Writing That Moves: Write Novels That Keep Pages Turning (Udemy.com)
Write novels with compelling plots. This writing course, on fiction writing, shows how to plot books that hook readers
Created by: Sally Apokedak
Produced in 2017
What you will learn
- Master seven important plot elements of commercially successful novels.
- Plan new novels with plots that will keep readers engaged and turning pages.
- Enhance your literary novels with plots that will make agents stop saying, "This story is a little too quiet for my list."
Quality Score
Content Quality
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Video Quality
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Qualified Instructor
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Course Pace
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Course Depth & Coverage
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Overall Score : 96 / 100
Course Description
Writing Fiction that Moves: Write page-turningnovels by learning to writecompelling plots!
In this course on plotting, you'll learn to write compelling short hooks for your query letters, and you'll learn how to plot a satisfying story that takes a character from point A to point B while keeping readers eagerly turning pages all the way.
If you're unpublished and having a hard time breaking in or if you'republished but having a hard time breaking out, this course should help you.
You'll also be able to ask Sally questions inthe courseor on the companion Facebook page where she keeps office hours a couple of times a month.
Sally has over 3000 satisfied students on Udemy.
Join those happystudents by joining this course. (oh, OK, there are acouple of disgruntled folks in that lot--you can't please all the people all the time. Thank God for money-back guarantees!)
Is this course for you?
If you have been trying to figure out how some writers are able to come up with plots thathook readers and keep them turning pages, thiscourse is for you.
If youve sold your first book to publisher but you're not sure how you did it and your agent keeps kicking back the new books youre sending her, then this course is for you.
If you are a literary novelist you will scoff at this course,but you may be the one to get the most out of itbecause literary novelists are often great at character and voice and mood, but a little less great at writing page-turning novels with compelling plots.
But . . .
If youve already read The Heros Journey and if you understand the three-act structure and if youve read a lot of books on plot, this course may not be for you.
Sally hasput this course together as an answer to the submissions she seesthat aren't working, so if youve been to a lot of classes already, her plot ideas here will probablynot be new to you. They still might help you identify weakness you haven't previously noticedin your own manuscripts, though.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING about Sally's courses?
. . .
I found the instructor's examples easy to follow, and I felt very engaged with the subject. Great course! ~Geoff, (Udemy student)
We had so many wonderful comments about you and your class on our evaluations. We hope you'll be able to join us again next summer. . . . ~Lindy Jacobs (OCW Summer Conference Director)
Sally's comments were specific and very helpful. It is such a gift to have a professional agent share how my pitch would be received. Sally is an oasis on the long, dry journey from writer to published author. Go ahead give her a try. You won't be disappointed. ~Maureen (Fiverr customer)
Not like any course I've taken. Sally teaches in her own unique way and it works! At first, I was taken aback, but the wealth of information kept me moving through and I'm glad I did. . . .~Curtis (Udemy student)
Thank you for your incredible class. It was a valuable, valuable learning experience. . . .~Kimberly (Women on Writing student)
Thank you so much. I got a lot out of the class and it gave me a lot to think about. I'm grateful for all the feedback. . . . ~Christie (Women on Writing student)
Thank you so much for your feedback . . . throughout the course. I appreciated how much you know about this field and your willingness to share your expertise. ~Sandy (Women on Writing student)
Here's the thing about Sally: she's going to be honest and direct with you. As a writer, that's EXACTLY what you want. Each time I've worked with her, Sally has quickly spotted my story's flaws -- and provided multiple suggestions to make it a stronger piece. Excellent, as always! ~Barbie (Fiverr customer)
This course is packed with practical advice from a professional agent. She knows what she's talking about. I see, now, what to look for when editing my manuscript. The added bonus of her laugh out loud examples made the time fly by. If you are a serious writer of fiction, you will do yourself a favor and take this course. There is too much information do take in in one sitting. ~Kathleen (Udemy student)
Andbecause Sallylikes to be fair andbalanced. . .
While I'm sure this woman is a great writer and great editor, I, unfortunately, didn't find her to be a very good teacher. There was a lot of "look at this example of writing. See how crappy it is? Don't write crappy like this!" *insert slap on the wrist. But there was no depth. Nothing you couldn't learn in Creative Writing 101, which is possibly the point.~ Britt (Udemy student)
And last, but not least,this gal who really hated onecourse so much that sheleft a half-star rating. Sheperhaps did not see the irony in her remark about the course, which was, simply
Too shallow. -Mary (Udemy student)
Come on in if you dare. Step up. Invest in your dream. And in the end, if you hate the course, thereis a 30-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. And all shallbe well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things will be well.
What this course promises:
If you do all the exercises, you'llfinish the course with a novel completely plotted. You'll also get asimple template to follow for writing your short hooksandyou'llcome away understanding what elements go into some of the mostcompelling plots. We'll cover:
the normal life of the characterthe inciting incidentthe character's acceptance of the call to actionthe character trying and failing and trying and failingthe dark night of the soulthe climaxthe denouement
What this course does not promise:
that it will be fast and easythat you will get a book contract at the end of the coursethat you will actually write an interesting book (It depends on how hard you are willing to work at it)
Some questions this course answers:
What is one of the top reasons agents reject manuscripts?
How do I plot a commercial novel?
What are some plot elements that manybestselling novels have in common?
Where should I start my story?
What does it mean when agents say my book is too quiet? Who this course is for:
If you are in my high concept course, much of this info overlaps. Please be aware that the section on short hooks is repeated in its entirety in the high concept course.
beginners who dont know where to startintermediate writers who have trouble plottingNaNo writers who want to go in with a novel that is already plottedif you have studied the three-act structure and the hero's journey this course is not necessary for you unless you just want some reminders
In this course on plotting, you'll learn to write compelling short hooks for your query letters, and you'll learn how to plot a satisfying story that takes a character from point A to point B while keeping readers eagerly turning pages all the way.
