Write Your First Novel (Coursera)

In this Course, you will write your first novel. Many people say they have often thought about writing a novel and are planning to do it someday, but very few ever actually do. However, in this course, you will do it. You will learn how to form a basic idea, any idea, into a structure and discipline that will allow you to create, write and complete a fully-realized novel ready to submit for publication.

As part of my Transmedia Writing course, learners write the first two chapters of a novel. Learner Review from Transmedia Writing:

“I was toying with this idea of writing a book then I found this course Transmedia Writing through Coursera. This course really pushed me to my limits and it is an eye opener for me that there are goals that I can still achieve and accomplish through the world of writing. It was a challenging, very thorough and very detailed course but completing it was a very rewarding experience. This course really exceeded my expectations.”

In Write Your First Novel, you’ll learn to break down your creative endeavor into components and you’ll discover a process that will allow you to do what few have done: produce and complete a full-length work of fiction in the form of a 50,000-word novel.

I am a proponent of experiential learning (also known as active learning). My lectures are short and to the point, designed in a step-by-step process essential to your success as a writer. I will guide you, I will show you how to get there, hopefully I will inspire you. You will learn through your own activity - which is writing! I firmly believe that the only way to become a writer is to write, write, write!

Learner Review from Transmedia Writing:

“I completed your Transmedia Writing course and I wanted to thank you for your encouragement throughout the course… you told us to keep writing diligently and finish our novel. Well… I finally finished writing all 20 chapters of my book!”

Writing fiction is a truly beautiful thing. Putting your own words on a page to tell a story which enters your readers minds and allows them to share the thoughts, emotions and lives of your characters is a very satisfying, rewarding experience.

What You Will Learn

- You will learn how to write and complete a full-length novel of 50,000 words. You will have a finished manuscript in hand at the end of the course.

Syllabus

Week 1

Creating the idea for your novel

In Week One you will create a concept for your original novel, your own Intellectual Property (IP). You will write up a pitch document, post it and review the pitches of five of your peers. You will also create a Logline and a Dramatic Question for your novel, post those documents, review the work of five of your peers and revise your own work with the feedback you get from your peers

Week 2

Create your character profiles and outline Chapter One

In Week Two you will create profiles for your major characters and write up an outline for the first chapter of your novel.

Week 3

Write Chapter One

In Week Three you will begin writing your novel.

Week 4

Write Chapter Two

In Week Four you will write the second chapter of your novel.

Week 5

Write Chapter Three

In Week Five you will write the third chapter of your novel.

Week 6

Write Chapter Four

In Week six you will write the fourth chapter of your novel.

Week 7

Write Chapter Five

In Week Seven you will write the fifth chapter of your novel.

Week 8

Write Chapter Six

In Week Eight you will write the sixth chapter of your novel.

Week 9

Write Chapter Seven

In Week Nine you will write the seventh chapter of your novel.

Week 10

Table Read Chapters One to Seven

In Week Ten, you have the week off from writing. This week, you will get together with a few friends and read Act One, the first seven chapters of your novel,

Week 11

Write Chapter Eight

In Week Eleven you will write the eighth chapter of your novel.

Week 12

Write Chapter Nine

In Week Twelve you will write the ninth chapter of your novel.

Week 13

Write Chapter Ten

In Week Thirteen you will write the tenth chapter of your novel.

Week 14

Write Chapter Eleven

In Week Fourteen you will write the eleventh chapter of your novel.

Week 15

Write Chapter Twelve

In Week Fifteen you will write the twelfth chapter of your novel.

Week 16

Write Chapter Thirteen

In Week Sixteen you will write the thirteenth chapter of your novel.

Week 17

Write Chapter Fourteen

In Week Seventeen you will write the fourteenth chapter of your novel.

Week 18

Table Read Chapters Eight to Fourteen

In Week Eighteen, you have another week off from writing. This week, you will again get together with a few friends and read chapters Eight through Fourteen, Act Two of your novel.

Week 19

Write Chapter Fifteen

In Week Nineteen you will begin the final Act of Your Novel

Week 20

Write Chapter Sixteen

In Week Twenty you will write the sixteenth chapter of your novel.

Week 21

Write Chapter Seventeen

In Week Twenty-One you will write the seventeenth chapter of your novel.

Week 22

Write Chapter Eighteen

In Week Twenty-Two you will write the eighteenth chapter of your novel.

Week 23

Write Chapter Nineteen

In Week Twenty-Three you will write the nineteenth chapter of your novel.

Week 24

Write Chapter Twenty

In Week Twenty-Four you will write the final chapter of your novel.

Week 25

Table Read Chapters Fifteen to Twenty

In Week Twenty-Five you will take another week off from writing and table read the final act of your novel.

Week 26

Submit Your Finished Novel

In Week-Twenty Six you will submit your completed, polished novel. You will also write a prologue for your novel and a synopsis to submit to agents.