Your Novel: From Premise to Published

Enrollment Opens November 24, 2023 

During the  Course, you will 

• Develop Your Strategic Writing and Publishing Plan: Based on your unique personality, work style, and goals, your Strategic Plan will become your road map for streamlining your systems and getting the work done.

• Learn or Continue to Hone Your Craft: Through instruction from award-winning novelist, writing coach, and developmental editor Ginny L. Yttrup, you'll learn and hone craft techniques and nuances of fiction.

• Determine Your Publishing Method: Based on instruction in the methods of publication and considering time frames, necessary steps, and your desired outcome, you'll determine the publication path you'll pursue.

• Complete Your Manuscript: If you adhere to your road map, you’ll have a solid plan to complete the writing and editing of your manuscript. Is completion guaranteed? No. Life happens, and we trust in God's timing. But you'll have a clear strategy to complete a manuscript that will be ready for professional editing or submission to agents.

• Connect with Readers: In the publishing world, being connected to readers translates to platform numbers. But readers are people, not numbers. When building platform, you're really engaging in relationships. During the Course, you'll learn and employ the best practices for making connections with readers.

• Journey from Premise to Published: You'll learn how to develop your premise, write and edit your manuscript, choose your publishing path, and engage with readers eager to buy your book. You'll be well on your way to publication!

The Course

Making the journey from the premise of your novel to publication requires a strategic, individualized plan and a multifocused effort in fiction craft, publishing, and platform practices.

Your Novel: From Premise to Published offers 7 modules focused on aspects of the fiction craft, publishing methods, and engagement with readers.

Each module includes

• Five to Six Video Lessons.Videos are approximately to 10 to 20 minutes long and are accompanied by an audio file for listening on the go.
• An Abundance of Digital Resources.Each lesson includes resources to reference or use as you work through the lesson. The resources include Ginny’s Your Novel Map Workbook, Your Strategic Writing & Publishing Plan: A Guided Journal, Your Platform-Building Strategy, and so much more!
• Rest Stops.Each module includes a digital resource guiding you through a time of rest and refreshment that will soothe your soul and stimulate your creativity.
• Flexible Access.Log in to the private membership site to access your Course library and resources.

Modules, including all lessons and resources, release weekly beginning Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Within 7 weeks, you'll have access to all the Course material, so you can access specific lessons when you most need the information.

Let's travel From Premise to Published together!

Module 1

Your Strategic Plan

The lessons in this module will guide you through creating your Strategic Plan and making important decisions about the novel you want to write, the publishing path you'll pursue, your schedule, how you'll build relationships with readers, and how you'll recharge along the way.

By the end of the module, you'll be navigating your Strategic Plan—your clear strategy for success—and employing new habits and mindsets that will keep you moving in the right direction.

Highlights

• Set your course as you explore your publishing options—traditional publication with a royalty-paying publisher, self-publication, or a hybrid approach—and as you consider the essential elements of your novel.
• Assess your platform systems—your website, email marketing server, automated email sequences, and lead magnet(s)—to determine what you need to implement, create, or re-create.
• Identify potential roadblocks by thinking through habits that hamper your progress and negative mindsets that hold you back. Establish routines to keep you moving toward your goals.

Module 2

Craft, Novel Structure, Engagement 

In Module 2, you'll work with a dual focus on craft and platform. You'll review and continue honing fiction techniques, learn the importance of novel structure, map your novel elements, and more. You'll also set up any necessary platform-building systems and begin engaging with readers.

By the end of this module, you'll have honed necessary fiction techniques, tested your story premise, crafted your hook, and implemented your platform systems.

Highlights

• Map the essential elements of your novel using the Your Novel Map Trello board or workbook.
• Test your story premise so you know if it's strong enough to entice readers to “The End.” You'll determine whether it's a high-concept premise or formulaic.
• Craft the all-important hook for your manuscript. You'll also craft your pitch or premise statement for use in a book proposal, meetings with agents and editors, or marketing copy. 
• Implement platform systems not already in place, and create a lead magnet and automated emails. 

Module 3

Theme, Setting, Point of View (POV)

In this module, you'll focus on craft as you consider the theme of your novel, the setting, and a metaphor you might use to convey your theme or another element of your plot. You'll review examples of each element from popular novels and understand how each element fits into the genre and plot of your novel.

You'll also spend time focused on your platform as you begin building relationships with readers.

