This series is designed to take your novel from idea to finished draft over the course of a year with a combination of instruction in the craft of novel writing and the support of a small, in-person workshop setting. Each course consists of 12 weekly meetings and one private consultation.
If you're launching a new novel and need help pushing through (and past) those first fifty pages, this is the class for you! Students will learn the basics of 3-act structure, story beats, organic character arcs, and scene work, while getting supportive feedback on pages and plot in the workshop.
The "messy middle" is the longest stretch of a book, and often the most painful. It's easy to get lost, derailed, and demoralized. This class can help restore your Act II momentum through B-characters, stakes-raising midpoints, and more complex character arcs. We'll also go deeper on dialogue, flashbacks, and ways of getting unstuck when motivation is lagging.
Thinking of abandoning ship? Don't do it! You're almost there! This class is for writers struggling through the back half of a book or revising a completed draft. Learn how to craft a satisfying climax, adjust your pacing to strengthen your theme, and make a revision plan that brings what the ending has taught you about your book back to the beginning.
***Students who complete a full draft of a novel within 6 months of completing this class may purchase a full manuread with comments for $300.**
*Further discounts are available for returning students and referrals. Contact me at amyegentry@gmail.com or via my contact page for details.
“Amy’s class was a revelation. After years of taking creative writing classes, a teacher finally—finally—focused on plot and story. I saw my novel-in-progress in a wholly new way and finished the class thinking, ‘Okay! I know what to do now.’”
- Jean Synodinos
"I went into Amy's class looking for story support and writerly community. Not only did I get both of these wishes come true, I also got a boost in my confidence around plotting and pacing, a reminder of why I love to write, and a weekly good time to look forward to as I learned. ...expect jolts of fun along the way, something that carries the page further in my opinion because it imbues your art with joyful creative energy."
- Katya Lidsky
"I've loved being a part of Amy’s wonderful novel-writing class - it has helped me get my arms around my work faster and more successfully than I could have imagined! The format is super supportive, her lectures focused and clear, and her comments incredibly insightful. Amy makes space for the wandering weirdness of writing, but also thoughtfully focuses the conversations to keep the writer moving forward."
- Juli Berwald, author of Spineless and Life on the Rocks
"There's such camaraderie among the writers in our group, and we're all cheering for each other as we work through the tough spots of our novels. Amy's instruction is so helpful, and her feedback is spot on. I feel like I'm making a lot of progress on my novel, and it's great to be able to turn to Amy and a group of writers with questions."
- Katherine Lamb
Full critique, including mark-up, editorial letter, and phone calls to discuss feedback and set revision goals.
I am not currently taking on new book coaching clients.
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