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VIDEO COURSE

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Join Tom Bromley for a writing masterclass and finish your first draft in 101 days.

Apr 28

Next class

Upcoming classes: Jun 16

April enrollment ends at 12pm UTC, Apr 28.

Learn

Daily video lessons

You can achieve a lot in 3 months. Learn the foundations of writing and storytelling through daily video masterclasses with Tom Bromley.

Write

Finish your first draft

Structure that supports you as you write your first draft. Stay accountable, get feedback, and apply what you learn as you write.

Engage

Forum & live webinars

Meet and chat with your fellow classmates, and join expert writing coaches and authors for weekly webinars in our members’ forum.

Claim your spot

Enroll to access the learning dashboard and watch the first lesson for free, no upfront payment required.

Apr 28

Next class

Upcoming classes: Jun 16

Tuition Fee

$250 deposit charged today

$1249

April enrollment ends at 12pm UTC, Apr 28.

20hrs+ of high-quality video masterclasses
12-month access to our writing community forum
Weekly webinars with writing coaches and authors
Accountability & critique as you write your first draft
5 video prep sessions that get you ready to write

Student Reviews

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John Doe

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John Doe

John Doe

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John Doe

Carel van Apeldoorn

"Unlike other products, Justin gives you the WHOLE system."

John Doe

John Doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

John Doe

Carel van Apeldoorn

"Unlike other products, Justin gives you the WHOLE system."

Course overview

Support that empowers you to finish writing your first draft in just 3 months.

Prep sessions

A great book grabs the reader from the get-go. This course begins at the beginning, then guides you through the writing process, right to the closing sentence. It’s everything you need to write your novel, except the coffee (we haven’t worked out how to digitize that yet).

Pitch

Protagonist

Plotting

Point-of-view

Place

Prep sessions

Beginnings

We start with the start. What is the best way to begin your novel and hook the reader’s attention? How do you introduce elements like character and backstory? Session Topics: Beginnings, Starting Again, Introducing Character, Backstory, Grounding the Reader.

Learning Dashboard

Support your writing with daily masterclasses

Join Tom for video lessons and exercises that unlock daily, then apply what you learn as you write.

101 days of high-quality video lessons
Optional exercises & further reading material
Instruction at each stage of the writing process
Watch lessons and take notes on any device
Online dashboard to track your progress

MEMBERS FORUM

Meet your writing crew and get instant feedback

Our members’ hub is the perfect place to discuss the lesson of the day, share feedback, and learn from other students in your genre.

YOU CAN DO IT

Write your first draft in 3 months

With Tom’s expert guidance and a supportive community around you, this course will help you write the first draft of your novel in just 3 months. It’s designed for writers of all levels, backgrounds, and genres.

Meet your instructor

I’m Tom Bromley, your instructor. Over the past 25 years I’ve published ten books under my own name, fifteen as a bestselling and prize-winning ghost (not the scary kind), edited over a hundred titles, and taught novel writing to thousands of students around the world. Now it’s your turn!

Learn from professional authors and writing coaches

Webinars

Participate in two live webinars each week. Engage with Tom, expert writing coaches, and your classmates. Access future webinars for 12 months after you start the course.

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

As you progress through the course, you’ll unlock interviews with incredible authors who share their story — and their tips and tricks — with you.

Claim your spot

Enroll to access the learning dashboard and watch the first lesson for free, no upfront payment required.

Apr 28

Next class

Upcoming classes: Jun 16

Tuition Fee

$250 deposit charged today

$1249

April enrollment ends at 12pm UTC, Apr 28.

20hrs+ of high-quality video masterclasses
12-month access to our writing community forum
Weekly webinars with writing coaches and authors
Accountability & critique as you write your first draft
5 video prep sessions that get you ready to write

Frequently asked questions

Who should take this course?

This course is appropriate for writers of all levels and backgrounds. Whatever your previous experience and whatever genre you are writing in, it can help you finish your novel.

How does the course work?

