraordinary power of comics as a medium.
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23 mins
Acquiring a cinematic vocabulary helps you write for film and television and learn skills for all types of writing. Here’s where to start.
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12 mins
See how writing for music is a great way to practice metre and rhythmic language, while performance gives you invaluable immediate feedback.
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5 mins
Looking ahead to writing and creating new worlds for virtual reality stories. What possibilities of consciousness might that bring?
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8 mins
Don’t get stuck in a rut. Alan talks about mixing up your writing, trying new things and dipping a toe in the avant-garde.
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5 mins
A look at literary innovators like Sterne, Woolf and Proust and how what was once radical has become part of the writer’s everyday tool kit.
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10 mins
Techniques you might want to try in your experimentation of progressive writing methods and interesting speculative fiction ideas.
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14 mins
A small warning about going too far and tips for creating progressive writing that is still entertaining and accessible.
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3 mins
How far writing has come, where it could go next and how you, as a writer, are joining a transformative human tradition.
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4 mins
Everyone can write; everyone should write. Alan shares a story about an atypical storyteller.
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3 mins
A new word coined just to say goodbye, fare well and send you on your merry way to write a better world.
What People are Saying
I’ve learned more about the craft of writing from Alan Moore than from any other human alive. This is really exciting. He’s teaching an online BBC Maestro class.
- Neil Gaiman
The most wizardly of the literary time-tamperers.
- The Atlantic on Alan Moore
One of the most significant fiction writers in English.
- The Guardian on Alan Moore
I actually finished going through this course earlier this afternoon, and couldn't have been more pleased! I felt inspired, encouraged, and validated that I'm doing good things with/for my writing, and gathered a lot of great takeaways as well as a decent reading list (and future gift ideas) from the books talked about throughout the course!
- Melissa Sain
Alan Moore has clearly amassed a huge knowledge of storytelling over 40 years, and these very personal lessons have really helped me make sense of trying to be a writer, after floundering for many years. Alan has helped me pinpoint my flaws and how to remedy them as well of letting me know when I’ve been on the right track, and when to guide me back onto the track. So far it has been a magical experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be a writer, but is beset by uncertainty and trepidation. Alan Moore knows the way.
- Paul Scott
This is the third writing course I've done with BBC Maestro and though I haven't finished it, it is the best. Alan Moore has an idiosyncratic way of imparting writing knowledge that captivates and delights, as well as informs. Loving every minute of it.
- Varda Tully
Wonderfully motivating, entertaining and useful, delivered with originality, humour and depth. Thank you Alan Moore for a great course.
- Anon
Alan Moore is a hero to me. I suspected this might be a bit patronising and rubbish. It’s really not. Academically sound and in depth. Recommended
- Graham Robertson
Mr. Moore is clear, thorough, and easy to listen to. The content is very helpful and interesting so far.
- E. Cross
So far it was really inspiring. Bringing me new tools and stimulating my imagination. It also brought me a lot of suggestions for books to read. Overall this course was what I needed as a young writer.
- David
Alan Moore is an incredible personality and hearing his stories is a pleasure.
- Youri
I sincerely love everything about this course. Mr. Moore, the production value, the atmosphere, the set, the lessons... Everything. I even love Mr. Moore's fashion sense.
- Michael Zaccagnino
Alan Moore talking about magic and writing and appears to be uncensored by the BBC. I like the length of the episodes and the notes provided. Listening to Mr Moore talk is a magical experience in its self. No really, the guy does magic.
- Anon
I am only about halfway through the course at this moment. It has met and exceeded my expectations. The vast amounts of knowledge distilled through the mind and presented by Mr. Moore is well worth the cost to an aspiring author and artist such as myself.
- Antanas Bulota
I highly recommend Alan Moore’s BBC Maestro course. He talks about writing profoundly. He dares to expect more from a writer than pragmatic professionalism and competence in the service of Mammon. I found it deeply inspiring. A visit to the archetypal wise-man of our industry.
- Clive Frayne
I’m twenty lessons deep into this course, and I have to say this — I haven’t had this much fun in ages. His view on writing has rekindled a dying fire - I. Want. To. Write. Again.
- Anon
The @bbcmaestro #AlanMoore writing/storytelling course is turning out to be one of the most enchanting things I've had the pleasure of listening to in what feels like a cursed eternity. Hail Glycon!
- Eddie Ruminski
VERY happy to report this Alan Moore [BBC Maestro course] is the real deal. I'm a handful of chapters in and it is everything this life long fan and educator could have wanted from it.
- Brian Michael Bendis
What an extraordinary man, thinker, writer, and most important, teacher! [...] I'm only halfway through, but I think I'm a better writer this week then I was last.
- Bob Zaslow
I just finished the course, and I’m sad to see it end. This is a remarkable journey from start to finish — I would highly recommend this course to everyone. Thank you to Alan Moore and @bbcmaestro !
- Anon
I’m really enjoying Alan’s course. He has opened my eyes in terms of what story and writing have the potential to be. His examples and literary text references are exceptional. This is a man who is passionate about our language and using it to change our consciousness and perception through story. Thank you Alan and BBC Maestro.
- Trevor Howis
I’ve bought this. It is BRILLIANT. The way he gets his lessons across is truly magical! And he’s hilarious. If you are even just considering getting it, DO IT!
- Anon
Want to be a writer?
Alan Moore dedicated his life to writing fiction. Let him help you live the creative life of a writer.
33
lessons,
6 hrs
Course notes
$90
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Common Questions
At BBC Maestro, we want to educate and inspire people to explore their creativity with online courses taught by experts. We've curated top talents in various fields, who deliver video courses to teach you everything you need to know to follow in their footsteps.
BBC Maestro is currently available in the following territories: United Kingdom, Isle of Mann, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Australia, South Africa, Canada, India, Brazil, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal and USA. We are planning on launching BBC Maestro in other territories in the future. Please subscribe to our mailing list and follow our social media channels for updates.
BBC Maestro does not currently offer a subscription service. Each individual course can be bought with a one-off payment.
Yes, all our courses have English subtitles that can be accessed by clicking the CC button on the video player. We also have downloadable PDF course notes in English to accompany each course, which offer more detailed information and tips. We do not currently offer subtitles in any other languages.