Best Novel Writing Courses [Become a Bestseller]Are you hoping to write a bestselling novel? If so, you need to learn the major storytelling elements that many bestselling books share. Fortunately, you can learn them online, in just a few days. Below, find my list of the best novel writing courses, with their prices. Whether you're a beginner author or an experienced writer looking to refine your skills, these online classes can help.  Hit Writer Course for novelistsMy Hit Writer Course helps you turn your idea for a novel into a scene-by-scene outline, with a compelling plot and unforgettable characters, then provides guidance for writing the scenes, covering dialogue, description, and more. The online video lessons, which apply to any fiction genre, can be finished in just a day, or taken at any pace you'd like. You also get:
Get lifetime access for just $47.  Novel writing topics covered in my courseHere are just some of the writing topics you'll learn: MasterClass novel writing coursesThough I teach my own classes, I also encourage you to learn from other writing instructors. MasterClass is a subscription-based, online-education platform I recommend. It offers lessons in various areas, from famous experts. A focus for MasterClass is its novel writing courses.  How much does a MasterClass subscription cost?A MasterClass Individual membership costs $10/month, billed yearly. Once you sign up, you immediately gain access to all of its novel writing courses (plus all of its other classes). They offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee. I recommend you browse the MasterClass writing courses on their website. If just one of them seems like a fit for you, sign up for the 30-day trial, which you can take risk-free. List of MasterClass courses for novelistsJames Patterson
Judy Blume
R.L. Stine
Margaret Atwood
Dan Brown
Walter Mosley
Neil Gaiman
David Baldacci
Amy Tan
N.K. Jemisin
Udemy novel writing coursesAnother online-education platform I recommend is Udemy. They offer some great novel writing classes, plus courses in plenty of other subjects.  How much does Udemy cost?Udemy courses are offered individually, each with its own price. Many of the writing classes range from about $50 to $150 bucks. You also have the option to get a subscription, which gives you access to 10,000+ courses. You can try it free for 7 days, then the price becomes $16.58/month. List of Udemy courses for novelistsWrite a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps
Novel Writing Workshop
Your Path To Writing a Page-Turner
Your Writer's Journey: 12 Steps to Write Your Hero's Journey
Skillshare novel writing coursesAnother online-education platform I recommend is Skillshare. They offer various novel writing classes, plus courses in many other subjects.  How much does Skillshare cost?Skillshare offers memberships. Once you sign up, you immediately gain access to all of the novel writing courses (plus all of the others). The first month is free. You can try it risk-free. Afterwards, it typically costs $14/month, billed annually, however, they're currently running a promotion for 30% off. Visit the deal page to claim their offer: List of Skillshare courses for novelistsNovel Writing for Beginners: How to Write Your First Draft
Nailing Your Narrative: Using Story Structure To Tell Irresistible Stories
How To Write A Book: Novel Writing
Write a Great Plot 101
Frequently asked questions about novel writing coursesHow can I learn to write a novel?Taking an online writing course can teach you the key elements of a novel. You should also read many books and start writing your own, even if you're not ready to publish anytime soon. The act of writing will help you develop your skills and style. Should I take a writing class before writing a book?Yes. First, learn the key elements of storytelling in a novel writing course. Without understanding them, you may spend months on a first draft that you find unworkable. Learn how to outline a story and structure a scene, then begin your novel, starting with an outline. Which genres are online writing courses for?Most online novel writing courses teach principles that apply to any fiction genre. Other classes cover these principles, while also going into writing advice specifically for one genre, or possibly a handful. If you write in any of the following genres, the courses listed in this article would be a help to you:
What's the difference between MasterClass and Skillshare?MasterClass has about 200 courses, taught by world-famous instructors. Though Skillshare's instructors tend to not be famous, the platform has over 30,000 classes, covering many narrow topics. To learn more, check out my article on Skillshare vs. MasterClass. What's the difference between Skillshare and Udemy?Skillshare and Udemy each offer a subscription option, with access to unlimited classes. A Skillshare subscription costs less than a Udemy one, about $10 per month vs. about $17. However, Udemy has more courses, over 200,000, plus lets you purchase any individually, without a subscription. To learn more, have a look at my post on Skillshare vs. Udemy. Is it worth taking a writing course?Yes. Online writing courses are a very affordable way to learn key storytelling elements. They are much cheaper than college creative writing classes. The small amount of money you'd spend on a course can be earned back very quickly in sales royalties from a book. This post contains affiliate links.
