The Finished Novel Course
The writer-to-author career path
From first step to final destination
Suitable for writers at all stages of their journey, our comprehensive three-step program plus a full manuscript assessment. To help you develop the advanced skills you need to discover your voice and find your big idea, then write and edit a complete work of fiction to publishing standard.
The online alternative to a Creative Writing MFA with a practical career outcome: a finished novel!
The writer’s journey
From blank page to book deal
Courses. Coaching. Community.
Grow your story idea into a full-length novel
Are you writing fiction for the first time? Perhaps you’re moving from writing short stories, screenplays or poetry to the longer form of the novel and would like inspiration and support.
The Finished Novel Course is a carefully structured program to guide you through coming up with the story idea using the 'secret sauce' of the all-time bestselling classic novels, and on to writing your full-length work of fiction.
You don’t need to have all the answers—or come to think of it, any of them. Stories are about questions. One question after another.
We’ll have you asking the right questions, in the right order. And taking the right steps on your journey to becoming a writer.
Discover if your story has commercial value before you begin writing
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. Saving you a whole lot of time and trouble, and allowing you to hit the page writingwith confidence.
Our method is a smarter way of working, and stacks the odds of publishing success in your favor.
One-on-one coaching from bestselling authors
Their books have hit the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller lists, been adapted for screen, and optioned for major motion pictures. Every one, a master in their genre. Each trained in our Positive Coaching Method ™.
Plus, you’re not tied to just one author coach—you can switch and swap to receive the best expert advice as your story develops.
Imagine having a prize-winning, bestselling author on your team. What difference would that make to your writing?
Editors from the world’s major publishers
Including Walker Books, Titan, and the Big Five—PenguinRandom House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan.
Our editors work together to harness their expertise, and all have established relationships with literary agents.
We’re an editorial team with direct submission to literary agencies.
Fast-tracked submission to the top global literary agencies
You will receive a full manuscript assessment from our editorial team to prepare to enter the publishing process with literary agency representation.
This year alone, over 60% of our submissions were successful. And typically, we receive replies within days. Our literary agent friends trust and enjoy working with The Novelry because they’ve come to expect brilliant manuscripts from our writers.
We’re the writing school most recommended by leading literary agencies.
‘The Novelry – from the twinkling of an idea through to a publishing-ready novel.’
‘Recommended by leading literary agencies.’
‘All aboard a different kind of writing school.’
‘The Novelry – from the twinkling of an idea through to a publishing-ready novel.’
‘Recommended by leading literary agencies.’
‘All aboard a different kind of writing school.’
‘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.’
Catherine West-McGrath
‘I already had an MFA in creative writing; I thought I should be able to write a novel by myself. The Novelry – with its combination of support, advice, and community – taught me so much about the novel form.’
Jeff Becker
‘I feel empowered to move forward in a definite, sustainable way - both writing actual fiction, which is motivating to me, and improving the craft of writing, which is important because there’s a lot of MFA-type material contained in these courses. Seriously - this material is dense. If you work through it, you will absolutely be a better writer than you were when you started (that is, you will emerge as someone who produces higher-quality work, more consistently, with considerably less stress/heartburn than previously was your experience).’
Hilary Bee
Fun. Flexible. Formidable
Progress at your own pace
Course and community access for an entire year.
Easily put on hold if you need to
Life. It happens to the best of us.
Money back policy
Our Happy Writing Guarantee.
Write with the best in the business
Award-winning authors. Publishing editors. Leading literary agents.
40+ workshops a month
In addition to your class.
Genre expertise
What’s your style?
Video masterclasses
From the likes of Kristin Hannah and Yann Martel.
A supportive writing community
Find your people.
Created by a Booker Prize-listed author
We don’t just talk the talk.
More 5-star reviews
Than any other writing courses.
Better value than a university course
With a practical career outcome.
Flexible pricing
Pay upfront or monthly.
But I don’t have the time!
