The Finished Novel Course
Craft your idea, write and edit your novel, and get feedback on your manuscript from your editor
The complete writer-to-author journey
The Finished Novel Course is your complete journey from first idea to a manuscript that’s ready for literary agent submission. Start strong with The Classic Storytelling Class to come up with the big idea for your story, mastering timeless story structure. Next, move on to writing your novel with The Ninety Day Novel Class, building daily momentum as you draft your novel with expert guidance and personal coaching from your mentor, a bestselling author. Then, revise like a pro with The Big Edit, using publishing-standard tools to shape your story, sharpen your hook, and raise your writing to the highest standards. Finally, get a full manuscript read with The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment, receiving detailed, publishing-standard feedback from Big Five editors to prepare your novel for submission to literary agents with a view to a publishing contract. It’s everything serious writers need to begin boldly, polish professionally, pitch with confidence, and achieve their ambition to go from writer to author.
Beginners warmly welcomed
Ready to invest in yourself? Start your writing journey today
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.
The Finished Novel Course
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
World-building
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 toward 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
Recommendation to Leading Literary Agents
Why Do You Need a Literary Agent?
Understanding Agent Listings
Finding the Right Agent
Demystifying the Publishing Industry
How We Can Help
‘If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it’
Our coaching team
Their books have hit the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller lists and have been adapted for screen and optioned for major motion pictures.
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Submission to the top global literary agencies
If your manuscript is a match for one of our trusted literary agents, you will be invited to enter our submissions process. There is no cost for this service and we neither ask for nor accept commission. It is by invitation only.
We’re the writing course most recommended by leading literary agencies.
A six-figure two-book deal
U.S. rights were sold to Grand Central in a significant six-figure two-book pre-empt. Atlantic imprint Corvus acquired U.K. and Commonwealth rights to One Moment, the ‘heart-wrenching and uplifting’ debut novel by Becky Hunter as part of a two-book deal.
Says Becky, ‘I found The Novelry at a time when I was ready to give up. I was feeling very low on confidence and knew I’d be my own worst enemy if left to my own devices. The sessions with Emylia, my writing coach, were a real highlight—she always made me feel like she genuinely cared about my novel, and I was constantly amazed at the way she engaged with the story and the creative suggestions she brought forward. The sessions kept me on track and helped me work through plot kinks along the way and I felt like I had a real champion through the whole process.’
The Finished Novel Course
Progress at your own pace
Course and community access for an entire year.
Stay a little longer
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.
60+ 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.
More 5-star reviews
Than any other writing course. The Novelry is the world’s top-rated online writing school.
Better value than a university course
With a practical career outcome.
Flexible pricing
Pay up front or monthly.
Created by a Booker Prize-listed author
We don’t just talk the talk.
Fun. Flexible. Formidable.
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
‘You can find your answer here at The Novelry’
‘My first draft is done! Whatever is stopping you from writing that book you dream of, you can find your answer here at The Novelry. You can do it. Believe!’
Timothy Reilly
‘The first exciting stepping stone in the right direction’
‘The Novelry is the first exciting stepping stone in the right direction. I love being in a community of other writers and having support from experts and coaches. This might be just the beginning, but it’s a super positive start.’
Fiona Martin
‘I’m so glad I took the plunge’
‘I have come away from this course with a renewed sense of optimism. It has given me clear guidance, constructive materials and a really clear idea on what to work on next. I’m so glad I took the plunge.’
Jacob Collins
‘What you do here is next level’
‘I always loved literature at school and uni. But what you do here is next level. A fantastic course. I wish I could have done it in a classroom seeing all of you in person. That would be a dream.’
Mila Zambrano
‘My life will never be the same!’
‘Taking the course gave me a first draft! My life will never be the same! I couldn’t have done it without The Novelry and this is undeniable because I’ve tried before twice. I can’t express enough how grateful I am.’
Valerie Mathews
‘Now I can say with conviction: I am a writer’
‘Incredible. I cannot thank you enough for helping me fulfil a lifetime dream: writing a book! I don’t think I would have done it The Novelry. The coaching sessions were invaluable, every lesson beautifully timed. Now I can say with conviction: I am a writer.’
Carly Morris
‘After nearly giving up the dream, I feel like I can absolutely be a novelist’
‘The class did a terrific job of unsticking my writing progress. After nearly giving up the dream, I feel like I can absolutely be a novelist. I have hope for my writing career in a way I haven’t had since my undergraduate days.’
