The Advanced Outline Class

‘When I joined the course, I’d already written a 90,000-word manuscript. But, after a consultation with an editor, I learned that it was not a novel whatsoever, but more of a 90,000-word diary entry. I had no idea how to structure a novel. After taking The Advanced Outline Class, plus many additional hours of The Novelry’s resources, I now feel I have a very firm grip on all the aspects and theory of novel writing. The benefits that have helped me the most are the incredible community, Catch Up TV and all the amazing resources, and a greater confidence in moving ahead with my revisions. Had I not been referred to The Novelry, and gone through the course and many other resources, there is no way I would know how to approach the massive revision of my manuscript. I now feel I have the tools to create a real and enticing story with the proper bones and structure of a well-crafted novel.’

‘I, honestly, just thought I couldn’t write fiction, but now I have gained so much information and confidence. The Advanced Outline Class has gifted me with an invaluable understanding about how to plot, structure and pace my mystery novel and the practical tools to pull it off. The revelation about the midpoint was very revealing. I have since gone back and read what’s at 50% of some of my favorite books and – bam! – there it is! It’s crazy to think how I never noticed that before. As an English literature major in college, I never felt that I could “pull back the veil” of mystery that published writers seemed to have discovered. But thanks to The Novelry, I now realise that there is no veil of mystery. There is simply the knowledge and understanding of the basic elements that make up all novels. And now that I, too, have that information, I am confident that my novel will be a cracking success!’

‘The work I have been writing did not have a clear focus. It was all a bit jumbled up and confusing. I knew that I needed tools to continue, and The Advanced Outline Class has exceeded all my expectations. It’s truly the most helpful thing I have done for my writing. I am energised and I have my writing mojo back! Reframing the novel as a product and being honest with myself about who I am writing it for really lifted a lot of pressure off me. Until then, it felt like this novel was an extension of myself and that brought too much pressure with it. The course has been such a joyous ride! I always looked forward to the next lesson and was quite sad when it came to an end. It’s such an inspiring, confidence-boosting course. My toolbox is full to the brim, and I am once again excited to write my book, but perhaps most importantly, I now feel like I know how to do it!’

‘In my journey of learning the craft of creative writing, I have taken writing courses and subscribe to blogs from experts, which I read daily. This has enabled me to complete two manuscripts, however, after querying agents unsuccessfully over the past couple of years, I realised I needed help. At the suggestion of a writing colleague, I signed up for The Advanced Outline Class at The Novelry and worked my way through the course. It gave me clarity in how I might re-work my manuscript and improve my chances of securing an agent or publisher. It was so helpful to understand how to use theme in the two halves of the novel, the importance of the midpoint and how important a Hero Book is in giving an author confidence when writing a novel. Learning the delightful simplicity of The Five Fs and their impact on structure, and keeping an eye on what the character wants but understanding what the character needs. There were so many “aha” moments, as I learnt tips, tricks and tools (not rules!). I have specific steps that I can apply immediately to my current manuscripts, to give them the zing they are missing, and have a solid foundation to begin new work. I loved every moment of it.’

‘I spent five years puzzling over how to make a fantasy idea work as a novel. I had never written a novel before, though I had plenty of creative writing experience! I was struggling to make the structure of the thing work, though I had many ideas. As a result of taking this course, I now have a working plan, detailed synopses, chapter outlines, and a clear path forward. I really appreciated Louise’s friendly lectures—there was just enough hand holding and clarity, but no sugar coating or talking down. The course material approached me as an experienced writer, and it was this aspect which made me feel right at home. I will forever be a fan of The Five Fs, which are so much clearer to use than the traditional storytelling triangles and arcs, and I absolutely love that this is a framework I can carry forward with other ideas and future novels. I have hope for my writing career in a way I haven’t had since my undergraduate days and I am deeply encouraged to continue with my work. I am delighted to have taken The Advanced Outline Class, which did a terrific job of unsticking my writing progress. I have new strategies to carry forward as I write, and I can approach both reading and writing in a clear, analytical way to inform the process. After years of nearly giving up the dream, I ended the class feeling like I can absolutely be a novelist. I’m motivated and ready to craft.’

‘I have a completed novel I am editing, but I was stuck with way too sub-plots and underdeveloped characters. As a result of taking this class, I was able to better develop my characters and streamline my plot to make the story tighter now that I have a better idea of story structure and numerous tools to continue my series. The Advanced Outline Class gave me a new way to look at story development, making my writing journey less arduous. It gave me insight into my works that will hopefully translate into successful publishing.’

‘I love writing and have written a novel that was a fictional memoir for my kids and published it, and I wrote a children’s book. I wanted to “up” my writing and I wanted a plan to write a novel, and had been looking at The Novelry for over a year. This class was a good kickstarter for The Ninety Day Novel and the full Finished Novel Course. I loved the sharing by Kate Riordan. That was very honest and helpful to have her sharing her reflections in the course, and The Novelry Live resource was superb. I feel like I have some great tools in my belt and a decent plan of action. I am excited for the next part and the year ahead, and I trust the process. Everyone I’ve met in my life wants to write a book. Few do. The Novelry provides writers the opportunity to fulfill a dream. And while they push you, they also always let you know that everything will be OK and that they are walking along with you.’

