How to Write a Book
Online Novel Writing Course

Learn how to write a book and maximise your novel’s potential.

Write The Great Novel Online Course - by Industrial Scripts®
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Our How to Write a Book: Online Novel Writing Course has now been taken by over 10,000 authors!

10,000

online course learners

“My novel is complete and I’m now preparing to send it off. Overall this is a very well written and well planned course. I was given a lot of information to help me finish my novel. The best part is the lifetime access – I can dip back in whenever I’m in need of inspiration!”

Write a Book

Poppy Doel
Author

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Writing a Novel Is Undeniably TOUGH:
Let Us Help You Learn How to Write a Book
By Following Proven Strategies for Success

Industrial Scripts: Write A Book: Write The Great Novel

In the course we’ll teach you how to…

Industrial Scripts Online Screenwriting Courses: Maximise Your Writing Time. write a book.

Maximize Your Writing Time

Time – or the lack of it – is the great pain point of the author. You can’t develop all your ideas in to full novels. You can’t write all day, because you’ve got a day job. With us you’ll learn the pro tips and tactics to get the most of yourself, and your time.

Industrial Scripts Online Screenwriting Courses: Networking. write a book.

Network (Even If You Know No-One In Showbiz)

Building relationships is an absolutely fundamental part of being an author. Today, you have to hustle, as well as write well – there’s no other way. We teach you all the short-cuts and insider tactics.

Industrial Scripts Online Screenwriting Courses Will Help You Dodge Mistakes And Accelerate Your Progress. Write a book.

Dodge Mistakes & Accelerate Progress

Working out how to start your career as a author is one of the trickiest parts of the process, both creatively and in a business sense. After taking our course, you’ll have a crystal-clear view of the pathway ahead, what to do, and crucially what NOT to do…

Industrial Scripts Online Screenwriting Courses: The Fundamentals Of Screenwriting. write a book.

About The Fundamentals of Screenwriting

Writing is a craft, but when you begin to unpick your favourite novels it’ll soon become clear that there’s familiar methods, systems and narrative structures in play. After taking our course you’ll know novel writing structure, back to front.

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“I write a little bit, almost every day, and if it results in two or three or (on a good day) four good paragraphs, I consider myself a lucky man. Never try to be the hare. All hail the tortoise.”

Write a Book

Malcolm Gladwell
Author

INDUSTRIAL SCRIPTS HAS BEEN FEATURED IN

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VIDEO – TEXT – QUIZZES – EXERCISES

Our Courses Are a Mixture of Video, Text, Quizzes and Writing Exercises


Our courses have been deliberately designed to encourage writers to learn as they write. Ideally, you’ll complete a full novel as you work your way through the modules and lessons. Ultra-specific exercises that you can do even when you’re not online are peppered throughout the course, so you’re writing even on your daily commute!

“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.”

Write a book

Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Author

Give Your Novel The Best Start In Life…


The novel, so they say, is like a writer’s baby: you birth it, raise it, sustain it, and then release it in to the world. But there are so many pitfalls, both in terms of the artistic process, and The Industry. Skyrocket your odds of success by letting us teach you how to write a book – you won’t regret it!

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Online Screenwriting Course

TRICKY QUIZZES KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES

Our Unique Quiz System Pushes You to Absorb The Information


You probably think the quizzes in our courses are easy, right? Think again: we’ve made them deliberately tricky to keep you on your toes while you’re learning. Our system won’t let you move forward to the next lesson until you’ve nailed the quiz. True character is only revealed under pressure…

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”

Write a book

Jack London
Author

The Course Structure:
Modules > Lessons > Quizzes


Our ULTIMATE Online Novel Writing Course is divided into 8 core modules, which together consist of over 32 lessons.

The course puts an early emphasis on selecting strong concepts for your novel, before looking at major structural and character topics, and then drilling down to on-the-page novel execution.

Write a book
Write a book

What You Get:

> Lifetime access to our epic online novel writing course.

> 6+ Core Modules, 26+ Lessons, Countless Exercises and Quizzes.

