The Finished Novel Course

‘Before the course, I was concerned about ADHD frustrations and an insufficient understanding of the publishing world, literary markets, and novelist writing standards. With The Ninety Day Novel I received sooooo much useful information and a feeling of community amongst professionals on The Novelry team and fellow newbie authors. The hard work of lessons and crafting into writing along the way was so helpful. Workshops and resources are great and having a talented author coach in Tara Conklin has been a blessing. This course has given me structure, the understanding that all writers are more alike than different when it comes to self doubt and avoiding painful tasks, and the learning from resources provided: lessons from the masters! Whatever is stopping you from writing that book you dream of being published, you can find your answer here at The Novelry. As one with ADD, and after decades of “swimming against the tide,” this writer now has hope. My first draft is done! And with three coaching meetings under my belt, my excitement for The Big Edit phase is off the charts! Whether you seek structure (The Novelry classes will solve this for you), or insight into how to develop the best writing itself (The Novelry will present the masters themselves to you!), or if you feel alone, unsure and are doubting yourself, you can do it. Believe!’

‘I (think!) know I can write, but the concept of producing a draft manuscript has always been too intimidating, even after completing an English degree and creative writing courses with other providers in the field. I wanted a deeper understanding of HOW a novel is structured as it all felt like a bit of a mystery to me. The Ninety Day Novel has provided me with many tools and different perspectives for how to approach my future writing. For example, the genius of The Five Fs gives me confidence that I am guided by a robust plan, and some of the tasks helped me think laterally about how I might approach different aspects of writing and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I love being in a community of other writers, having support from experts and coaches, and knowing the material is always available for me to go back to when I need. Previously I never thought I was a writer – or that I would ever be able to call myself that. This is the first exciting stepping stone in the right direction. I’ve gained confidence and feel as though I’ve been given so much insight and tools to organise everything that’s been floating around in my head into a tangible piece of work. This might be just the beginning, and the road ahead is long, but it’s a super positive start for me.’

‘I have been writing for many years and whilst I have had full requests and lots of positive feedback on my writing from agents and publishers, I haven’t secured an offer of representation. That’s why I decided to join The Novelry, to hopefully try and take my writing and ideas to that next level. The course was well constructed and really engaging and I have come away from it with a renewed sense of optimism and an idea of how I can improve. I am now working on a new idea for a novel that formed while taking this course and I already have 30,000 words written. For a long time I have felt as though I have been struggling on my own, but this course has given me clear guidance, really constructive materials that I enjoyed and I have a really clear idea on what to work on next. I’d been wondering about signing up to a course at The Novelry for a while now and I’m so glad I took the plunge and wish I did so sooner.’

‘I always loved literature at school and uni. But what you do here is next level. Above anything I’ve done before, and I have done many classes at university. I think this is a fantastic course overall. The structure is great and matches where I may be in the writing, and going back and forth whenever I need to revise something helps. I love how everything is explained through a different lens and I love this course immensely. I wish I could have done it full time in a classroom seeing all of you in person. That would be a dream. I look forward to editing the manuscript and everything else I will learn in that process.’

‘Taking the course gave me a first draft! Before I joined, I struggled with creating a writing habit. Work, family, friends all took me away from my writing. When I would finally after many months come back to it, I was a different person and I barely remembered my story. I thought I was a write-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of writer, but I found out in The Ninety Day Novel that I wasn’t. On day one I wrote my first chapter and the synopsis. I followed that synopsis as I wrote over the months, revising when needed, but happily sticking to the plan because it worked. I wrote through to the resolution with confidence and joy (most of the time). I surprised myself! When I finished the draft, I cried. Then laughed. I gained self-confidence, created a writing habit that works for me, and built a writing life. My life will never be the same! I couldn’t have done it without The Novelry and my fabulous writing mentor, Kate Riordan! This is an undeniable fact because I’ve tried before twice—once on my own and another time with the support of other writers. Both times I didn’t finish the first draft. Burned out. This time, my experience was very different. I slid into home plate with a smile on my face. I can’t express enough how grateful I am. The Novelry has brought me to the finish, and I feel so supported, so inspired, and so capable. Best of all, I know that I will be supported for the rest of this novel’s journey. I got this because of The Novelry. Thank you.’

