Are you ready to write your novel?
Join writing coach and agent Sarah Bullen for a three month online mentorship that will take your book from idea to first draft. The step-by-step course delivered by email will develop your plot, craft your characters and get you writing the first draft of your book.
Cost $150 (approx R2,000 ZAR) for the 3 month intensive programme.
31 PUBLISHED AUTHORS (at last count)
This is an online course is designed for new writers who want to write a novel, or experienced writers who are stuck. It will guide you through the process of writing your book from start to finish. You need nothing but your ideas in order to start. You will end up writing a book. Unlike many courses that take you through the theory of writing and plotting, this course is geared towards getting you going on your novel. By the end of the first 20 days you will have the entire book plotted, you characters developed and your first few chapters written. By the end of 100 Days you will have your entire first draft written.
It’s a hard push to get you to engage with the dream of writing a book. It is a challenge to act on your desire.
You will learn:* The Elements of Structure
* Finding Your Book Genre and Sub-Genre
* Creating Plot, Place and Character Outlines for your Genre
* Adding Plot Points and Structure, Obligatory Scenes and Conventions
* The Beginning Hook
* The Middle Build
* The Ending Payoff
* Advanced Character Development
* World Building
* Developing Your Minor Characters
* Developing Point of View as a Plotting Technique
* Advanced Plotting, Pace and Structure
* How to make your characters unforgettable
* Adding Depth and Layers
* How to Present Your Book to Publishers
"I believe in writing with a view to ending with a publishable book. This means knowing your genre, plotting your book and giving yourself the best chance of writing a good first draft, " Sarah Bullen.
How does it practically mentorship work?
* Every day for the first month you will be given a short 2 min lesson via email to read, or to watch.
* Each day has exercises that takes you systematically through how to plot your book.
* At key points you will be asked to send some work for feedback and review.
* The lessons will show you how to plot your story, step by step, beginning to end, going over what the story is about, who the characters are, where the story starts, how it reveals itself and how it ends.
* The format of the course will make sure your story is set up right (the beginning hook) and has the dramatic momentum (the middle build) to carry it through to a fulfilling ending.
* You start actually writing after Day 10 and then the course will take you deeper into advanced plotting, storytelling, characters, dialogue, style, theme, genre and writing.
* Each stage of the mentorship has a task and word count targets for you to reach.
* You will have a private skype session with Sarah once you are two months into the writing in order to check you are on track and resolve any plotting issues.
* You are part of our closed FB group of writers in various stages of the publishing process where you can get advice, support or a reader
* You block book your own writing time when it suits you, using the prompts that I send you to know how far your writing should be at each point.
* Each day has exercises that takes you systematically through how to plot your book.
* At key points you will be asked to send some work for feedback and review.
* The lessons will show you how to plot your story, step by step, beginning to end, going over what the story is about, who the characters are, where the story starts, how it reveals itself and how it ends.
* The format of the course will make sure your story is set up right (the beginning hook) and has the dramatic momentum (the middle build) to carry it through to a fulfilling ending.
* You start actually writing after Day 10 and then the course will take you deeper into advanced plotting, storytelling, characters, dialogue, style, theme, genre and writing.
* Each stage of the mentorship has a task and word count targets for you to reach.
* You will have a private skype session with Sarah once you are two months into the writing in order to check you are on track and resolve any plotting issues.
* You are part of our closed FB group of writers in various stages of the publishing process where you can get advice, support or a reader
* You block book your own writing time when it suits you, using the prompts that I send you to know how far your writing should be at each point.
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"I stand behind this course 100% and it is the result of many years coaching writers and working with publishers. I believe in writing with a purpose so this course is going to guide you to write a publishable book." writing coach Sarah Bullen
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Stuck? How I will get you over the three key 'black holes' of writing
1. The idea
It is so easy to get stuck on just the IDEA of your book. So many possible stories swirling in your head….. Should he be a banker, werewolf or a lawyer? Should it be a crime or a romance? Should it take place in the future or present day? Chicago or Germiston? Should you actually write about yourself? All writers have so many choices. Let’s get some focus. Your very first choice and task is to move what is simply AN IDEA into a PLOT. You have to make some very clear decisions and stick to them. I always say, “that all stories are just a series of thumb sucks”. That means you just come up with an idea… and run with it. Yes, he’s banker, it’s crime novel set in the future and the book starts as he lands a big client but knows he is going to pay in blood money. Now plot THAT BOOK. Do the work to make a plot and stick to it.
2. The first few chapters
And here so many writers get stuck. Some for years! Chances are it will all change in your second draft so just do your best in the first round and move forward.
3. 20,000 words
You reach 20,000 words and you have told your whole story. So common. But a book needs to be longer and you can see that now. What happened? Plotting needs to happen! A book is a long form and that is why we require a certain number of plot points to take your story to the correct length. We do the plotting / outlining upfront so you can't go wrong.
It is so easy to get stuck on just the IDEA of your book. So many possible stories swirling in your head….. Should he be a banker, werewolf or a lawyer? Should it be a crime or a romance? Should it take place in the future or present day? Chicago or Germiston? Should you actually write about yourself? All writers have so many choices. Let’s get some focus. Your very first choice and task is to move what is simply AN IDEA into a PLOT. You have to make some very clear decisions and stick to them. I always say, “that all stories are just a series of thumb sucks”. That means you just come up with an idea… and run with it. Yes, he’s banker, it’s crime novel set in the future and the book starts as he lands a big client but knows he is going to pay in blood money. Now plot THAT BOOK. Do the work to make a plot and stick to it.