> Entertaining balance of video, text, exercise and quiz-based learning to keep you on your toes.

> Giant suite of bonus eBooks, unique guides, 40+ produced screenplays and more.

> From Industrial Scripts, the most reviewed script coverage company anywhere.

> Certificate of Completion.

“I pretty much write seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. I’ll get up around 5:30, put my house in order, write a little bit, maybe an outline for that day. Then I’ll go out around 7, frequently walk a golf course for an hour by myself. Then I’ll come back and write until, oh, 11 or 12.”

Write a book

James Patterson
Author

INDUSTRIAL SCRIPTS HAS BEEN REVIEWED OVER 1,000 TIMES ON GOOGLE-APPROVED REVIEWS SITES

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How to Write a Book – Online Course Structure

The course is broken down in to 8 core Modules, consisting of 31 individual Lessons. At the end of each Lesson there’s a Quiz element, and users need to pass the Quiz in order to advance to the next Lesson.

MODULE

A

Preparation

5 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Getting Organised
> Finding Inspiration
> Genre
> The Idea
> Writing Methods

MODULE

B

The Building Blocks Of Your Story

3 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> What All Stories Need
> A Question of Style
> Critical Research

MODULE

C

Idea Development

4 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Plot & Theme
> Conflict
> The Setting
> Developing Great Characters

MODULE

D

The Deep Planning Phase

3 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Beginnings, Middles, Endings
> Chapters & Scenes
> What’s Title

MODULE

E

Writing the First Draft of Your Book

4 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Varying the Narrative
> Dialogue
> Tension Building
> It’s Time to Write

MODULE

F

After The Draft – What Happens Next?

4 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Now What?
> Revisions
> Second Draft & Beyond
> Legalities

MODULE

G

Submission

3 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Preparing for Submission
> How to Submit
> People to Impress

MODULE

H

The Final Steps

3 Lessons + Exercises + Videos + Quizzes
> Doing a Deal
> Marketing Your Book
> Self-Publishing

Bonus Study Materials + Guides

Get full access to our suite of unique study guides when you purchase any course. The pack includes…

6 x eBooks on challenging areas of screenwriting

3 x study guides on the industry and navigating it

Detailed script coverage sample

40+ PDF Screenplays of Successful Movies

“The 20 Screenplays You Can Learn The Most From”

 Script coverage templates

 And more!

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SINGLE COURSE

Serious Writer

Purchase our course and save yourself a hell of a lot of pain! We made all the mistakes you WILL make a long time ago, let us save you from them.

$400

1-time payment

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ALL ONLINE COURSES

Hell Bent On Making It

Buy all our online courses in bulk and get our enormous 1,000+ PDF Screenplay pack completely free! A never-ending ocean of learning, rolled in to one enormous suite.

$2000

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“The actual writing time is a lot shorter than the thinking time.”

Write a book

Harlan Coben
Author

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Start Living Your BEST
Writing Life Today

Life’s short: you’re not here to get rich, you just want to develop amazing novels, to work with characters day-in, day-out, tinker with dialogue, cut a line here, add some description there.

You’re an Author. And ULTIMATE Novel Writing Is For You.

Industrial Scripts Online Screenwriting Courses Guarantee Money Back

Don’t Worry, We’ve Got You Covered

If any of the information on this page turns out to be inaccurate or we don’t deliver what is promised then you can get a full refund at any time within 30 days of purchase, no questions asked. Simply raise a support ticket here detailing how the information is inaccurate and we’ll refund you within 7 days.

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Industrial Scripts

Specialist Script Developers
Since 2010

About Industrial Scripts®

Founded in 2010, Industrial Scripts is today one of the world’s leading screenwriting companies, backed by major companies and with over 1,000 verified testimonials.

Our script consultants have significant industry credentials, writing coverage for companies and studios including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal and many more. Working with screenwriters and filmmakers of all levels and from myriad locations, we also deliver intensive training both online and offline.

While our free Talent Connector promotes talent to the industry, our popular blog – Character-Driven – educates and entertains. We believe that rigorous script development is the foundation of great film and TV and is, indeed, essential. 

