This novel writing course, Year of the Novel (Phase 3) with Amy Lovat, will be held online.

Course Overview

In this third phase you’ll work on turning your very good novel into a brilliant one. You’ll kill some darlings, bolster any threadbare sections, and refine and finesse the language. You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to launch your fully-realised novel into the world.

Throughout, Amy will use examples from a wide variety of contemporary fiction and from students’ work-in-progress to explore the topics covered, and guest speakers will share their insights to further expand your understanding of how published writers do what they do.

Each week during the course, a new lesson will be posted online. Participants will have the week to work through the content and post responses to exercises designed to put the theory they’re learning into practice. Participants will engage in giving and receiving peer feedback on writing exercises and receive some limited tutor feedback. 

Participants will meet with the tutor each week on Zoom to ask questions and discuss the online lesson content. Sometimes, those Zoom sessions will involve a guest speaker talking about their writing life. 

As you work through the lessons online, you’ll also be working offline to write your novel. To this end, you’ll be encouraged to set specific, achievable writing goals each week and have the opportunity to share your successes, discuss your challenges and help others with theirs, in our class forum. 

You should come to the first class with a specific work-in-progress or idea for a novel. Sharing and discussion will be encouraged, and there will be ample opportunity for you to speak to the group about how various techniques and lessons may be applicable to your specific project.

To benefit from this course, you should be working on a novel and have an existing writing practice. You can contact us with any questions before enrolling.

Phase Three 

This is where we take a long hard look at your very good novel and figure out how to make it brilliant. We’ll cut the fat, plump up the too-lean bits, polish the language, and do whatever else is necessary to ensure your novel is ready to face the world. 

1. Revision and editing basics 

Learning to read like an editor, and the difference between structural, line and copy-editing. 

2. The structural edit

Every novel-in-progress has weak points and this week we’re going to confront yours head on. This week we take a look at your novel-in-progress from the highest level examining how the plot, characterisation, POV, and setting are working (or not). 

3. Killing your darlings

You’ve done a lot of work since you first began this writing journey. Now it’s time to go back and pull down the stuff you no longer need. We’ll pull out the scissors and ruthlessly cut out all those no-longer necessary explanations, descriptions, and conversations. 

 4. Beginnings                                                                         

It may seem a bit late to be talking about beginnings, but it’s often only once you’re close to the end that you can see where you should have begun! This week is all about making sure your novel starts where, and how, it needs to (know that you know where it’s going).

5. Endings

Endings are tough, but we’re going to be tough right back at them! We’ll talk finales, climaxes, cliffhangers, epilogues, the difference between an open-ending and no ending at all. 

6. Line editing

This week we go micro—considering the rhythm and flow of sentences and hunting down filter words, cliches, and clumsy constructions. 

7. Editing: going deeper 

This week’s content will be determined by the needs and concerns of the participants when it comes to editing your novel and moving to the next stage of the process.

8. Where do we go from here?

Freelance editors, manuscript assessment, agents, publishers, competitions, and more. 

**In Phase Three there will also be the opportunity to submit up to 1500 words of your manuscript, once a fortnight, for feedback from both tutor and peers. 

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ before enrolling>> 

This course is best suited to writers who have already completed a substantial draft of a novel and are ready to begin the editing process. If you’re still developing an idea or writing your first draft, we recommend joining the full Year of the Novel program from Phase 1. Join the waitlist for the 2027 full Year of the Novel program here.

Participant Requirements

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program. This interactive online course has limited places. Book early to avoid missing out. 

You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.

You should come to the first class with a completed or substantially completed novel manuscript that you are ready to revise. This course focuses on editing and redrafting rather than generating new work, so participants will get the most from the course if they have already done significant work on their novel.

This course is designed for writers of fiction. If you have a narrative non-fiction manuscript and are interested in enrolling in this course, please contact us to discuss.

Please note:

• The in-person and online streams of Year of the Novel are completely separate, so please choose carefully at enrolment. We’re unable to offer transfers between the streams once your place is confirmed.

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