2. The first few chapters
And here so many writers get stuck. Some for years! Chances are it will all change in your second draft so just do your best in the first round and move forward.
3. 20,000 words
You reach 20,000 words and you have told your whole story. So common. But a book needs to be longer and you can see that now. What happened? Plotting needs to happen! A book is a long form and that is why we require a certain number of plot points to take your story to the correct length. We do the plotting / outlining upfront so you can't go wrong.
OK you want to start? First check these things
1. Make sure that you are starting this as the right time. Because you are getting these modules via email, you will want to make sure that you are going to have access to email over this time. If you are away you will want to bank them and then open them one day at a time.
2. Make sure that you want to write a NOVEL, not a non-fiction. It can be a children’s book, teen romance or any adult genre, but this course is specifically for fiction. If you want to write a memoir, biography or factual book – this is NOT the course for you. You should be doing the 10 Weeks to a Non Fiction Book.
Are you confused about what you are writing? Please email me first so we can check and get you clear.
2. Make sure that you want to write a NOVEL, not a non-fiction. It can be a children’s book, teen romance or any adult genre, but this course is specifically for fiction. If you want to write a memoir, biography or factual book – this is NOT the course for you. You should be doing the 10 Weeks to a Non Fiction Book.
Are you confused about what you are writing? Please email me first so we can check and get you clear.
WHAT GRADUATES SAY
The workbook is comprehensive and covered all the aspects of getting my novel from an idea to a workable document. I loved the writing exercises and storytelling. Helped me to establish my writing process to a point where I have accomplished more in a few weeks than I have in months before.) Jill 2017
“Holy smoke Sarah, I actually sat and did it. It was a crash course in writing, but it worked like a charm. The plotting spreadsheets I got to the end, with a 60,000 word first draft of my book,” Miranda Guest, New York 2010 on Write a Book in 100 Days
“....... easily the most practical and useful writing course I’ve ever done and certainly most reasonably priced. I not only read all the modules - I studied them and was delighted because they answered most of the questions that arose when attempting to write a book before. Those that were not specifically answered will probably arise when I actually write more scenes and then I will go back over the course and probably find the answers.- Jane Vink
“This was a very useful course to do, particularly the early modules that actually got me plotting and writing in two weeks. I had no clue how to even start writing a novel and the clear information that you provided just mapped the way forward.’ Maria Phalime, Second Chances
“Sarah took my lifelong dream of writing a book seriously. In four inspiring lessons she equipped me with the framework to succeed by teaching me how and by pushing me to start. Her advice is frank, her direction crystal clear and her insight invaluable. I started the course with only a burning desire and left with a genre, characters, a plot and my first few chapters written.” Anne
"Just stick to the rules and take it one week at a time. Most of the hard planning work will be upfront during the first 20 days. Once you have your concept and plot, the writing is going to flow"
More questions? Read our most commons ones:
What do I technically need?
A computer, email and MS Word / any word processing package.
Can I write a non-fiction or memoir?
No, this strictly tackles fiction as the course is geared towards a novel or short story.
A fiction (novel) and non-fiction require two totally different approaches to writing. My reason for hesitating is that I really don’t think you can write an entire non-fiction (researched) book in 100 days. Both of mine took me about 12 months of hard graft from start to finish.
A fiction (novel) and non-fiction require two totally different approaches to writing. My reason for hesitating is that I really don’t think you can write an entire non-fiction (researched) book in 100 days. Both of mine took me about 12 months of hard graft from start to finish.
Can I form a group?
Absolutely not. I totally discourage this. Not if you are serious about getting this done. Writing is best done ALONE. But since we started the MasterMind I have softened a bit and you can get a writing buddy and check in that you are both on track. This works fantastically well.
You can write anywhere, in a noisy cafe, in a caravan in your garden or at a table while the kids are playing. I don’t care where you do it. However just don’t confuse it with a social event. Novel writing is best done alone. Or good writing is. Editing can be collaborative. The only person you will show your MS to, or get feedback from is me, and some of our writing coaches.
You can write anywhere, in a noisy cafe, in a caravan in your garden or at a table while the kids are playing. I don’t care where you do it. However just don’t confuse it with a social event. Novel writing is best done alone. Or good writing is. Editing can be collaborative. The only person you will show your MS to, or get feedback from is me, and some of our writing coaches.
Which is better, an online or group class
No question, the first prize is to come on an actual course. You will learn far more, get feedback and share your ideas with other writers. Writing is experiential and the courses are life-changing. You will walk out with a plan, a plot and ready to write your entire book. Part of a course is an automatic free entry into the Write a Book in 100 Days. If you can get to Cape Town or Greece, do it!
What if I don't finish?
Who are you writing this book for? You are writing it for yourself. You are doing this because you want to and you want to see if you can actually do it. Along the way many people realise that it's flipping hard to write a book! Many choose not to continue. I am not going to let you bail that easily. You can do it. You signed up because you want to do it. Many writers have done it. Many non-writers have too. It’s your choice and it is all about one thing - perseverance. If you don't finish it in the 100 Days that's no sweat - but you are going to finish it.