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Learn MoreFind Time to Write Your Novel
Rating: 4.2 out of 54.2(29 ratings)
1,842 students
Find Time to Write Your Novel
This course shows you how to find time to write AND breaks novel writing into small steps. Led by a published novelist.
Created byLouise Tondeur
Last updated 11/2023
English
What you'll learn
- You'll know how to create characters, plan and write a novel
- You'll know how to find time to write your novel
Explore related topics
Course content
3 sections • 70 lectures • 4h 1m total length
- Begin your novel today2:14
- Welcome0:33
- A quick look at some books that will help you to finish your novel1:35
- Schedule It1:40
Why writing isn't about coming up with a brilliant idea.
- How to establish a writing habit1:41
Is writing every day for you?
- Track Your Time4:20
If you're struggling to find time to write, the only honest approach is to look at what you do with your 168 hours a week.
- Review the results of your time tracking1:35
Look at the results of your time tracking to discover where you could fit in some writing time.
- Popping in to ask you a question0:30
Popping in to ask you if there's anything else you'd like to see on this course. Let me know in the Qu and A.
- Harness the Power of Lists: Plan a Novel in an Afternoon7:35
Harness the power of lists. Try out some of the techniques we'll be using during the rest of this course - and plan a novel in an afternoon.
- Productivity techniques2:50
Look at repetitive tasks you perform and save time using some tried and tested productivity techniques.
- Two possible outcomes of time tracking1:04
Discover the two possible outcomes of time tracking - and why you might need to apply the brakes.
- Commit to a writing habit1:07
The only way to write a novel is to turn up. Make a commitment to your writing habit - and get your book written.
- Space to write3:02
Our writing space is as important as our writing time. Here's how to make yours work.
- What to do during your scheduled writing time2:15
Use writing prompts to get started.
- What if I’ve already got a writing habit?1:05
You may already have a writing habit - so what happens next?
- Equipment4:38
In this video I go over some equipment you'll find useful when writing your novel - from basic to more advanced.
- How long is a novel?1:07
I often get asked this question - but what's the real answer?
- How much do you write in a typical writing session?2:36
Knowing how many words you're aiming for - and how many words you tend to write in a typical writing session - means you can work out how long it will take to write your book.
- Time your redrafting2:10
It's much trickier to time your redrafting, because it's hard to know when it begins and ends. Come up with an estimate so you allow yourself enough time to do it.
- Understanding your writing habit4:36
This video is designed to help you better understand your writing habit - by jotting down a few choice words at the end of each writing session.
- Two of my favourite writing tools6:12
I include several writing tools in my free Udemy course - called Starting to Write - but here are two of my favourites.
- The Three Act Structure2:33
Planning a novel? Start by dividing it in 3! And if after that you're ready to try your hand at something more complicated, try the three links in the resources.
- How to See a Story1:25
How to 'see' the patterns in a story in one sitting.
- Beginning3:32
What goes into the beginning of a novel? How do you kick things off and keep your readers interested?
- Middles2:08
What goes into the middle of a novel - often thought of as the hardest part to write?
- Endings1:26
What goes into the end of a novel? How do you tie up all those loose ends but keep the reader hooked until the last page?
- The Three Act Structure in a Nutshell1:13
In this video I sum up the Three Act Structure.
- What is a narrative arc?1:10
This video introduces the concept of the 'narrative arc.'
- How to find diagrams of the narrative arc online2:46
Find out how easy it is to find pictures of the narrative arc online.
- Mulling time4:20
This video is all about a concept that non-writers find hard to understand - why we need some mulling time.
- How to create a character in a world with a problem6:16
The environment your character lives in (or finds themselves in) and the problems they face are inextricably bound up with the story you're going to tell about them.
- The Challenge3:58
In this video I give you a challenge - one that will make the process of writing and submitting (or publishing) a novel easier to understand.
- Review the challenge I set you2:55
In this video you review the results of the challenge I set you - so come back to it when you're done!
- Why a novelist doesn't sit down to write 100,000 words3:14
Nobody sits down and writes 100,000 words. Knowing that can free you from feelings of inadequacy and judgement.
- The Maths7:23
Doing the maths to work out how long each part of your novel will be - and how long each will take to write.