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MasterClass for Writing - Should You Try it? [Courses and Reviews]Are you hoping to write a hit book or screenplay? The writing courses on MasterClass can help. Learn writing techniques online, with self-paced video lessons from famous authors and screenwriters. In this article, I provide reviews of recommended MasterClass courses on book and screenplay writing from various instructors.  What is MasterClass?MasterClass is an online-education platform that features video courses taught by accomplished people in various fields. Subscribers to MasterClass gain access to all courses on the platform. One of the areas MasterClass covers is writing. Since I'm a fiction writer, in this article, I focus on classes pertaining to books and scripts, however, MasterClass provides narrative writing courses in poetry and journalism too. You can view all of the MasterClass writing courses on its website: Who are MasterClass writing courses for?MasterClass courses were designed with new writers in mind. You should be able to understand the material even if you haven't tried writing a book or screenplay yet. Experienced authors or screenwriters may already be familiar with various topics covered, however, can surely pick up new tips. Certain classes revolve around book writing and others screenwriting. However, most of the underlying concepts the instructors speak about apply to both formats. Some courses go into detail on specific genres - ex, thrillers - however, most of the underlying concepts apply to various genres across narrative writing. If you are an author or screenwriter in any genre - or would like to be someday - all of the classes listed in this article should benefit you in some way. Here's a look at the major topics the courses cover... MasterClass writing topicsMany lessons are aimed at helping writers create an outline for their story. Example topics: Lessons also cover the writing stage after an outline is completed and a writer has moved on to creating scenes. Example topics: Finally, various lessons go over elements of a writing career that aren't directly related to what's written on a page. Example topics:
How much does MasterClass cost?A MasterClass Individual membership costs $10/month, billed annually. Subscribers receive instant access to all courses on the platform, which they can view on one device (ie, computer, tablet, phone, or TV). For $15/month, billed annually, you can access all course content on two devices, known as the Duo membership. The Family membership - which costs $20/month billed annually - lets you access content on six devices. All three plans have a 30-day guarantee. If you aren't certain the platform is a fit for you, I encourage you to sign up and try it. If you'd rather not remain a member, you can easily cancel your subscription for a full refund. MasterClass writing courses and reviewsBelow are overviews and links to MasterClass writing courses I recommend. I looked into classes in areas related to what I write. I am sure many other classes on MasterClass are helpful too. Just because a class isn't on this list, does not mean you should skip it. Possibly you write in an area much different than me (ex, children's books) and other classes may be of interest to you. Once you subscribe to MasterClass, I suggest you browse all the writing classes and take as many as possible with material relevant to you. My list of recommended classes, with reviews... James Patterson MasterClass review James Patterson is the bestselling novelist of thriller series such as Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club. His MasterClass features 22 video lessons, covering topics like:
I recommend this class to anyone interested in writing fast-paced fiction, particularly in the mystery and thriller genres. Though James Patterson is an author, the class would also be helpful for screenwriters. To take the James Patterson MasterClass, just register on the website and you can start immediately: David Baldacci MasterClass review David Baldacci is the bestselling author of various thriller series. In his MasterClass, you can take 18 video lessons on topics like:
I recommend this class to anyone interested in writing page-turning fiction, especially in the mystery and thriller genres. Though David Baldacci is a novelist, the lessons would apply to screenwriters too. To take the David Baldacci MasterClass, just sign up on the website and you can begin immediately: Malcolm Gladwell MasterClass review Malcolm Gladwell is the bestselling author of non-fiction books such as The Tipping Point and Blink. Since Malcolm Gladwell writes in a narrative style, I've included his course on this list, even though his books aren't fiction. He teaches 24 video lessons, on topics like:
I recommend this course to anyone interested in writing narrative non-fiction, or fiction, whether articles, short stories, or books. Screenwriters and documentary filmmakers could benefit from these lessons too. To take the Malcolm Gladwell MasterClass, just register on the website and you can start right away: Aaron Sorkin MasterClass review Aaron Sorkin is the acclaimed writer of The Social Network, The West Wing, and other films and television shows. His class offers 35 video lessons, on topics such as:
I recommend this course to anyone interested in writing screenplays, teleplays, plays, or novels. To take the Aaron Sorkin MasterClass, just sign up on the MasterClass website and you can start instantly: Neil Gaiman MasterClass review Neil Gaiman is a popular writer of short stories, novels, graphic novels, and more. His MasterClass features 19 video lessons, on topics like:
I recommend this course to anyone interested in writing novels, short stories, screenplays, graphic novels, or comic books. Though the class may be particularly helpful to fantasy writers, any fiction writer could benefit from it. To take the Neil Gaiman MasterClass, just sign up on the website and you can begin immediately: Dan Brown MasterClass review Dan Brown is the bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code and other thriller novels. His course offers 19 video lessons, on topics such as:
I recommend this class to anyone interested in writing mysteries and thrillers, whether in novel or screenplay form. The class could also be helpful to writers in other genres who are hoping to incorporate suspense into their stories. To take the Dan Brown MasterClass, just register on the website and you can start instantly: David Mamet MasterClass review David Mamet is the acclaimed writer of plays, such as Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo, screenplays, and more. His class features 26 video lessons, on topics like:
I recommend this class to anyone interested in writing screenplays, plays, or novels. To take the David Mamet MasterClass, just sign up on the MasterClass website and you can begin immediately: More recommended MasterClass courses for writersThe MasterClass courses listed above are designed for writers. Some other courses are designed for directors, however, address storytelling concepts a writer could find helpful. Below, I've provided a brief bio of these instructors and links to learn more about their classes: David Lynch is the acclaimed screenwriter and director of the films Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, and more. To learn more about the David Lynch MasterClass, visit the course page. Martin Scorsese is the Oscar-winning director of Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, and other films. To learn more about the Martin Scorsese MasterClass, visit the course page. Judd Apatow is the popular screenwriter and director of the films Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and more. To learn more about the Judd Apatow MasterClass, visit the course page. Ron Howard is the Oscar-winning director of A Beautiful Mind, Backdraft, and other movies. To learn more about the Ron Howard MasterClass, visit the course page. James Cameron is the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director of The Terminator, Aliens, and other films. To learn more about the James Cameron MasterClass, visit the course page. Try MasterClass freeDo any of the MasterClass courses mentioned in this article seem like they could help you? If so, I suggest you sign up for MasterClass and start watching the lessons. You have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the platform isn't right for you, easily cancel without losing a dime. To begin your MasterClass free trial, just visit the website and select "Sign Up": To learn more about MasterClass, check out my post on how it compares to Skillshare. This post contains affiliate links. Use These 10 Literary Devices to Tell an Awesome StoryIf you're writing a book, screenplay, or short story, you want to captivate your audience with your characters and settings, build suspense, and deliver strong emotional payoffs. Literary devices are tools that can help. Though plenty of literary devices exist, these 10 are particularly useful in fiction and narrative non-fiction. Check out these examples and tips for using them to tell an awesome story.  Want to write an awesome story? Download my FREE outlining guide. What is a literary device?A literary device is a technique writers can use to make stories more engaging. These tactics can create suspense, evoke emotion, set up a plot twist, and more. Alliteration, symbolism, and foreshadowing are examples of literary devices. |