The course gives you time to learn and time to write. Each week, you’ll access six video lessons and one live webinar. How you choose to structure your writing time is up to you. Throughout, you can turn to our vibrant online community to discuss your work and find support.

What does the course cover?

In short, everything you need to know to write a novel. The themed weeks focus in-depth on the following topics: Preparation, Beginnings, Secret Sauce, Character, Plot Skills, Description, Dialogue, Texture, Middles, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques, Chapters, Doubling Up, Endings, and Next Steps.

How long is the course?

The course lasts for 101 days — that’s fourteen and a half weeks. Upon enrolling, you’ll also access five preparation sessions that will help you get ready to write.

What do the lessons look like?

Each weekday, you’ll get access to a new video lesson on a specific writing topic, along with optional reading and exercises. On Saturdays, you’ll get further videos with our panel of guest writers; some reinforce the week’s writing theme, while others cover the challenges of writing more generally.

How long will each session lesson take?

Each video masterclass is 10-15 minutes long, so you can complete your lessons and start writing in as little as 90 minutes per week. If you’d rather take a deep dive, completing the optional readings and exercises will take an additional 45 minutes (totaling one hour of study per weekday session).

How much writing do I need to do each day?

You’ll need to write around 5,000 words a week to complete a 75,000-word manuscript. Writing 1,000 words a day, Monday to Friday, will keep you on track, but how you structure your writing is up to you.

It’s worth saying that over the course of the novel, your weekly word count may well change. Some writing weeks will be more productive than others, so this is an average to aim for. We’ll give you a word count calculator so you can update how much you’ve written and how far you have left to go.

How much time should I set aside per week to complete the course properly?

It’s up to you, but you’ll generally need at least 10 hours per week to watch the video lessons and complete your writing. If you’d like to complete all exercises and readings, expect to spend closer to 15 hours per week. If you’ve opted into feedback, expect to spend a further hour of time reading and responding to your partner.

Can I unlock the material more quickly? What if I’m going away?

Lessons are unlocked in weekly batches, which can help you get ahead. However, we recommend sticking to the daily rhythm, as the course is designed to help you establish a writing routine.

How do the live sessions work?

Weekly live sessions include a mixture of interviews with guest authors, further masterclasses on various topics, and live editing sessions. Once you enroll, you’ll see the calendar of live events in the Learning Dashboard. All live sessions will be recorded, so you’ll be able to watch any that you miss.

How does feedback work?

Each week, we’ll run Feedback Friday, where you can share a section of work for review. We’ll pair you up with someone else so you can offer detailed feedback on their work in return. This should be completed by the end of the weekend (before the start of the next week’s sessions). If you don’t want to give feedback and prefer to concentrate on your work, that’s fine too.

Is feedback also available from the instructor?

Although the work of many students will be critiqued in the live editing sessions, individual instructor feedback is not currently available. There are, however, a number of wonderful book coaches and editors on Reedsy should you want further feedback on your first draft.

What are the preparation sessions?

Before the course officially starts, we’ll give you access to a week of prep sessions. These will help you assess your ideas and make sure you’re ready to start drafting your novel.

What happens if I sign up but realize I'm not ready to write?

Don’t worry! You’ll only be charged on the first day of the course. If you sign up and realize you need more time after completing the prep sessions, you can cancel or defer your enrollment to a future start date.

What happens if I don’t finish my draft by the end of the course?

You can continue writing the novel on your own timeline. You’ll keep access to the course material, so you can return to it at any point. To help you across the finish line, you’ll also have access to the community hub for another 9 months.

Can I buy the course as a gift?

Help a writer in your life turn their ideas into a finished book by gifting them this course. When you buy a gift card, you’ll receive a PDF containing the gift card that you can print or share with the recipient.

How can I redeem my gift card?

If you’ve received this course as a gift, visit reedsy.com/learning. To redeem your course, choose a start date and enter your unique gift code on the payment page.

Do you offer split payments?

You have the option to pay for the course in monthly instalments (4 x $349). The first payment will be taken as a deposit when you enrol in the course.