The only difference between someone who’s written a novel and someone who hasn’t is that one of them kept going till the end! It’s not magic. It’s a matter of having an idea you love, sustaining momentum to get through the first draft, understanding what it means to revise, and having a plan to get it all done.

This seminar is for anyone working on the first draft of a novel. We’ll discuss:

• How to turn an idea into opening pages and an outline.
• How to build—and keep—momentum.
• Different approaches to writing and revising a novel.
• Building your craft as you go; turning short-story writing experience to your advantage.
• Ways to get support, time, and space to write.
• The importance of support from a writing community (or one good writing buddy).
• How to finish.
• What happens when you’re done (i.e., how to find an agent or publisher, if publication is your goal).

We’ll also discuss your writing and publishing questions in an open Q&A at the end of the session.

Participants should have at least the germ of an idea for a novel. All genres, audiences (adult, YA, middle-grade), and experience levels welcome.

You’ll leave this workshop with a clear plan to write your novel.

Workshop Takeaways

– How to set goals and make a plan for drafting and revising your novel.

– Common roadblocks and how to get around them.

– A better idea of why you want to write a novel and what you want it to be about

Workshop Expectations

Students will have some light reading ahead of workshop and are expected to come to workshop with an idea they want to work on.

Zoom Schedule:

This workshop will run on Sunday, December 3rd, from 12pm-3pm Eastern.

Workshop Outline

Hour 1: Getting started: Testing your idea, mapping plot and characters, choosing point of view and structure, understanding your intentions and audience, and beginning to write.

Hour 2: Writing is revision: Approaches to drafting and revising — what will work for you? Practicing “shitty first drafts.”

Hour 3: Carving space: How to find time and support to write your manuscript, how to know you’re done, and what to do next.

Readings

“In Favor of Speed: Write Fast, Fix Later,” by Mateo Askaripour https://lithub.com/in-favor-of-speed-write-fast-fix-later/

“How Do You Even Get Started Writing a Book?” by Jon Cotter https://electricliterature.com/how-do-you-even-get-started-writing-a-book/

“How Pottery Taught Me to Love Writing First Drafts,” by Erica Berry https://catapult.co/dont-write-alone/stories/erica-berry-writing-first-drafts-pottery

“An Illustrated Guide to Writing a Novel,” by Swan Huntley https://electricliterature.com/an-illustrated-guide-to-writing-a-novel/

“Back Draft: Hala Alyan,” by Ben Perkert and Hala Alyan https://www.guernicamag.com/back-draft-hala-alyan

“That Crafty Feeling,” by Zadie Smith https://believermag.com/that-crafty-feeling/

The post Kickstart Your Novel appeared first on Writers.com.

We’ll focus on getting our butts in the chair, our minds roaming freely, and our creative juices flowing. At the end of the course, we’ll have a plan to keep up momentum and finish our projects.

This motivational, supportive—and brief!—course is meant for all sorts of folks, whether you’re a relative beginner finding your way to a writing practice or a more experienced writer who has lost your groove. Writers in any creative genre (fiction, memoir, essays, poetry) are welcome. You’ll leave with a clear plan for your project, whatever it is.

We’ll meet on Zoom Sundays at noon Eastern for 2 hours. There will be short, optional readings before each class.

Learning Goals

• Identify how other writers have found inspiration and find strategies to get inspired when sitting down to write.
• Create a writing routine and practice that will help you get this particular project done.
• Be part of a supportive community of writers and learn how to find support for your writing in your day-to-day life.

Writing Goals

• Enjoy a week of daily, accountable writing on the project you’re most passionate about, with a solid plan to continue your momentum from there.
• Get organized: Learn how to craft a schedule of daily and weekly writing and/or revision goals, including number of words, number of pages, number of hours/days you plan to write.
• Meet your writing goals by implementing your new writing schedule with a solid plan to finish a short piece of writing (essay, story, chapter, or poem) or a longer project.

Course Syllabus

The post Get It Done: Create the Scaffolding to Start (and Finish) a Writing Project appeared first on Writers.com.