One hour per day. That’s all the commitment we ask of you. Just one hour a day to make your writing dreams a reality.
But I don’t have a story!
Then you’re in the right place. Step one of the course—The Classic Storytelling Class—is designed precisely to kindle your ideas and ignite your voice.
But I’m not sure I have any talent!
Not all writers suffer from imposter syndrome. Only the good ones. The art of storytelling can be learned. And our bestselling author coaches are the best in the business at teaching it.
At the heart of The Novelry is a warm, welcoming writing community. We offer a collaborative environment, not a competitive one.
The Finished Novel
The writer-to-author career path
The Classic Storytelling Class
Come up with a fantastic idea for a page-turner. Plan a storyline that excites you and learn how to bring to life complex main characters. Outline and develop the world of your tale to capture the reader’s imagination page after page.
Find the Idea
Once Upon a Time
The Process
Worldbuilding
Heroes and Villains
The Reader
The Author
Farewell
The Ninety Day Novel Class
Prepare and develop your initial idea, construct your novel from the ground up, develop a productive writing practice, power through the middle with bold plotting, and raise the stakes towards a satisfying ending.
The Inspiration and Preparation Phase
The Construction Phase
The Swim Phase
The Heat Phase
The Enlightenment Phase
The Home Phase
The Big Edit Class
Revise and polish your manuscript to the highest publishing standards, with in-depth feedback from your professional book editor, and management of the literary submission process.
Turning Pro
The Developmental Edit
Line Edit
The Submission Process
The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
Enhance your manuscript’s quality and marketability with marked-up revisions from bestselling publishing editors. And a clear plan for submission to literary agents.
Next Steps Toward Publishing
Meeting with the Editor
A Marked-Up Manuscript
Structural Development
The Pitch
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”
It’s story time
The Finished Novel Course
- Welcome Call
- Membership (1 Year)
- The Classic Storytelling Class
- The Ninety Day Novel Class
- 6 Coaching Sessions
- The Big Edit Class
- 2 Editorial Sessions
- The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
- A Year’s Access + Extension Plans
“A word after a word after a word is power”
FAQs
If you’re bursting with questions we haven’t answered here, check out our full FAQS page or feel free to get in touch.
Your year is structured in 3 stages to create, write and edit your book, allowing you the chance to work step-by-step through each phase and take any breaks you need between them. You will begin with The Classic to come up with the idea for your novel and plan your story, then you will write your first draft with The Ninety Day Novel. Finally, you will be guided to raise your book to publishing standards with The Big Edit, before you submit your work for The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment.
This is a self-paced program, with over 200 lessons served on our beautiful online platform by video and text. Enjoy the lessons on any internet-connected device. Watch the video, read the text and use the ‘speak aloud’ feature to listen. You’ll need 30 minutes for each lesson and probably some thinking time to capture your thoughts and ideas as you start writing. This might be a good opportunity to start setting aside an hour a day just for you and your writing, and you’ll come to love this special time.
We suggest you allow 1–2 months for The Classic, 3 months for The Ninety Day Novel, and the remainder of your year, 6 months or more, for The Big Edit. But as the course is self-paced, you can take each phase at your own pace, according to your lifestyle, holidays, vacations, and commitments.
You can book your coaching sessions at any time during your year on the course.
Your coaching begins after the first week of The Ninety Day Novel.
Before your first coaching session, we’ll guide you on how to create an outline for a novel. You’ll be nudged in the course to use our interactive tool to submit that to us (on a regular basis as you develop your story). We’ll look at your planned storyline as a team, and if we think another writing coach would be best suited to your story, we’ll drop you a line, but you’ll be able to make the final decision (and can always swap coaches later if you wish). One of the perks of The Novelry is that because our systems and records allow us to stay on track with your story development, it makes hand-off between coaches seamless so that you can work with any writing coach you wish and benefit from advice from experts across the fiction and memoir genres.
