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Novel II First Draft—Part 2
GUIDE TO FICTION COURSES
Fiction Pathways
Foundation
If you’re not sure what kind of fiction to write...
If you know what kind of fiction to write...
Fiction Writing I
Zoetrope Fiction Writing I
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing I
Mystery Writing I
Romance Writing I
Children’s Book Writing I
Or...
If you want a rather short course...
Fiction Writing Intensive
Children’s Book Writing Intensive
Middle Grade/Young Adult Intensive
Humor Writing Intensive
Comics & Graphic Novels
Next Steps
After completing a Level I ten-week course...
Short Fiction II
Zoetrope Short Fiction II
Novel II First Draft Part 1
Novel II Critique
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing II
Mystery Writing II
Romance Writing II
Children’s Book Writing II
After completing Novel First Draft II Part 1...
After completing Short Fiction II...
Also Helpful
These essential courses are great for writers of any level.
Character
Dialogue
Plot 1: Mechanics
Plot 2: Machinations
Reading Fiction
In(verse): Poetic Techniques for Non-Poets
The Writer’s Mind
The Editor’s Eye
Grammar 1: The Basics
Grammar 2: Expertise and Finesse
Social Media
For Teens
Novel II First Draft, Part 2 is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures and worksheets. The focus is on writing the first draft of a novel. The prerequisite is Fiction I, or the equivalent; Level II courses work best when students know the fundamentals. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
The Novel First Draft classes work differently than other 10-week Workshops; they are devoted to powering through the first draft of a novel rather than critiquing. If you prefer to receive critiques on your novel, then take Novel Critique.
Gotham has two separate programs for Novel First Draft—Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 should be taken first. If, after Part 1, you wish to continue working on your first draft, then take Part 2.
A novel is a world into which a reader disappears for hours or days at a time, navigating through time and space and human psychology. We live with the characters, be they a glamorous bootlegger living the high life, or a mixed-up teenager on hiatus from prep school, or a pair of runaway twins who branch into separate lives over the decades.
Writing a novel is a long haul—a steep climb over hundreds of pages that must work as a unified and engrossing whole. Here you’ll learn the specialized techniques of novel writing and how to market your work.
As Toni Morrison says: If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.
Incredibly helpful and inspiring. It pushed me to keep writing, and constantly challenged me to think deeply about my characters and plot.
Frankie Glass
nonfiction tv producer/writer
Notes
Fiction I encompasses short stories and novels. After Level I, students have a choice of Short Fiction Writing II (focusing on short stories), or Novel II Critique or Novel II First Draft (focusing on novels).
If you’re working on “genre” fiction, you may take either a Fiction/Novel course or one of our genre courses: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, Mystery.
If you’re working on a YA novel, you may take a Fiction/Novel or “genre” course, or you may take a Children’s Book course, where the full spectrum of children’s books will be covered.
10-Week
-
Online
Anytime, week-long sessions
Tuition: $439 (returning students: $409)
Syllabus
The aim of this course is to power through a large portion (or all) of your first draft without stopping for feedback or self-doubt. You get craft and inspirational information, weekly worksheets, and a support group, but there is no critiquing of student work (aside from teacher feedback on your worksheets). Course components:
Lectures
Worksheets (to help develop your novel)
Weekly word-count goals
Gotham has two separate programs for Novel First Draft—Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 should be taken first. If, after Part 1, you wish to continue working on your First Draft, then take Part 2.
New York City/Zoom classes
The syllabus varies from teacher to teacher, term to term. Many topics will be similar to those covered in the Online classes.
Online classes
Each lecture offers advice from an acclaimed novelist, revealing craft, process, and inspirational insight. The course does not include critiquing of student novels.
Week 1
Haruki Murakami: You Can Do This – Murakami reveals “signs” that assured him he should write a novel.
Week 2
Stephen King: Connecting to Characters – King reveals ways to find personal connections to characters.
Week 3
Jennifer Egan: Seeking the Hidden – Egan reveals how she taps into “hidden” ideas and energy.
Week 4
Walter Mosley: Insight on Plot – Mosley reveals interesting approaches to looking at plot.
Week 5
Zadie Smith: Confidence – Smith reveals techniques for bolstering confidence while writing.
Week 6
Celeste Ng: Questions to Answer – Ng reveals how to turn up crucial questions during the first draft.
Week 7
Neil Gaiman: Toward the Mountain – Gaiman reveals tips for always moving toward your writing goal.
Week 8
Ernest J. Gaines: Hearing Voices – Gaines reveals how he channels voices and chooses point of view.
Week 9
Ursula K. Le Guin: No Recipe – Le Guin reveals how she finds the unique path of each novel.
Week 10
Lisa Reardon: Idea to Publication – Reardon reveals the journey of a novel from first idea to landing in the bookstore.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