Without it, the end product will fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? Here are the most common queries we’re sent about the course…

How long do I get access for?

Through purchasing the course you’re guaranteed lifetime (or as long as the course exists/is on sale, and we have zero intention of folding it!) access. You can take it once, twice, three times…or as many times as you want.

Is the course mobile-friendly?

Whilst it’s possible to take the course on tablets and mobile devices, you’re going to get the best experience taking it on Google Chrome, on a stable broadband connection.

Do I have to write a full script while taking the course?

Whilst we highly recommend writing AS you move your way through the course modules, it’s not essential. Invariably you’ll have a lot of ideas for novels while taking it, so we strongly recommend jotting down notes and keep track of all your loglines as you go.

How many hours does it take to complete the course?

If you complete a full novel as advised, we’d estimate that completing the course and script will take in excess of 100 hours. And that’s before you get to the Bonus Materials. On the flip side, if you want to speed through the course that is probably achievable (though not recommended) within 20 hours.

42 thoughts on “How to Write a Book: Online Novel Writing Course”

  1. My novel is complete and I’m now preparing to send it off. I’m finding the last section of this course is providing me with plenty of information to assist me with this. If I’m lucky enough to be gievn a deal I do now have some information to help me close it without using a lawyer, and I even have some ways to market my book which I hadn’t considered. Overall this is a well written and well planned course. I was given a lot of information to help me finish my novel. I do sometimes find it hard to concentrate when I study alone but it was interesting and I can go over every module at my leisure.

  2. My novel had a great deal of dialogue when I started it. I was well aware it was too much but then I added great swathes of description which just ruined it. I also hadn’t realised until I read the section all about ‘dialogue’ that the manner in which some of my characters spoke, wasn’t consistent. I paid a lot of attention to this section and I’m very happy how that I have the right mix of dialogue and descriptive text.

  3. I was having a real problem with my chapters. They were either too long or way too short. Now I can see what I need to do to make them more even, and make sure that they have the right build up of drama and tension as well. This is a thorough course but I am now working on a final draft.

  4. I’ve always felt like there was a novel inside me, I just didn’t know how to get it out. This course cut a path for me, step by step, showing me exactly what I needed to do and how to avoid the pitfalls along the way. I’m anxious to get started on the process, as this has been a dream of mine for most of my life!

  5. My novel was literally all over the place. Notes here, scraps of paper there and ideas I’d not even written down. Thank goodness the first thing this course taught me was how to get organised. Not only practically but how to plot and plan my characters, storyline, setting and every other little detail that goes in to a novel. I’m still working out the final details but now I know which direction my story will take rather than making it up as I go along.

  6. Thanks to this course my plot became a lot less one dimensional. I picked up lots of tips and advice on how to develop it so there are sub plots to keep the reader interested as well. The only thing I can fault is maybe a way of figuring out the difference between so many that the story becomes over complicated and too few so it’s bland and uninteresting. I did learn a lot overall and I am glad I invested in this course.

  7. I set about outlining a story, plot and some characters and their personality traits. I thought I had everything planned but it seems I did not. There is so much more to making sure your characters play important roles in a novel and more importantly, that they play just the role you want them to. After completing this course I re wrote all my notes and my novel really is taking shape now.

  8. Before I started this course I had about 4 characters. When I finished I had a whole lot more and they all had definite characteristics and personalities. I had a lot of help with this from this course and I can see for myself how this has given my novel a lot more depth and made it a lot more interesting.

  9. I just wanted to leave you a review to thank you for the help. I decided to publish my novel on amazon to test it and I’ve sold a few copies. I am absolutely over the moon. It’s a great way to gauge your work thanks to any reviews (once of which was particularly helpful). I’m now making a few changes and referring back to what I learned.

  10. The legalities of a book have always put me off from actually attempting to publish. I’ve read various articles about it and I’ve still been afraid. I don’t know if this is just clearer on this course or because it was all part of a bigger picture, but this time I understand enough to give me confidence to send my finished novel off. I’m also looking at an ebook now I know what I need to do.