‘I have never written a novel before and was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I have really enjoyed this course so much and am motivated (yet still nervous) to write. Taking The Advanced Outline Class has given me all the confidence I needed to finally start planning my novel. This class has given me everything I need to write and then some! I am so grateful I found this course and cannot wait to begin The Ninety Day Novel!’

‘While I already knew how to write a book, I was concerned that I didn’t know how to structure my story effectively. I feel a lot more confident about what I’m writing now. This course has given me a thorough insight into what makes a good book. From the story arc of a novel to chapter outlines and sentence structures down to simple adjectives that hint at underlying theme, I now feel like I’ve got the tools to write with purpose.’

‘Before taking the course, I didn’t really grasp the importance of thinking about the positioning of a novel in a genre at the planning stage, which this course has really helped me with. It has helped me be a bit more savvy about what I’m writing and in better control of the novel from the outset. There were so many points that were helpful, but I think the one that comes to mind is reading the start and endings of chapters of a novel in the same genre, which was a very big penny drop moment for me!! This was such great advice. I now have increased confidence in my ability to work on a novel and solve problems in the planning and/or edits. The course has helped me to read more as a writer, something I thought I was doing, but I wasn’t really! The Novelry is a magical place for writers to gain confidence, feel supported and learn a huge amount about all aspects of writing and craft. From their excellent courses, supportive workshops, caring mentors and wonderful editors, it’s the best place to be, to grow as a writer at any stage! Thank you, Louise, for setting up such an amazing place!’

‘Before I joined the course, I was repeatedly floundering, finding it difficult to get more than a few chapters in and to give agency to my lesser characters. I now have a fully plotted synopsis and simple chapter outlines. The Advanced Outline Class is perfectly paced and seemed to anticipate my every need, even down to understanding the point where I felt confused and slightly in over my head. Understanding the power of the opening sentence and working through perfect, published openings is highly motivating. With the Advanced Outline Class behind me, I feel fully prepared and am excited to start my Ninety Day Novel adventure. Thank you, The Novelry, I would not be here without you.’

‘The Advanced Outline Class has been such a positive experience—and not intimidating to my pantser self! I’ve written a solid synopsis and feel more confident about querying agents, and getting my first novel published. Being a member looks good in a query letter bio! I love the workshops and being part of The Novelry community. The workshop is my favorite part of the site; I enjoy the feedback and the long-distance friendships with other writers.’

‘I had a huge, unwieldy behemoth of a first draft and absolutely zero confidence that it contained a viable story. I joined The Novelry because I was starting to spiral and knew I could use some help. Thanks to The Advanced Outline Class I’ve honed my theme a good bit more than it was previously. The chaptered outline and synopsis proved to be great exercises to pinpoint some issues I hadn’t noticed before. I’ve already filled some significant plot holes and shifted one of my POVs so that I’m actually excited to write it. I’m feeling newly energized to start re-drafting this book.’

‘Before starting The Advanced Class, I was feeling overwhelmed and struggling to make a plan to finish my novel. Thanks to this course, I realized I was starting my novel in the wrong place. Once I changed the beginning and determined the midpoint, I was able to put together a much clearer plot summary with a story I’m excited about. I also refined my theme and got to know my main character better. I’m excited to start writing! All of the lessons are fantastic and helped me get my head around the story I’m writing. I also love the length of the lessons. They are focused and easy to digest. By the time I completed the last lesson, I had a stronger theme, a deeper understanding of my main character and antagonist, and a clear plot summary for a story I’m genuinely excited to write. This course gave me the confidence to keep going!’

‘With The Advanced Class I learned how fun it is to be curious, and see what happens on the page, and I learned the practice of ABSOLUTE CONTROL. It’s my world! I’ve slowed down. This has been huge. Sometimes I just sit quietly in the mornings. This morning, as I’m writing this, the fireplace is lit, my dog is snoring on the chair next to me and my half-drunk cup of coffee is waiting to be refilled. I sit with my story and my characters, allowing them to reveal themselves to me instead of trying to fit them into various partial copies of myself. It is these moments when I feel the most content. Thank you for creating this, and creating a place where anyone and everyone feels at home and in safe hands.’

‘I really loved the way the class broke things down. The advice was practical and understandable in a way that I haven’t found in a lot of other writing books and courses. The Advanced Class has given me the knowledge and confidence to be able to handle the problems and crises this new novel is sure to throw at me. It has shown me how to build a strong foundation from the beginning while keeping it flexible enough to grow and change as my novel does.’

‘The Advanced Class has really helped me to flesh out my characters and organize my story. I have a better idea of story and chapter structure. I feel like I now have all the tools I need to make my story the best it can be. Before, I felt writing an entire novel sounded too overwhelming. But now I can’t wait to write it!’