- Plot points from problems1:53
This video is about the power of problems - they allow you to create a story.
- Populate your novel5:00
What other characters do you need in your novel? This video gives you some techniques you can use to get started.
- Other ways to create interesting characters6:39
There are lots of ways to create characters. In this video I give you a few techniques you can use.
- Get to know your characters’ backgrounds4:24
Getting to know a character's background will give them some depth - and 3D characters are the key to a good story - so how do you do it?
- Flesh out your characters3:19
How do you flesh out your characters now you've got to know them?
- Know your theme5:23
What do you care about? What story do you want to tell? Take some time to ponder what you're really writing about.
- Research for novelists5:45
Think you can get away with googling everything?! This video shows you the kinds of research available to writers.
- Divide your novel into chunks3:28
We've already divided into beginning, middle and end - so now I want you to take that approach even further.
- Avoid distractions: Writing 1000 words per session2:27
How to avoid distractions so that you can write 1000 words per session.
- Plan your beginning2:11
The next few videos are all about the details of planning. First off: plan your beginning.
- Plan your middle1:51
Now you get to plan your middle: don't forget to use those problems.
- Plan your end1:33
You may want to wait before planning your end, but this video shows you how to do it, whether you work on it now or later.
- Planning all the way through the process1:28
Why planning doesn't come first.
- Using your plan now you've got one1:55
You've armed yourself with a plan: so now what do you do?
- Creating signpost scenes3:01
This video shows you an alternative to the 'linear' approach to writing - create some signpost scenes first.
- Now you've created your signpost scenes, what next?1:33
So now you have your signpost scenes, what do you do next?
- Creating scene cards5:05
In this video, I show you my own scene cards and the headings I use to create them.
- Schedule your writing time1:20
Now you've got a pretty good idea of how long your novel will be and how long it will take to write, go back to your schedule to make sure you've allocated enough time.
- Stages in the writing process3:48
There are several stages in the writing process - this video sums them up so you've got a handy way to remember them all.
- Books on novel writing2:35
In case you want to go deeper, here are some of the books on novel writing that I like.
- Books on Time Management and Productivity2:16
Here are some books on time management and productivity that will help you find time to write.
- If you want to make money from your writing, do this.4:49
If you want to make money from your writing, here's a crucial step you need to take now.
- The three routes to publication1:50
This video sums up the three main routes to publication.
- Literary citizenship2:53
Literary citizenship - what is it, and why is it important?
- Present your work well1:40
Presenting your work well - whether you're editing it or submitting it - is professional and it allows you to 'see' it with fresh eyes.
- How to prepare for publication: The Quality Bar3:02
If you want to be a published writer, then there's a certain standard - a quality bar - you need to reach first.
- Going the Trad Route2:40
This video is all about the so-called 'traditional' route to publication - that is, how to get published by one of the big presses.
- The Small Press Route4:46
There are a lot of small presses out there, so who do you approach? And how is it different from the traditional route?
- What to include in your cover letter2:27
You're usually going to include a cover letter or email with a submission. So what do you write about?
- Checking in3:04
Once you've submitted your work, do you wait patiently for an answer, or do you ring them every day?
- The Synopsis2:14
Why no one really knows how long a synopsis 'should' be - and how to write yours.
- The Self-Publishing Route (Part one)5:36
If you want to self-publish, where do you start? Is it possible to do it for free?
- The Self-Publishing Route (Part two)4:37
I sum up the tools you might need in order to self-publish and let you know where to go for detailed help.
- How to plan a novel in an afternoon (bonus lecture)35:10
I show you how to plan your novel in one afternoon. This is a 35 min video so if you'd prefer the 4 minute version - same techniques, same topic, but much shorter - click on the link in the resources.
- Your Writing Calendar Challenge0:55
Requirements
- The ability to write fluently
- Enthusiasm for writing
- Desire to write a novel
Description
Have you always dreamed of writing a novel, but don't know where to start? Is lack of time holding you back? I'm a published novelist and a Creative Writing tutor. Join me as I break the novel writing process down into small steps, and show you how to find time to write your book.
Who this course is for:
- If you want to write a novel
- If need help finding time to write a novel
- If you want a handy step-by-step guide to novel writing