[Note: Due to the popularity of this class and most having sold out, feel free to direct message me if you don't see a convenient time available and I'll see what I can do to accommodate your learner's schedule!]

Did you know that there are two kinds of writers?  Which one are you?  In this on-going class, we will learn new things about the writing world that will give you the tools you need to keep writing and to get your stories finished.  

Generally speaking, the first part of each class will be instruction based while the second part of class will be learners working on a writing exercise to further their story.  However, more time can be given to learners writing and drafting if this is what they desire.  This is a flexible, chill class and will be very interactive.  (Not a lecture style class with power point slides!)

What kinds of things will the class cover?  As with all my one-on-one classes here on Outschool, the following lesson plan can be tweaked and changed to fit each learner's interests and preferences!  Don't see a topic you're looking for?  Feel free to message me and we can add it!  Also, as this class is a casual interactive discussion, learners can feel free to ask any questions they may have or make any suggestions for the following class topic if they'd like to learn more about a particular area.  I hope to encourage all aspiring authors to keep writing and I can't wait to see what they come up with!

Week One:  Types of Writers & Novel Design Steps 1 & 2
Should you consider trying a different writing approach?  We will discuss why most beginning writers fall into one category whereas most published authors fall into the other category.  We will learn why outlining and creating a blueprint are so important.  We will do some brainstorming and decide which of your story ideas to start fleshing out in order to begin the first steps to designing your novel.

Week Two:  Novel Design Step 3
We are going to learn how to flesh out the main characters.  Characters are what drive a story and the extra time invested into designing them will be well worth it!

Week Three: Novel Design Step 4
This is the fun part where we will be expanding on our ideas and, more specifically, the conflict!   One hour is recommended for the exercise given but every writer is different so some may need a few days to finish while others may move more quickly.

Week Four: Novel Design Step 5
We will now be meeting ALL the characters in your novel as well as working on many more details for your major characters.  A couple days are recommended for this exercise so what isn't finished in class can be worked on in the time before our next class.  

Week Five:  Novel Design Step 6
We will be expanding on our summary and creating a four page synopsis for the novel as well as discussing why this is such a vital step in designing a novel.  A week is recommended for completing this step so there should be enough time to complete it before our next class together.  However, no pressure will be given to writers who need more time to work on it. 

Week Six:  Novel Design Steps 7 & 8
We will discuss how to make a scene list for your novel and why this is necessary.  We will also discuss some pros and cons of self-publishing vs traditional publishing for when you finish your novel.

Week Seven:  Start Writing Your First Draft 
We will discuss why the beginning of a book is so important and look at some examples of how to hook the reader.

Week Eight: Perspective
How do writers decide on what perspective to write from?  Great question!  We will discuss the pros and cons of 1st and 3rd person as well as several kinds of POV's available to writers. 

Week Nine: Writer's Block
Many writers complain about this problem, so what can we do about it?  We'll discuss some tips that various established authors use so that the next time you get writer's block you'll know what to do!  I'll also share things that have helped me personally in my own writing.  We will also do a fun writing exercise that can help us get the creative juices flowing again!

Week Ten:  Writers & Their Research
Does your book need special research?  How much research do you need to do before you can continue writing?  We will discuss why this step is so crucial to our books and some common pitfalls to look out for!

Commonly Asked Questions:

Can I skip some of the topics listed?
Of course!  The lesson outline above is just a sample curriculum for a starting point.  Because this is a personalized one on one class, it can be tweaked to fit your preferences.

I just want to write.  Why do you recommend outlining first?  That sounds boring.
While many prefer to simply write rather than outline (and I respect learners who just want to write as this class can be just that for learners who only want to write), the reason I recommend outlining first is because the reality is that sooner or later you will get stuck or will find the story lacks direction.  Without planning done beforehand, it will also be much harder to weave in themes throughout the book or have rich character development.  There also may be a greater risk for plot holes or things that simply "don't make sense".  By planning your novel in advance, you save yourself a lot of time in the long run by not needing as many revisions.

I've already started writing my novel.  Is it too late to go back and outline?
No, it's not too late.  And congratulations for having already started your book!  That's half the battle!  I have used this method for novels I'd already begun myself and it greatly helped me to find direction in my stories.  While it did make me go back and change some things, it made my story so much better and enabled me to continue it with renewed energy!  I now use this method for beginning fresh stories but I definitely recommend it for novels that have already been started as well.  

I'd really like to take this class with my friend.  Can we take this course together?
Yes, while this class is set to 1:1 by default, feel free to let me know if you and your friends would like to do a group class of two or more people.  You can message me for details.  

Don't see a day/time that works for you?  Feel free to message me with any day/time requests!