Every writing coach reviews your storyline in advance of the session via the interactive tool we call ‘The Plan’.
Your first coaching session begins with your writing coach understanding your intentions and aspirations for your book and writing career. That’s your brief to us, and allows us to give you the dedicated and personal guidance and support you need to achieve your ambition.
The coaching sessions are 45 minutes online, and you’ll find that’s plenty of time to get help with story development and troubleshoot any problems to stay on track with your writing. All sessions are recorded for you to keep. You may schedule your coaching sessions whenever you wish during your year with us and will be able to browse our diaries to select a time that works for you, in your time zone. Some like to stay on track with a coaching session every two weeks of their writing period, for example, and others like to pace themselves with one a month or get more help up front or more guidance and advance later on. You can get the support you need when you need it.
During the writing of a first draft, our focus is on your storyline, and we work with you to creatively develop and expand the story together, reviewing development in every session and answering your questions for your story.
You can, additionally, book Paid Feedback Sessions which include a report and a live debrief. We suggest you leave getting feedback on your work until later in your program, after the first draft.
A first draft should allow you to find the story, to be experimental and fearless. Unlike other writing courses, we advise you don’t share or ‘workshop’ the novel at this stage where your confidence and the story are still vulnerable. Some courses have first-time writers on first drafts advising others in their position, and we think this is a bad idea and at best a waste of your very precious time.
At The Novelry, we’ll keep you and your story safe within a one-on-one relationship of trust and care with wise guidance from a published author who cares about your success and will believe in you and your story.
You can browse our writing coaches and find the author you would most like to work with, then book your coaching session from your Library.
You may wish to book with an author experienced in the genre you are writing. Don’t worry, we will guide you in your course on how to settle the matter of genre, whether it’s straight or cross-over (a combination) and we'll explain more about choosing your coach before you book that first session.
Another great way to consider who you want to write with is to take a peek inside the first pages of their published books on Amazon and see whose writing style appeals to you most strongly.
The wonderful thing about The Novelry is that you can work with the writing coach of your choice but also book sessions with any other writing coach whenever you wish. So if things change for your story, say you swap genre, or need more help on specialist technical matters from another coach, we’ve got you covered.
Yes! This is a flexible writing course you can take at your own pace around your other commitments. The time it takes to complete a novel depends on the time you can set aside, but with an hour a day we know it’s possible to comfortably finish your novel in a year.
If you need more time, you can extend your course and roll over everything included in it with our affordable extension plans. You can remain as a member from just $29.99 or £24.99 a month.
The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment will give you the ultimate feedback on your novel! Plus, you will get feedback on the first three chapters in The Big Edit, and feedback from the community too.
You can also purchase Paid Feedback Sessions for $425 or £350 for a 5000-word section of your manuscript.
The feedback sessions offer a detailed report and a live editorial debrief recorded for you to keep.
We don’t believe in feedback or workshopping a first draft. It can kill it.
But we do believe in giving feedback on second draft and beyond where you’re working with us towards publishing standards. Once you know what you’re keeping, it’s time to finesse and only then. So you’d work with publishing editors formerly of the Big Five publishing houses at that stage. We follow a carefully managed process based on our combined industry experience of how great novels get made.
We will take great care of your and your novel, with every step at just the right time for your development.
We’ll be able to advise you if you can’t find an obvious fit by reading the profiles of our editorial team. Our Editorial Director reviews all bookings and we will be sure to suggest the very best editor for your storyline and genre.
Our courses are suitable for people with visual or auditory impairment, dyslexia and for those with English as a second language. We offer an app which translates the course into 99 languages and a speak-aloud option too.
Book deals and a TV series
‘These creative writing courses have changed my writing life. Within a short time of starting the lessons, I had my idea sorted and ninety days later I had my first draft. After taking the editing course and taking advantage of all the wonderful author chats and workshops offered by The Novelry, I secured a two-book deal, and it has been optioned for development into a six-part TV series.’
