Writer’s Workshop

In every group I teach, I meet writers who carry a half shaped novel in their head. They have characters, scenes, a sense of mood. They also have a pile of false starts, and a feeling that everything keeps slipping away as soon as they sit down to write. This course exists for those writers.

The First Draft: A Novelist’s Workshop is an eight module, self-paced course that takes you from loose idea to a complete, working blueprint for your novel. The material comes from my live workshop, which I have run with new and intermediate writers who need structure without losing their own voice. I have stripped away jargon and spectacle. What remains is a series of clear lessons, examples, and worksheets that you can work through on your own schedule.

You will not find videos, timed logins, or a noisy classroom. You will receive written modules that you can print or read on screen, and matching worksheets that ask specific, practical questions about your story. You can work quickly over a few weeks, or slowly in the gaps around your life. At each stage, you can send one free email to ask questions about the material, and you can always contact me if you run into problems with access or files. If you want feedback on your pages, you can add one of the text review options, but the core course stands on its own.

Across the eight modules, we cover premise, protagonist, world, structure, supporting cast, scenes, and the way these parts fit together. You start with a single sentence that captures the heart of your story. You move on to a protagonist who wants something clear and difficult. You give that character a world that revolves around them, a cast that complicates them, and a story spine that can carry them from the first page to the last. By the time you finish, you will have a full plan that you can carry into your drafting time.

By the end of the course, you will have:

A clear premise and logline for your novel
A protagonist with defined wants, needs, and internal change
A sense of place that matters to the story you want to tell
A cast list that supports or resists your main character in useful ways
A simple, written outline of your story’s shape and key turning points
A set of test scenes that prove your idea can hold its own on the page

You don’t need to arrive with a polished concept. You only need a story idea you care about, a willingness to answer the questions honestly, and enough time to sit with each module. The course will give you structure and company on the way. The work you bring will turn that structure into a novel that is ready to draft.

The Investment:

Introductory digital price: $99

You receive:

Eight written modules that guide you from idea to complete novel blueprint
Matching worksheets for each module
Free content questions, by email, questions only and no page review
Unlimited free email support for course access and logistics

There is no expiry and no fake countdown. You keep the files and you move at your own pace.

Optional Email Support and Mentoring

You can complete the course entirely on your own. If you want feedback on your pages, you can add one of the following support options.

All prices are in USD and are in addition to the $99 course fee, unless noted.

Light Text Review

For writers who want a quick response on one focused piece from each module.

Price: $99 for the full course

You receive:

One submission per module, up to 1,000 words
Email critique for each submission, no in document comments
Feedback focused on clarity, character, conflict, and how well the work matches that module’s goal

You still keep:

Free content emails, questions only
Unlimited free logistics questions about the course

Total investment for course plus Light Text Review: $198

Full Text Review

For writers who want deeper editorial feedback on their pages.

Price: $149 for the full course

You receive:

One submission per module, up to 2,000 words
In document margin comments on each submission
A brief summary note with the main points and suggested next steps

Feedback focuses on:

Structure and pacing for that module’s task
Character, tension, and point of view
Specific lines where a change will have the most effect

Total investment for course plus Full Text Review: $248

Comprehensive One to One Track

For writers who want close support through the full course.

Price: $495 all inclusive
(The base course is included in this price.)

You receive:

Eight modules and all worksheets
One submission per module, and one revision, up to 3,000 words
In document comments and a more detailed summary for each submission
Follow up email discussions where you can ask questions about my feedback
A final Blueprint Review:
- You send a 3–5 page overview that pulls together your premise, protagonist, world, structure, and outline
- I send a full editorial letter with strengths, risks, and concrete next steps for drafting

I take a limited number of Comprehensive students at a time so that I can give each project the attention it needs.

Free Email Support That Everyone Receives

No matter which option you choose, the following support is always included:

Unlimited free email questions about course access, downloads, and technical issues
One free email per module where you can ask questions about the ideas and exercises in that module, with no pages attached

These free contacts are for understanding the course. If you would like feedback on your actual pages, you can add one of the text review options above.

**Optional packages can be added at any time during your course.

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