By the end of this module, you'll have a clear understanding of how the elements of a novel work together to enhance the overall plot, you'll have learned some of the nuances of POV and how to use them as you write, and you'll know where to find your readers and how to connect with them.

Highlights

• Take your novel to the next level by connecting your theme, plot, and metaphor to show your reader exactly what you want them to see.
• Master the nuances of POV appropriate for the genre you're writing and the plot you're crafting, as you continue writing. 
• Review your Strategic Plan to determine what about it is working and what isn't. Adjust accordingly.
• Find your readers. Discover which social media platforms they frequent and the groups in which they participate. Begin engaging consistently to form relationships. 

Module 4

Character Development, Social Media

In this module, you'll further develop the characters you began creating when you mapped your novel and as you've been writing. You'll layer in quirks, make certain each character's voice is unique, add emotional depth, check internal and external motivations and how they're woven into the plot, and more.

You'll delve more deeply into social media, creating a plan that fits your needs while also giving readers an opportunity to get to know you.

By the end of this module, you'll know your characters intimately and discover how to create each one with unique characteristics. You'll have tuned your social media engagement as you continue building relationships with readers.

Highlights

• Create memorable characters your readers will love, by further developing each of your primary characters and the way they interact with one another. If you're creating archetypes, make certain they fit readers' expectations.
• Examine your main characters' arcs and how they fit with the story arc. Ensure that your plot points facilitate your characters' growth/change. 
• Create a social media plan that works for you, a plan that allows readers to get to know you authentically, without having to sacrifice what's important to you.
• Create marketing copy for use in publishing, and begin sharing it with readers on social media or in newsletters.

Module 5

Subplots, Scenes, Pacing

In this module, you'll learn the importance of creating engaging subplots and ways to weave them into your overall plot. You'll also learn how to shape transitional scenes that move your readers from one act to the next.

By the end of this module, you'll have ensured that the pace of your novel will keep readers’ attention and that your subplots are engaging and intertwine tightly with your plot. You'll also have completed necessary research to move forward toward your goal of publication.

Highlights

• Review subplots—the stories within your story—and study the ways subplots work to strengthen your overall plot.
• Create climactic transitions between acts, to hook readers again and again and to keep the pace moving.
• Structure scenes that continue to build tension through questions and conflicts readers need to see resolved, keeping the pace moving and readers turning pages. 
• Research agents who represent the genre in which you're writing, check client recommendations, and research submission guidelines. If self-publishing is your plan, research developmental editors and copyeditors, check references, and get on editors' schedules.

Module 6

Story Threads, Final Scenes, Publishing Tasks

In this module, you'll tie up loose ends and make sure each of your subplot arcs come to completion. You'll craft a final climactic scene that leads to a satisfying ending, and you'll write the words you've looked forward to, “The End.”

You'll share your accomplishment with your future readers. 

By the end of this module, you'll have crafted your third act, making certain you've tied up the loose ends of your plot and subplots. You'll finally write “The End,” you'll use this milestone to engage with your future readers, and you'll breathe deep as you enjoy this module's Rest Stop.

Highlights 

• Craft the climactic transition leading readers to your novel’s third act and final scenes.
• Analyze your plot and subplots to make certain all complete satisfactorily. Tie up the loose ends. 
• Review the Final Chapter Checklist to make sure you've created a satisfying ending for your readers.
• Write “The End” and celebrate! 

Module 7

Self-Editing, Revision, Submission

• In this module, you'll reread and edit your manuscript following the self-editing guidelines provided. You'll further hone your craft and story skills, preparing the manuscript for submission.

You'll begin submitting your manuscript to agents or editors, depending on your publishing path.

By the end of this module, you'll have a polished manuscript ready for submission. If traditionally publishing, you'll have finalized your book proposal and begun submitting it to agents. If self-publishing, you'll have sent your entire manuscript to your developmental editor.

Highlights

• Edit your manuscript by working through the Self-Editing Checklistto ensure that you've fully developed your story and honed all aspects of your craft. 
• Revise your manuscript in places you've determined could use further development, and cut unnecessary scenes.
• Walk away from your manuscript for several days to give your mind space to mull over and prayerfully consider the manuscript’s status. Return to it refreshed and do one more quick pass. Then let it go rather than overediting. 
• Press send! Submit your manuscript to agents or your editor. Then take a long nap or vacation, reconnect with friends, and thank all the people who've supported you. You're on your way to publication!