From a creative writing short course to a book deal: Veronika Dapunt's story
- Written byCarys Thomas
- Published date 08 April 2025
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Veronika Dapunt has always loved writing and dreamed of becoming a published author one day. Looking to develop her skills, she joined two of our creative writing short courses at Central Saint Martins and has now agreed a two-book deal with Transworld, a division of Penguin Random House.
Veronika’s debut novel, Death and Other Occupational Hazards, was runner-up for the 2023 Comedy Women in Print Prize and will be released on Thursday 10 April 2025.
We caught up with her to find out about the launch and hear about her experience on our Creative Writing Fact and Fiction Beginners and Intensive short course. Veronika tells us about her inspiring journey and shares her advice for aspiring writers.
Do you have a story to tell? Discover how a creative writing short course can help you gain the skills and confidence to start writing.
What sparked your interest in our creative writing courses?
I’ve always loved writing and dreamed of completing a novel long before I actually did. A few years ago, I decided to pursue this goal in earnest, and that’s when I started researching creative writing courses. When I came across Elise’s [course tutor] impressive profile and her course at UAL, it seemed like the perfect choice. I had collaborated with UAL and some of its outstanding alumni in one of my previous jobs and was consistently impressed by the university’s creative excellence across disciplines. The campus in King’s Cross, in particular, is so vibrant — just walking through it and seeing all the incredible work students produce never failed to amaze me.
What were some of the most valuable things you learned during the course?
I learned so much which has proved absolutely invaluable. First and foremost what I learned was how to give and receive feedback — which perhaps doesn’t sound like the most exciting part of a writer’s life but is absolutely essential. It not only improves one’s craft, but is also key preparation for working effectively with editors at publishing houses, or in a writers room for a TV show. Elise had a remarkable ability to nurture individual talent while ensuring group discussions delivered constructive and positive suggestions. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I left inspired and encouraged every single time.
Elise also always highlighted that almost every writer’s journey involves a lot of tenacity and perseverance, and I think that is really important to bear in mind for anyone who is thinking of embarking on a career as an author.
Did you enjoy the collaborative environment?
Personally, I don’t know how people write novels without a good writing group — it’s so important to get early feedback and to see whether you’re going in the right direction. For screenwriters it’s actually very common to work as part of a team in so called ‘writers rooms’, because when creative minds collaborate effectively, wonderful things tend to happen. It’s also, quite simply, a lot of fun to share your work with other talented writers and have exciting creative debates.
Did the beginners' course help you find your narrative voice?
The beginners' course definitely helped me understand more about the craft of writing, and how to lean into my own creative processes whilst working in a group. When I started the beginner’s course, I didn’t have a firm idea of what I wanted to write, so this definitely became much clearer for me during our weekly meetings.
How did the intensive course differ from the beginners' course?
In the intensive course we generally developed our own projects, rather than completing a weekly task (though Elise was always happy to set one if we wanted to practise something specific). It was so much fun discovering all the exciting projects everyone was working on! I wrote my first novel during the intensive course, and the discussion in the group as well as Elise’s feedback improved this significantly. There is no doubt I’m a better writer because of it.
What are some of the most significant things you've accomplished as a result of taking these courses?
First of all, I think just finishing a novel is already an accomplishment, and doing the course definitely helped with that. I was also incredibly honoured that my debut, Death and Other Occupational Hazards, won runner-up at the 2023 Comedy Women in Print Prize. After that I signed with an agent and was astonished when my book received offers from multiple publishers. I ultimately agreed a two-book deal with Transworld, a division of Penguin Random House, and am absolutely thrilled that my novel will be out in the world on April 10th (2025)! Elise’s course and the guidance she gave were essential to this, and I will forever be grateful.
What are your next steps in your creative writing journey?
My book launch — so exciting! And as I have a two-book deal I’m also writing my second novel at the moment. In addition, I’ve been awarded a fully-funded place on an MA in Comedy Screenwriting, which I’ve now almost completed, so I’m planning to do some work for film and TV too.
Would you recommend these courses to other aspiring writers?
One hundred thousand percent. You will meet lovely people, get some wonderful guidance from Elise, nourish your creativity and spend time in the fantastic UAL campus. And for those who are serious about getting published, you’ll get some great advice on how to make this happen.
What advice would you give to someone considering taking these courses?
Enjoy it! Some of the best experiences of my writing journey actually happened during the course or as a result of it. I would also absolutely advise to try and set up a writing group with the people you meet; we did and some of us still share our work, years later. My final point is something Elise always used to say to me: perseverance works.
Veronika Dapunt’s debut novel, Death and Other Occupational Hazards, is a darkly comedic murder mystery about a female personified Death whose sabbatical in modern-day London is rudely interrupted by a string of unplanned murders. Quirky, fun and witty, this is Death like you've never met her before. The book will be released on Thursday 10 April 2025 and is available to pre-order now.
You never know where a short course could take you! Check out our upcoming short courses to see how a short course could help you achieve your creative goals.