‘This course was incredible. I cannot thank you enough for helping me take real steps to fulfil a lifetime dream I never thought possible: writing a book! It took me over six months to commit to signing up because, as a working mum of two young children, I just didn’t think I could fit this into my day. It was also a considerable investment, and I wanted to ensure I could commit to it and get a return. While I still feel there is a very long way to go (edits and more edits on the horizon), the fact that I have written 105,000 words of a complete draft manuscript is a return indeed. I’ll be on to The Big Edit soon, and I have a strong hunch it will be the gift to myself that keeps on giving. I don’t think I would have done it without taking the course with The Novelry. It short-circuited so many learnings that would have taken me years to figure out for myself, and with the help of my coach and the community, it ensured I never gave up! The coaching sessions with Tara Conklin were invaluable. Every lesson was so beautifully timed to the process, it is hard to single any out. Life-changing. I’ve always written, but thanks to The Novelry, now I can say with conviction that I am a writer.’

‘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.’

‘Before starting The Finished Novel Course, I was concerned that I have written two draft novels before, one solo, and one a part of a Faber on-site course, and that with this project, I may get stuck at similar junctures. The Classic Storytelling Class has taught me that writing should come from the heart and connect with the reader. I liked that it’s distilled down to the fundamental elements that make story telling impactful, and how they have changed over time. I found the length of each lesson helpful and that it was broken down into smaller segments. Thank you for this experience! Looking forward to The Ninety Day Novel!’

‘I had been concerned about whether my writing was good/sharp enough, working through my plot, and ensuring I gave the characters agency. I was able to solve all these things with The Novelry. The editing sessions were the most valuable part of this course. As a first-time novelist, the detailed assessment of my writing and breakdown of my plot, characters, and setting transformed my draft into a novel. I loved working with The Novelry. As a first-time author, it was wonderful to find a talented and welcoming community of experienced writers and editors to learn from.’

‘I’ve been writing for me forever. My approach this time is to tell a great story and find readers. So I’m much different this time around. The Five Fs—so much more malleable and applicable than, say, the Save the Cat beats (which I also love, even if they’re a little clunky). The midpoint discussion also really resonated. I think if I treat my midpoint correctly I can avoid the mid-novel sag. I also could go on and on about how useful it is to ask: “What is my reader reading for?” This has firmly kept my ADHD in check—maybe not the hyperactivity, but definitely my focus! I was a school teacher for 23 years, and I am just knocked out time and time again at the quality of the lessons and the authenticity of the delivery. The Finished Novel Course has enriched my entire life. How do I sign up for a lifetime membership? 😊’

‘I've played around with creative writing since I was 10 or 11, and my lifelong dream has been to write a book. I’ve never had the structure or organization to get me through the finish line of a full first draft, and The Novelry made that possible. The coaching was invaluable; every session helped my forward momentum. I truly believe in myself and I’m loving my own story I’ve written—with more drafts to come, of course, but my confidence is very high that through this course, I am going to accomplish my dream of a finished, polished novel. Even with a demanding “day job,” my one hour of writing every morning was a treat and an experience I’ll cherish forever.’

‘Joining The Novelry was the best decision I made for myself and my writing career. For years I had thought about writing a novel, but I wasn’t really sure where to start. The Novelry is not just an amazing writing course; it is so much more. It is also a community of ambitious writers, authors, mentors, editors, and all-round lovely people who will be with you on your writing journey. The courses are designed in a way that will keep you motivated and excited to find your story. I joined before I even had a story idea, and since then, I have written a first draft, been through rounds of edits, and have a complete manuscript I am really proud of. Throughout their submission process, I had support and guidance from The Novelry team. I am so glad that I found my home here at The Novelry and that I am now represented by James Wills of Watson, Little. I cannot wait to continue to grow as a writer within The Novelry community.’

‘I have been writing with The Novelry for the last year, and the difference in my craft is astounding! I’ve loved all I’ve learned as well as the fantastic community. I cannot recommend them highly enough—plus they have an absolute DREAM TEAM of SFF coaches.’ Mona Tewari has signed a publishing deal with Bindery Books for her debut novel, Burn the Sea, a historical fantasy pitched as based on the life of Indian monarch Abbakka Chowta. Mona took the Finished Novel Course at The Novelry, and says: ‘I am extremely grateful for the help of so many wonderful people at The Novelry who helped make this book possible.’

‘This time last year, just finishing a manuscript was a dream. Less than 12 months later, the possibility of my novel being published is real. I’ve learned how to bring my first drafts to life through developing characters and prose. I’ve been able to hear how other readers react to my writing which has helped me on later drafts. I’ve gained an understanding of what agents are looking for and how to approach them. There are so many resources and opportunities to learn from other writers, editors, and agents. I definitely recommend it if you want to write your novel.’