Write Your First Novel:
A Step-by-Step Program for Beginners
Join International Bestselling Novelists and MFA Creative Writing Instructors Julie Cantrell and Sadeqa Johnson
January 20, 2026 – November 17, 2026
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
If you’ve dreamed of writing a novel but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, this 10-month immersive program gives you the structure, mentorship, and support to finally bring your story to life. With professional guidance and built-in accountability, you’ll move step by step from your first idea to full chapters—while mastering the essentials of craft:
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Character
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Plot
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Dialogue
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Setting
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Theme
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Revision
Along the way, you’ll build the discipline, confidence, and creative voice that will sustain you for a lifetime of writing. You’ll gain the benefits many writers seek in an MFA program—mentorship, structure, and community—at just a fraction of the cost.
This isn’t just about writing your novel. It’s about becoming the writer you’ve always wanted to be.
By the end, you won’t just have pages—you’ll have a strong manuscript in progress (or a completed first draft), a distinctive voice, and the confidence to call yourself a novelist.
Results You Can Expect
Not only will you gain mastery of the core elements of craft, a disciplined writing practice, and the confidence to call yourself a novelist, you’ll also develop the clarity, momentum, and skills to keep building toward a completed manuscript.
And you won’t be doing it alone. Alongside expert mentorship, you’ll connect with a circle of writers who share your goals, creating a built-in network of encouragement and accountability.
By the end of the program, you’ll have:
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Mastered the essential tools of novel writing
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Gained direct experience working with bestselling authors
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Developed your unique voice and creative discipline
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Built a strong foundation (and possibly a complete draft) for your novel
SPACE IS LIMITED! ENROLL TODAY.
World-Class Guidance at Every Step
You’ll be led by bestselling authors who understand both the craft and the emotional journey of writing a novel. With their professional insights, practical lessons, and honest feedback, you’ll learn what it really takes to succeed as a writer.
Plus, VIP guest instructors will share insider perspectives from the publishing and entertainment industries—offering the kind of access and mentorship few MFA programs can match.
Taught by two New York Times bestselling, award-winning authors—and experienced MFA instructors—this program blends professional-level education with personal accountability. Through biweekly lessons, guided assignments, and direct faculty feedback, you’ll apply every concept immediately to your own pages.
Your Faculty
VIP Guest Instructors
Award-winning Author, Editor, and Consultant
NYT Bestselling Author, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
NYT Bestselling Author, The Henna Artist
NYT Bestselling Author, Author of Girl in Translation
A Program Designed to Deliver Results
This isn’t just advice—it’s a structured, results-driven roadmap to completing your novel. Each step builds on the last, from your first spark of inspiration to polished pages. With weekly lessons, guided assignments, and milestone check-ins, you’ll gain the clarity, confidence, and momentum to keep writing.
Quarter 1 – Foundations & Planning
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Jan 20 – Welcome + Big Picture, Goal Setting, & Commitments; Idea Generation & Finding Your Story
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Feb 3 – Character Development: Protagonist & Antagonist
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Feb 17 – Structure & Story Arc (Three-Act & Save the Cat)
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Mar 3 – VIP guest speaker - World-Building: Setting, Time, and Place (Jean Kwok)
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Mar 10 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Mar 17 – Outlining Methods: From Discovery to Detailed
GOAL: Craft a working outline, character profiles, setting descriptions, and the BIG WHY to nail down your story’s theme by end of March.
Quarter 2 – Building the First Act
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Mar 31 – VIP guest speaker - Writing Powerful Openings (Jamie Ford)
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Apr 14 – Dialogue, Dialect, & Voice
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Apr 28 – Conflict, Stakes, & Tension
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May 12 – Subplots & Secondary Characters
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May 26 – Pacing & Scene Construction
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Jun 9 – Landing the Act I Turning Point
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Jun 16 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Jun 23 – Quarter 2 Wrap: First Aid Check-In (Progress Assessment, Quarter Review, Q&A, Next Steps & Celebrations)
GOAL: Write 80–100 pages (Act 1) by end of June.