Joie Filippini-Gibbons
‘Thank you for this experience!’
‘The class has taught me that writing should come from the heart. I like that it’s distilled down to the fundamental elements of storytelling and I found the length of each lesson helpful. Thank you for this experience! Looking forward to the next class!’
Alex Robinson
‘A talented and welcoming community’
‘I was able to solve all my concerns 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 loved working with them.’
Andrew Heymann
‘The Novelry provides writers the opportunity to fulfill a dream’
‘A complete and thorough package with so many incredible aspects. The Novelry provides writers the opportunity to fulfill a dream. And while they push you, they always let you know everything will be OK. I’ve learned so much about myself. It’s wonderful.’
Chris Thompson
‘Without a doubt, the single best thing I could’ve done for my writing career’
‘Without a doubt, the single best thing I could’ve done for my writing career. The coaching sessions were wonderful, the community is amazing. The Novelry always has the answer. I’m so grateful to them for guiding me in my publishing journey.’
Suzan Joy Meredith
‘I am knocked out time and again at the quality of the lessons’
‘I was a school teacher for 23 years, and I am knocked out time and again at the quality of the lessons. The Finished Novel Course has enriched my entire life. How do I sign up for a lifetime membership? 😊’
Sean Scapellato
‘An experience I’ll cherish forever’
‘My lifelong dream has been to write a book but I’ve never had the structure or organization to get me through the finish line. The Novelry made that possible. The coaching was invaluable; every session helped my forward momentum. An experience I’ll cherish forever.’
Jaime Maier
‘Joining The Novelry was the best decision I made for my writing career’
‘Joining The Novelry was the best decision I made for my writing career. It’s not just an amazing writing course; it’s a community of ambitious writers, authors, mentors, editors, and all-round lovely people. I am so glad I found my home here.’
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Talitha McQueen
‘I cannot recommend them highly enough’
‘I’ve been writing with The Novelry for the last year, and the difference is astounding! I’ve loved all I’ve learned and am extremely grateful for the help. An absolute dream team. I cannot recommend them highly enough.’
Dr. Mona Tewari
‘Less than 12 months later, the possibility of my novel being published is real’
‘This time last year, finishing a manuscript was a dream. Less than 12 months later, the possibility of my novel being published is real. There are so many resources and opportunities to learn. I definitely recommend it.’
Catherine West-McGrath
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.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes two to three years to complete. Applications for Creative Writing MFAs require a sample portfolio for entry, and prices can range from $12,000 to $48,000. Like any graduate degree, these courses vary greatly in terms of quality and resources. But one thing’s for sure: publishers aren’t looking for qualifications. They just want top-quality submissions.
Students join The Novelry to write a book that will sell. More affordable than a Creative Writing MFA, our most comprehensive course is just a fraction of the cost. Most importantly, graduates leave our program holding a full manuscript, having worked with global bestselling authors and professional editors to reach publishing standard.
The Finished Novel Course is our bundled full five-step course program, carefully packaged to save you money. The price of all the items included amounts to $6,043 USD or £4,694 GBP when purchased separately.
The price showing at our website today includes your savings. While offer lasts.
You can spread the cost too, with monthly payments.
Plus, you can extend your access to the program and keep everything included from just $55 or £45 after your year of access ends. It’s the smartest plan for writers who mean business, and includes a full manuscript review from our Big Five editorial team too!
Your year is structured in 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 Storytelling Class 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 and move on to the submission process (if invited).
This is a self-paced program, with over 200 lessons served on our beautiful online platform by video and text. You have immediate access to all lessons. 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 Storytelling Class, 3 months for The Ninety Day Novel, and the remainder of your year, 6 months or more, for The Big Edit, Ultimate Manuscript Assessment, and submission process. 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.
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.
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, including any unused coaching, editorial, or manuscript sessions.
The cost of another full year is $599 (USD) or £499 (GBP), or you can pay monthly (cancel anytime) at $55 or £45 a month.
Alternatively, you can remain as a member only for just $39.99 or £29.99 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 5,000-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 toward publishing standards. Once you know what you’re keeping, it’s time to finesse and only then. So you’ll 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 you and your novel, with every step at just the right time for your development.
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.