The Big Edit Class

Your success, on your terms. Always.

This is a self-paced class; you drive the development of the edit. You have immediate access to all lessons. The tempo of the march is yours to decide. 

But when it comes to editing your novel, you’ll work in a different way to writing your first draft. 

We recommend setting aside chunks of time for the heavy lifting and logical flow of the revisions. 

You may wish to explore one lesson (and its associated activities) per week—working in 2–3-hour time slots, when your schedule allows.

But if time is tight and life is getting in the way, never fear. You have access to The Big Edit for a year. So: 52 lessons in total, and 52 weeks in which to do them.

A good story will wait

You have 365 days’ access to The Big Edit Class. But don’t worry if you need to stop editing for a while.

You can easily extend your access beyond your year, or stay on as a member with access to the workshops and community for just $29.99 (or £24.99) a month or $299 (or £249) a year.

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Time to check it’s right for you

We maintain a happy and supportive community for all of our writers. So, we offer a 7-day money-back Happy Writing Guarantee for all our classes and courses, should you change your mind.

Invested in your success

Our team are not freelance or part-time. They are in-house and dedicated to the fortunes of our writers!

Our goal is to see you get published, and we will do all we can to get you there. So if you’re not quite there yet, we will show you what’s needed and you can book as many further Paid Feedback Sessions as you wish to work with your editor while you’re a member.

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Write in good company

Guided, group-based workshops with fellow writers, bestselling authors and publishing professionals. Offered live online, but also recorded, so you can easily catch up if you miss one.

You’ll get advice and writing prompts, genre-specific challenges and exercises to help you develop your writing and deepen your craft. And of course, you’ll have a community of like-minded spirits, cheering you on as you reach each milestone on your journey.

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Page-turners don’t happen by accident

They’re created, carved and chiseled thanks to unique knowledge of the market and exclusive insight into commercial viability.

Our Story First Method™ ensures the tale you want to tell is likely to excite publishers, agents and readers before you begin to revise your draft. Saving you a whole lot of time and trouble, and allowing you to hit the page to re-write with confidence.

Our method is a more efficient way of working, and stacks the odds of publishing success in your favor.

‘Outstanding genre-specific workshops!’

—April Love-Fordham

You may be burning to write a thriller, yearning to capture a romance, or scoping out the near-future world of a science fiction story.

Maybe you’re yet to discover your type. Perhaps you’re between genres right now.

Any which way, this course will help you put your story on steroids. You can choose your author coach based on their expertise, and our genre-specific workshops are in a league of their own.

Catch Up TV for storytellers

(Binge-watch the series.)

Over 100 classes with famous bestselling writers, publishing experts and leading literary agents for you to explore in your own time.

Find out how your best-loved authors (really) write their books, from Tess Gerritsen, Paula Hawkins, Sophie Kinsella and Val McDermid to Lucy Foley, Katherine Rundell, Samantha Shannon, Steven Erikson and (so) many more.

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Come for the course. Stay for the people.

We’re the largest online writing community exclusively for novelists and memoir writers. This group offers you a safe space to share the ins and outs and ups and downs of the creative life.

It’s ad-free and bound by the terms of confidentiality, allowing you to be yourself as a writer among industry professionals, trusted new friends, and like-minded people.

What’s more, our annual U.S. and U.K. parties and networking events offer the perfect opportunity to mingle and celebrate your work. Cheers to that!

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We’re the home of happy writing  

When choosing your writing course, always make sure to look for these things:

• Independent rave reviews from real people giving their names.
• Writing coaches who are award-winning and bestselling published authors.
• One-on-one, personalized instruction focused on what you need.
• A professional path to getting published with links to a range of literary agencies.
• An inspiring writers’ group with a kind and encouraging ethos.

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Your adventure awaits

Storytelling lies at the very heart of the class.

But that can mean a myriad of things to many different people.

Some join us simply to write for the pleasure of the process. Some, for family and friends.

Others wish to tread the commercial path to publishing. Which is why you should know that we’re trusted by the world’s leading literary agents, and our graduates go on to secure major contracts from Big Five publishers in the U.S.A., the U.K. and worldwide.

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‘Louise Dean is a significant voice in fiction’

—The Observer

When it comes to writing, and writing success, Founder and Course Director Louise Dean knows a thing or two about a thing or two.

Booker Prize-listed, winner of the Betty Trask Prize and the Le Prince Maurice Prize, finalist for the Costa Coffee 2020 Short Story Award, longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Award, and nominated for the Guardian First Book Prize (among others), Louise has earned plaudits from the Nobel Laureate for Literature, no less. Her books have been praised by the New York Times, the Guardian, the Observer and the Sunday Times.

Louise shares her (award-winning) wordsmithery secrets in the courses and classes and draws on a lifetime and love of reading fiction and the techniques of the greats.

Meet Louise