Write Your Novel in a Year
A structured, week-by-week system for finally finishing your novel — from blank page to polished draft in 12 months, no matter how busy you are.
Perfect for: Aspiring and returning novelists — including first-timers, "eternal beginners," and writers who've started multiple manuscripts but never finished one — who want a structured, accountable path to a complete first draft.
Most aspiring novelists don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because they lack a system. Without a clear roadmap, writing a novel feels like an endless, shapeless project — and life always finds a way to push it to the back burner. Write Your Novel in a Year changes that by giving you a concrete, repeatable process that fits into real life.
This school breaks the overwhelming task of writing a novel into manageable monthly milestones and weekly writing sessions. You'll move through every phase — idea development, character building, scene-by-scene outlining, drafting, and revision — with guidance that keeps you accountable and moving forward. No more staring at a blinking cursor wondering what comes next.
Whether you're writing your first novel or you're a serial "almost-finisher" with three half-written manuscripts on your hard drive, this course meets you where you are. You'll learn how to protect your writing time, silence your inner critic during drafting, and push through the notorious "messy middle" that kills most novels before Chapter 10.
By the end of the year, you won't just have started a novel — you'll have a complete first draft you're proud of, plus the habits and tools to write your next one faster. The only question is: what's your story?
What you'll be able to do
- Complete a full first draft of a novel (50,000–100,000 words) within 12 months
- Develop a compelling story concept with a clear premise, stakes, and central conflict
- Build fully realized characters with distinct voices, believable motivations, and satisfying arcs
- Create a scene-by-scene outline flexible enough to guide you without stifling creativity
- Establish a sustainable personal writing routine and daily/weekly word-count targets
- Identify and break through common mid-novel stalls, plot holes, and creative blocks
- Apply a structured self-revision pass to transform your rough draft into a presentable manuscript
- Understand the difference between drafting mode and editing mode — and how to protect both
Curriculum
6 modules · 16 lessons
Your teacher
Dave Idell
I know what it feels like to have a novel living rent-free in your head for years while the blank document stares back at you. I've been there — multiple times. After finishing my own first novel (and surviving the messy middle twice more after that), I became obsessed with understanding *why* some writers finish and most don't. It turns out it has very little to do with talent and almost everything to do with process, timing, and honest self-knowledge. I built this course to give you the system I wish I'd had — one that respects your time, takes your story seriously, and gets you to "The End." I can't wait to read what you write.
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