You know novels, after all, you’ve read approximately 18,000 of them. You’ve got a brilliant idea you’re burning to write. Surely you should be able to just sit down and do it?

But none of the material you have so far fits into a shape you can grasp, so you tell yourself you’ll start at the weekend when you’ve got more time. But then you’re tired and it’s such a massive, overwhelming project that your brain freezes and you doomscroll for 7 hours instead.

The next week the same happens, and before you know it you’re avoiding people who ask how the novel’s going and can’t even think about it without wondering guiltily if maybe you’re just not meant to write after all…

Plotting bootcamp

Make sure your plot and characters work before you start writing. Explore and develop characters, setting, voice, conflict, subplot and point of view with practical worksheets that help you to get to know your novel idea and build an outline that works, in the level of detail that works for you.

Feedback on your plot outline

We’ll review your plot at the end of the plotting, just to make sure you have a solid story with satisfying character arcs (after all that work you will have, but it’s good to have another pair of eyes on it at this stage).

Four writing months

If you wrote 1,000 words every weekday you’d have an 80,000 word draft by the end (and still have taken weekends off!). Of course it’s not that easy, so we’ll give you oceans of support and encouragement to keep you going.

Mid-point plot review

As you write you’ll get a deeper understanding of your characters, their motivations and behaviours, and the world of your story. You’ll pause in the middle of writing to make sure your story is on the right track and to give you a chance to tweak and add depth to your story’s climax and resolution.

Editing bootcamp

Learn our simple, logical framework for editing, then put it to work polishing your first 3,000 words. You’ll also leave with a clear idea of your next steps and the tools to tackle it.

Editorial feedback on your first 3,000 words

Comments from a professional editor (Amie) on your story opening. Getting this view on your work from an outsider’s perspective can flag up issues, show you how to improve your work and reassure you that you’re on the right track before you think about sending it out.

Think of us as your guides, cheerleaders and personal trainers. Charlie runs Urban Writers’ Retreat, and has been helping writers apply bum to chair and just do it  since 2008. Amie is an author, an editor working with small publishing houses and independent authors, and director of an independent press.

We’ll break the process of writing a first draft down to make it easier, then guide you through with loads of tools and support along the way.

We only work with small groups of writers to make sure there’s personal accountability. Did we mention the deadlines?

Carrot and stick, folks, carrot and stick.

Just fill in the application form. We only work with a small number of writers to ensure that we can support you personally, and we work with you end to end, from idea to a finished draft (and beyond, in the editing bootcamp).

Things we’ll ask for on the application form include:

• Brief synopsis of your novel, 100-300 words, including the ending.
• Confirmation that you’ve done/can do all of your research in advance
• What genre and audience you’re aiming for

We’d also like to know:

• A little about your main characters
• A little about your setting
• What your fears and concerns are, what’s holding you back

The Mini Synopsis

We don’t expect your ideas to be fully-formed yet (what would be the point in a plotting bootcamp if it was perfect?) but this is 1-2 paragraphs (around 300 words max please) outlining the broad-brush story.

Make sure to include: who the main character is, what they want, what the central conflict/question is, who/what stands against them, what the key things that happen are, and how it ends/how you think it might end.

The Six Month Novel is online and part time (but is a serious commitment, you’ll need to dedicate around an hour a day to your novel). We’ve had writers join us from California to Beijing, Amsterdam to Sydney, published novelists and complete newbies.

It might be perfect for you if

• You’re ready to dedicate the time and do the work.
• You know (or think!) you can do it, but seem to have lost faith in yourself and you’d love a little extra help and support.
• You’ve done all of your research, or can complete it by the start date.
• Writing fast, not editing as you go, accountability, loads of support… all this makes you think yesssssssssss! Basically, if it sounds awesome then it’s probably right for you.

We’re not right for you if

• You’ve finished a draft and want editing help; this is ideally for novels at the planning stage, though if you’ve written 20,000 words then stalled and think you need to go back and plan it’ll work.
• You hate planning. If you always stall though, it might be worth reconsidering your approach?
• Your creative process is to circle back and perfect small sections before you move on and you are able to finish work this way. If that works for you keep going!
• Your aim is to write a Great Literary/non-narrative work. We find that the draft-fast-and-lock-up-your-editor approach isn’t as well suited to this kind of book.
• You don’t have the time. You’ll probably need to do equivalent to an hour of work every day. Yes. Every day. There are no shortcuts,
• You have serious mindset/emotional blocks stopping you writing. Trying to logic or power through this stuff without having addressed the root causes just doesn’t work, and you’ll end up disappointed. Only join once you’re ready – we’ll still be here.