In months one to four of the course, you’ll lay the foundations for writing your novel.  

Month one will be all about planning. You’ll work with your tutor to make sure you have the perfect structure in place for your book.  

In month two, you’ll focus on finding the perfect point of view for your story. You’ll try different perspectives and experiment with how they affect and enhance your narrative. Month three will see you working on your setting, creating a world you can draw your readers into.  

Finally, month four will be all about vital work on developing three-dimensional characters. With support from guest tutor and award-winning author Yvonne Battle Felton, you’ll build protagonists who feel so real they could step right off the page. 

Outcome: By the end of stage one, you’ll be ready to write in earnest, with a clear picture of what your finished novel might look, sound and feel like. 

In this stage of the programme, you’ll focus on finding your voice and identifying what makes your writing special and unique.  

Month five will focus on the art of presenting emotions and senses in your writing. Next, in month six, you’ll learn how to keep readers engaged with your story, building pace and tension that will keep them turning page after page.  

In month seven, you’ll work on voice and style: giving your narrative a flavour that’s all your own. Finally, in month eight you’ll work with your tutor on creating a strong ending for your novel.  

Outcome: By the end of stage two, you’ll have a substantial proportion of your novel written, and will have developed an individual authorial style.  

This stage of the programme will focus on teaching you the skills you need to edit your novel. In month nine, we’ll be joined by professional book editor Debi Alper, who will work with you in an exclusive workshop masterclass. You’ll learn how to regard your writing with a critical eye, refining your first draft into a polished novel.  

In this stage, if you have a first draft ready, we’ll match you with an editor who will read your book and provide you with detailed feedback. Through a 3500-word report, they’ll highlight any areas for improvement and provide actionable advice on how to address them. 

If your first draft isn’t ready at this point in the programme, don’t worry – you’ll have plenty of time to submit your writing and get editorial support after the course ends.  

Outcome: By the end of this stage, you’ll understand how to critically edit your own work and will receive expert feedback on your whole manuscript. Whether you’re refining your first draft or preparing for the next stage of editing, you’ll have the tools and guidance needed to turn your novel into a polished, publishable piece.

In this final stage of the Ultimate Novel Writing Course, we’ll help you to prepare for what comes after the programme has ended. We recognise that one size does not fit all – so we’ll be looking at all the different ways you might get your book published.  

In month ten, we’ll focus on traditional publication. You’ll work on your submission pack and learn how to compile a list of suitable literary agents you could send it to. You’ll also have the opportunity to chat directly with an agent on a 15-minute phone call, where they can talk you through what’s working well, what could be improved and where your book could sit within the current publishing landscape. This month, you’ll also have the chance to get personalised written feedback from our agency partner – an exclusive benefit of this programme. 

In month eleven, we’ll work on marketing and building your author brand. We’ll introduce you to the world of self-publishing with help from indie expert Debbie Young. She’ll join us for an exclusive Q&A session and answer all your questions on self-publishing and the indie revolution. 

Finally, in month twelve you’ll get the chance to take part in our online showcase. You’ll be able to read an extract of your work to a panel of leading literary agents and receive live feedback. You’ll also be invited to attend our in-person celebratory event in either London, UK or New York, USA. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet your course mates and tutors, as well as to network with hand-selected industry professionals including agents and editors.  

And that’s not all! At the end of the programme, an extract of your writing will be featured in the Ultimate Novel Writing Course Anthology and sent to our database of agents for an exclusive first look. Last year, 30% of our students received a request for their full manuscript from this alone. 

Outcome: You will reach the end of your Ultimate Novel Writing Course with a finished, fully edited first draft, ready for submission to agents and publishers or to self-publish. With professional feedback and your refined editing skills, your manuscript will be in its final, polished form, prepared for the next step in your publishing journey, and we’ll be with you for every word.