Have you always wanted to write a novel? Are you ready to finally go on that journey? The good news is that you won’t have to do it alone. There is no greater, or deeper way, to express your thoughts, emotions, and intellect in writing than writing a novel. It is the best way to access innovative small presses, and is the most common path to acquiring an agent, and landing at one of the big five publishers (and selling your film rights). It’s also the best path to financial independence.

This class will cover prewriting (development), writing, editing, and submitting. The end goal is to have a novel over 66,000 words by the end of the year.

Richard has edited and helped other authors get their work published by Angry Robot Books, JournalStone, Crystal Lake Publishing, One Eye Press, Post Mortem Press, Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing, Kraken Press, and Perfect Edge Books.

In this class, he’ll help students through this process with the safety net of a published author to help guide, nudge, push, and advise.

Are you ready to take the next step?

Course overview

Students can come into this class in one of two ways—with a novel written, or not. Richard will accept students either way. Students will receive daily prompts via a private, secret group on Facebook and the class will meet via Skype once a month—12 Skype calls in all—for three hours where each author will get 20 minutes to talk about any aspect of their novel they wish—what’s blocking you, exciting you, or eluding you. This is a time for students to toss out ideas about the plot, ask questions about clarity or how you might subvert your genre.

BOOKS

There are no texts required for this class, but if you’d like some recommendations on craft books check out the reading list in our Resources section.

who is this class for?

1. Advanced students who are looking to take their writing to the next level.

2. Experienced authors who have penned many successful short stories, and/or published widely, and are eager to take on the long form. They should have a strong sense of their voice (including strengths and weaknesses).

3. Authors who are firmly entrenched in one genre, and feel they have a strong understanding of what is expected and/or those looking to subvert the expectations of that genre.

4. Authors who are writing cross-genre and/or hybrid fiction, and are looking to break the mold and innovate across those genres.

5. Writers who have the time and discipline to commit an entire year of planning, writing, editing, and submitting this novel.

6. Authors who are excited about THIS BOOK and are willing to put their blood, sweat, and tears into this narrative. Story should have the depth to go 66,000 words or more.

7. Writers who have enjoyed Storyville’s other classes.

8. Authors who have enjoyed Richard’s writing, editing, and publishing (including Gamut and Dark House Press).

syllabus

January—Development and Outline (one month).

Students will spend the first month using daily prompts to sketch out their book. You’ll discuss a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: narrative hook, inciting incidents, plot, character, setting, internal and external conflicts, tension, cast, genre, theme, expectations, innovation, structure, format, climax, resolution, and denouement.

If you already have a novel written, you will use the daily prompts to check your work, and go deeper. At the end of the month students will share their content with the class, and give feedback to their peers in a timely manner (a week for outlines, please.)

February through July—Writing (six months)

This is where the rubber meets the road. Richard will give you daily prompts that will push you to write. The early prompts will be about the beginning of the novel—the hooks, the setup, the cast of characters, the pace, early foreshadowing, etc.

Next, students will look at how the plot unfolds and work on going deeper with secondary plots and themes. As the book grows, you will be guided in the following key areas of character development:

• Do they engender sympathy and empathy?

• Does the protagonist/s resonate?

• What about the enemy and the other villains?

 You will delve into the overall effect of voice, tension, and how that pulls your reader through the novel.

As you approach the end, Richard will work with you to make sure the story is staying true to character and surprising your readers along the way so that your novel is innovating, fresh, and personal as possible.

Next, students will focus on the climax, resolution, change, and denouement.

• Does it all add up?

• How do your readers feel at the end?

• Did the journey give your readers everything it promised?  

• Is the ending powerful enough to resonate?

Students will turn in 11,000 words a month (an average of 350 words a day). At the end of the month you will share your content with the class, and give feedback to your peers in a timely manner (a month for this writing and developmental editing, please).

If you already have a novel written, you will use the daily prompts to check your work, and go deeper.

August through November—Editing (four months)

Editing can be one of the most painful parts of the process, but it’s also one of the most exciting. Students will give their novels an honest evaluation, listen to their classmates, and trim the fat. You will look at each chapter, seeing what works, and then trim, tweak, edit, and polish so each section sings.

Next, you’ll comb through the prose a few times, checking the grammar, consistent tense, and setting—does it involve all five senses? You’ll check your characters, making sure their actions match their morality and abilities, that they make us identify and feel with them. You’ll work to not only embrace the genre you’re writing in, but subvert expectations as well.

Students will not turn in edits each month but will instead work toward a goal of a final, polished novel which you will share with your peers. The final feedback from you to your classmates will focus on the overall experience of reading their work while Richard will give your novel a full line-by-line edit.

December—Submission

In this last month the class will research small presses, agents, and the big five publishers (and their imprints). You’ll use a variety of tools and resources to figure out where to send your work. And then you will send your book out.

Please note, to ensure that your novel gets the attention it deserves, you will receive Richard’s final edits 30 to 90 days after the class ends.

NOTE: THERE IS AN AT YOUR OWN PACE (AYOP) VERSION OF THIS CLASS. IF THE STANDARD VERSION IS SOLD OUT, INQUIRE ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK FOR YOUR SCHEDULE AND BUDGET.

Want more info? Click below to learn about discounts, payment plans, our referral program, and our cancellation policy.

the details

Class Size: 8 Students
Cost: $5,000 (Discounts available.)
Platform: Skype
Structure: Video
Duration: 52 weeks
Schedule: Third Thursday of each month. 3 hours. 7:00 to 10:00 PM CST.

objectives

• To outline, write, edit, and submit a novel in one year.

• To begin the process of querying and submitting the novel to agents.