If you're unpublished and having a hard time breaking in or if you'republished but having a hard time breaking out, this course should help you.
You'll also be able to ask Sally questions inthe courseor on the companion Facebook page where she keeps office hours a couple of times a month.
Sally has over 3000 satisfied students on Udemy.
Join those happystudents by joining this course. (oh, OK, there are acouple of disgruntled folks in that lot--you can't please all the people all the time. Thank God for money-back guarantees!)
Is this course for you?
If you have been trying to figure out how some writers are able to come up with plots thathook readers and keep them turning pages, thiscourse is for you.
If youve sold your first book to publisher but you're not sure how you did it and your agent keeps kicking back the new books youre sending her, then this course is for you.
If you are a literary novelist you will scoff at this course,but you may be the one to get the most out of itbecause literary novelists are often great at character and voice and mood, but a little less great at writing page-turning novels with compelling plots.
But . . .
If youve already read The Heros Journey and if you understand the three-act structure and if youve read a lot of books on plot, this course may not be for you.
Sally hasput this course together as an answer to the submissions she seesthat aren't working, so if youve been to a lot of classes already, her plot ideas here will probablynot be new to you. They still might help you identify weakness you haven't previously noticedin your own manuscripts, though.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING about Sally's courses?
. . .
I found the instructor's examples easy to follow, and I felt very engaged with the subject. Great course! ~Geoff, (Udemy student)
We had so many wonderful comments about you and your class on our evaluations. We hope you'll be able to join us again next summer. . . . ~Lindy Jacobs (OCW Summer Conference Director)
Sally's comments were specific and very helpful. It is such a gift to have a professional agent share how my pitch would be received. Sally is an oasis on the long, dry journey from writer to published author. Go ahead give her a try. You won't be disappointed. ~Maureen (Fiverr customer)
Not like any course I've taken. Sally teaches in her own unique way and it works! At first, I was taken aback, but the wealth of information kept me moving through and I'm glad I did. . . .~Curtis (Udemy student)
Thank you for your incredible class. It was a valuable, valuable learning experience. . . .~Kimberly (Women on Writing student)
Thank you so much. I got a lot out of the class and it gave me a lot to think about. I'm grateful for all the feedback. . . . ~Christie (Women on Writing student)
Thank you so much for your feedback . . . throughout the course. I appreciated how much you know about this field and your willingness to share your expertise. ~Sandy (Women on Writing student)
Here's the thing about Sally: she's going to be honest and direct with you. As a writer, that's EXACTLY what you want. Each time I've worked with her, Sally has quickly spotted my story's flaws -- and provided multiple suggestions to make it a stronger piece. Excellent, as always! ~Barbie (Fiverr customer)
This course is packed with practical advice from a professional agent. She knows what she's talking about. I see, now, what to look for when editing my manuscript. The added bonus of her laugh out loud examples made the time fly by. If you are a serious writer of fiction, you will do yourself a favor and take this course. There is too much information do take in in one sitting. ~Kathleen (Udemy student)
Andbecause Sallylikes to be fair andbalanced. . .
While I'm sure this woman is a great writer and great editor, I, unfortunately, didn't find her to be a very good teacher. There was a lot of "look at this example of writing. See how crappy it is? Don't write crappy like this!" *insert slap on the wrist. But there was no depth. Nothing you couldn't learn in Creative Writing 101, which is possibly the point.~ Britt (Udemy student)
And last, but not least,this gal who really hated onecourse so much that sheleft a half-star rating. Sheperhaps did not see the irony in her remark about the course, which was, simply
Too shallow. -Mary (Udemy student)
Come on in if you dare. Step up. Invest in your dream. And in the end, if you hate the course, thereis a 30-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. And all shallbe well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things will be well.
What this course promises:
If you do all the exercises, you'llfinish the course with a novel completely plotted. You'll also get asimple template to follow for writing your short hooksandyou'llcome away understanding what elements go into some of the mostcompelling plots. We'll cover:
the normal life of the characterthe inciting incidentthe character's acceptance of the call to actionthe character trying and failing and trying and failingthe dark night of the soulthe climaxthe denouement
What this course does not promise:
that it will be fast and easythat you will get a book contract at the end of the coursethat you will actually write an interesting book (It depends on how hard you are willing to work at it)
Some questions this course answers:
What is one of the top reasons agents reject manuscripts?
How do I plot a commercial novel?
What are some plot elements that manybestselling novels have in common?
Where should I start my story?
What does it mean when agents say my book is too quiet? Who this course is for:
If you are in my high concept course, much of this info overlaps. Please be aware that the section on short hooks is repeated in its entirety in the high concept course.
beginners who dont know where to startintermediate writers who have trouble plottingNaNo writers who want to go in with a novel that is already plottedif you have studied the three-act structure and the hero's journey this course is not necessary for you unless you just want some reminders
Instructor Details
- 4.8 Rating
142 Reviews
Sally Apokedak
Sally Apokedak is a literary agent with the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency whowades through thousands of queries from hopeful authors every year.She's also a popular speaker at writing conferences. These things put her in a good position to understand writers' struggles. She aims,in all her courses and conference workshops,to help writers complete manuscripts that will compel agents to offer representationor that will compel readers of self-published works to buy books and turn pages.
Reviews
- Video Duration:
1 hour on-demand videoh - Price: 11.99 Track Price 11.99 Track Price
- Provider:
Udemy - Year:
2017 - Language:
English - Certificate:
Yes
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