Schedule & Curriculum

January 21st – February 25th, 2025

The first phase focuses on craft, and writing on one’s own. We will cover craft topics crucial to decisions the writer needs to make in the early stages of the first draft: characterization, the protagonist’s desire, point of view, voice, dialogue, and scene. A common novel will be read by all students before the course begins; we will use this novel as a primary reference for craft discussions, and students may be directed to reread key passages to emphasize craft issues.

The assignment each week will be to think deeply about your novel’s themes, your characters’ desires, and to do some writing outside the novel, if need be, to understand your story better. If you can make page-count progress on your novel during Phase I, consider it a bonus; this is really the time to get the foundation of your story in place. There will be some guided writing time in class during the first two weeks of this phase. In the last weeks, we’ll be talking through key elements of each student’s novel, and students will have an initial 20-minute one-on-one meeting with the instructor to discuss their novel project.

March 11th – June 10th, 2024 (14 weeks)

This phase will focus on workshopping, using the Novel in Progress method: students will read ten pages aloud and receive on-the-spot feedback on big-picture issues—focusing on what’s working—to guide the writer to further develop those ideas and sections. Students will have four opportunities to be workshopped, and the assignment each week will be to write ten pages of new, first-draft material. These pages will be sent to the instructor each week for accountability's sake (not for feedback).

At the end of this phase, students are to submit three pieces of writing to the instructor: the first five pages, which will be evaluated for voice and point of attack; a scene the student considers to be particularly strong or pivotal to the novel; and a scene the student is struggling with or feels is weak. (No more than 20 pages total.) The instructor will provide feedback notes and writing guidance based on these scenes.

July & August, 2025

Class will meet three times during these months. Dates TBD.

During this time, the instructor will have a one-hour, one-on-one meeting with each student to discuss the submitted scenes and any other questions/issues and guidance/goal-setting the student needs. Also during this time, the students will be buddied up in groups of two or more to provide each other additional support and accountability for the final phase of the course. The instructor will assign these buddies, who should at the least check in with each other once a week to be sure they’re meeting their writing goals; it will be up to each group to decide how often—or little—they’d like to meet beyond that, and whether or not they wish to exchange work.

Students are mostly writing on their own in this phase, with a goal of 10 – 20 pages per week, and will meet or check in with their buddies. During this time, the instructor will be available for phone conversations if needed or requested. There will be three class meetings during Phase III.

Phase III Kickoff Class Meeting: Identifying Your Novel’s Backbone. This class will be devoted to lectures and exercises designed to help students understand the shapes their novels are taking. We will also spend some time assessing students’ progress and fine-tuning their writing calendars to help them finish their drafts.

Mid-Phase Class Meeting: Outlining and Writing Toward the Climax. This class will feature a lecture and exercises designed to provide guidance on writing through the murky middle, toward the climax.

Final Class Meeting: A time to show off our hot-off-the-presses first drafts! We’ll meet to discuss how much the student has done, how far he or she has to go (if the draft is still not finished), and to discuss what comes next.

September 11th – October 16th, 2024 (Six Class Meetings)

The first phase focuses on craft, and writing on one’s own. We will cover craft topics crucial to decisions the writer needs to make in the early stages of the first draft: characterization, the protagonist’s desire, point of view, voice, dialogue, and scene. A common novel will be read by all students before the course begins; we will use this novel as a primary reference for craft discussions, and students may be directed to reread key passages to emphasize craft issues.

Guided writing exercises in class during Phase I, in addition to the assignment each week, will help students to think deeply about your novel’s themes, your characters’ desires, and to do some writing outside the novel, if need be, to understand your story better. Students will each have a brainstorm session with the class to talk through key elements of their novels (almost like a mini workshop). If you can make page-count progress on your novel during Phase I, consider it a bonus; this is really the time to get the foundation of your story in place. In the last weeks, students will have an initial 20-minute one-on-one meeting with the instructor to discuss their novel project.

October 30th, 2024 – February 26th, 2025 (Fifteen Class Meetings)

Please note: Class does not meet November 20th, December 25th, or January 1st.

This phase will focus on workshopping. Students will be expected to read the workshop pieces ahead of time and receive verbal feedback during class on big-picture issues—focusing on what’s working—to guide the writer to further develop those ideas and sections. Students will have four opportunities to be workshopped, and the assignment each week will be to write ten pages of new, first-draft material. These pages will be sent to the instructor each week for accountability's sake (not for feedback).

Short craft lessons will be interspersed at varying points throughout this phase to further develop the building blocks of their novel such as focusing on scene building and character stakes and arcs.

At the end of this phase, students are to submit three pieces of writing to the instructor: the first five pages, which will be evaluated for voice and point of attack; a scene the student considers to be particularly strong or pivotal to the novel; and a scene the student is struggling with or feels is weak. (No more than 20 pages total.) The instructor will provide feedback notes and writing guidance based on these scenes.

March, April, May 2025

Class will meet three times, and individual meetings will be scheduled with instructor.

During this time, the instructor will have a one-hour, one-on-one meeting with each student to discuss the submitted scenes and any other questions/issues and guidance/goal-setting the student needs. Also during this time, the students will be buddied up in groups of two or more to provide each other additional support and accountability for the final phase of the course. The instructor will assign these buddies, who should at the least check in with each other once a week to be sure they’re meeting their writing goals; it will be up to each group to decide how often—or little—they’d like to meet beyond that, and whether or not they wish to exchange work.

Students are mostly writing on their own in this phase, with a goal of 10 – 20 pages per week, and will meet or check in with their buddies. During this time, the instructor will be available for phone conversations if needed or requested. There will be three class meetings during Phase III.

Phase III Kickoff Class Meeting: Identifying Your Novel’s Backbone. This class will be devoted to lectures and exercises designed to help students understand the shapes their novels are taking. We will also spend some time assessing students’ progress and fine-tuning their writing calendars to help them finish their drafts.

Mid-Phase Class Meeting: Outlining and Writing Toward the Climax. This class will feature exercises designed to provide guidance on writing through the murky middle, toward the climax.

Final Class Meeting: A time to show off our hot-off-the-presses first drafts! We’ll meet to discuss how much the student has done, how much they have to go (if the draft is still not finished), and to discuss what comes next.