Quarter 3 – Writing the Middle (Act 2)
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Jul 7 – VIP guest speaker - Navigating the “Muddy Middle” with Leslie Lehr
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Jul 21 – Theme & Character Transformation
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Aug 4 – Midpoint Reversals & Raising the Stakes
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Aug Break (Aug 11 & 25) – Independent Writing (no class)
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Sep 1 – Peer Critiques: Share & Care
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Sep 15 – Layering Suspense, Emotion, and Meaning
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Sep 22 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Sep 29 – Quarter 3 Wrap: First Aid Check-In (Progress Assessment, Quarter Review, Q&A, Next Steps, & Celebrations)
GOAL: Write 200–250 pages (Acts 1 & 2) by end of September.
Quarter 4 – The Final Act & Draft Completion
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Oct 13 – VIP guest speaker - Crafting Climaxes with Alka Joshi
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Oct 27 – Stick the Landing: Craft a Satisfying Ending
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Nov 3 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Nov 10 – Revision Strategies: Big Picture vs. Line Edits
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Nov 17 – Celebration & Next Steps: Publishing Paths, Query Letters, Staying Motivated
GOAL: Write a full first draft (80–120K words) by course end.
What Makes This Program Different
It’s more than just a class—it’s a writing journey designed for transformation. You’ll gain the accountability, tools, and community that keep you growing long after the final session.
As part of this program, you’ll also have access to exclusive post-class opportunities at discounted rates:
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1-hour private coaching sessions with faculty (limited availability)
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Discounted Editorial services offered by Julie Cantrell (limited availability)
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Early-bird or FREE access to Next Step classes on revision, publishing, and marketing (many are free with Story Summit Membership)
What Your Enrollment Includes
For a fraction of the cost of an MFA, you’ll receive 10 months of world-class education, mentorship, personalized guidance, and a proven roadmap to success.
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36 Hours of Live Instruction with bestselling authors guiding you through every step of your novel
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4 Hours of VIP Guest Live Sessions, including Q&A with published novelists sharing insider experience and real-world insights
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8 Hours of “Ask Anything” Office Hours (quarterly check-ins with faculty for personalized feedback)
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26 Peer Workshop Sessions (optional) for accountability, feedback, and connection with fellow writers
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Access to All Class Recordings — so you can review lessons anytime.
Discount Opportunities
And with our special launch promotion, now is the most affordable time to commit to finishing your novel. Enrollment is limited—secure your spot before the discount disappears or the class closes.
This class has limited seats to ensure more personal attention.
In addition to 20% savings on the Write Your First Novel class, your Story Summit Membership—valued at over $24,000—includes full access to:
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All individual tiered classes for the year
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Priority registration for limited-size events
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VIP industry mentorship
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Coaching and writing practice support
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Industry Networking
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Agent pitch sessions
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Over 65 Class archives in our Screening Room
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A vibrant, lifelong creative community
Your Story Can’t Wait
The novel you’ve dreamed of writing won’t appear on its own. It takes structure, guidance, and accountability—the very things this program was built to provide.
Your story deserves to be told. Join today and start becoming the novelist you’ve always wanted to be.
Enrollment is limited to ensure every writer receives personal attention. If this is your year—don’t wait.
Enrollment is limited to ensure every writer receives personal attention. Don’t wait—2026 is your year!
Early Bird Offer for Non-members!
Save $600 (10%) — use NOVEL10 by Nov 14
Story Summit Members receive a 20% discount for this year-long class. The special coupon will be available in your dashboard. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
A full cash refund will be made (less processing fees of 7.5%) if you notify us at least two weeks before the start of the entire series. If less than two weeks, the refund can be applied as a credit for another future class. This applies to all payment methods, including payment plans.
Due to the commitment required for the Year-Long Class, no refunds will be made after the class starts. The only exception is for family or medical circumstances that make it impossible to continue. In that event, you will be refunded a pro-rated amount, based on the number of class sessions taken. A 7.5% transaction fee will also apply to the amount due to you.
If a student violates the trust or privacy outlined in the Virtuous Circle, Story Summit reserves the right to dismiss that student from the class and provide a refund pro-rated based on the number of classes taken. There will be no transaction fee refund.
Please note that all refunds are processed within a 30-day window.