  11. When I started my novel I just hoped that some people might want to read it. They were my only concern. After finishing this course I now realise that there are people I need to impress that I really was not aware of, but it does make total sense. It’s not altered my novel drastically, but it has made me think a little more about how I intend to market it.

  12. There are quite a few quotes from other writers throughout this course. I found when I got to one, they did inspire me and they also made me refer to that person’s work to get some ideas or further inspiration from them.

  13. After a module you get a quiz and as a quiz freak I did all I could to get 100%. They had the desired effect, too, because I did go back and refer to a few topics to go over the information in them again. Even though I will review each section as I write, this also acts as a revision aid.

  14. I’ve always associated certain styles of writing with certain types of novel. It never occurred to me to change the style and therefore change the overall tone of the novel. This section has me playing around with lots of different narrative and descriptions. As a result my historical novel now has a humorous twist which really does make it a lot more appealing to a reader.

  15. Very happy overall with the course. There is a lot to take in which can be quite confusing at times. If course the advantage here is that you can work at your own pace. I was very pleased to see a section about self-publishing. This is very much the modern way to get your novel ‘out there’ and now I understand more about how to do this. Thank you for putting such an informative course together.

  16. I’d completed a rough first draft but I knew it still needed a lot of work, which is why I purchased this course. From the very first module, ‘Getting Organised’, I already knew my novel would be improved. Organisation was severely lacking so my plot was a little ‘raggedy’ and even I could see flaws in my characterisation. I’m trying to implement every module as I go along which is taking time, but I am very happy to do this if it means I have something I can send of in the hope of getting it published.

  17. How do you research a novel? I had some idea and I’d been doing it my way but then I got some wonderful ideas and suggestions from this course. It really opened up what I could do with my plot and characters and has given my novel a whole new lease of life.

  18. I’ve had the idea for a novel for a long time but never got round to actually sitting and writing it. I always felt that inspiration came from reading other works and from things that happen around you but now I know there are so many other ways I can get ideas from. I felt everything was covered in the course and it certainly left me thinking. I thought I had the plot and characters worked out but after reading this course I now know that I wasn’t even halfway there. I’m well on the way to finally finishing my novel and when I have, I know how to go about submitting it.

  19. Everyone knows that a good novel needs a beginning, middle and an end but when you come to sit down and write one, it’s not that simple. I found my ending was too long or too short and altering that made the middle too short. Thanks to this course I was able to find the right balance, which naturally helped the novel as a whole. There are a couple of minor things that I felt hadn’t been covered but they might just be something I was looking for. I would recommend this to someone looking for guidance with any novel they’re planning to write.

  20. I had a completed novel. Or so I thought. I knew I needed to rewrite a few sections and make sure everything was in the right order. I read the section about revisions and 2nd drafts first which was a real help, even if it made me realise just how much of the rest of my novel still needed work. Everything I needed to make my novel better was here. Very happy with the course.

  21. It wasn’t until I started this course that I realised my setting wasn’t quite how I’d intended. Without realising it was moving from one to another and was making the whole story disjointed. There is a module as part of this course which explains settings and how they should (and should not) work and this really helped me to focus on what I was doing.

  22. My novel is well under way thanks to this course. I’m now concentrating on the marketing section. There are so many different markets now and so many people writing that it’s good to see that a section has been included to get your novel noticed. This is a very helpful section.

  23. I struggle with narrative. I find it very difficult to make my characters speak in different ways or let the characters talk in different styles. This course as a whole helped me to develop my novel and it includes a section designed to help specifically with narrative. This is a bonus for me and has improved everything about my novel, as my characters are now much more realistic.

  24. Obviously when I ordered this course I just needed help. I got that and I’m really happy with all the extra advice in there too. What was particularly interesting was the section on writing methods. I realise that everyone uses a different method which suits them best, but this was fascinating. There are so many different ways of writing a novel that I actually adapted a few in to the way I write already and it is working for me. My novel is a long way from finished but I’m very happy now with how it’s coming along.

  25. Having written short stories for sometime I decided to look into writing something bigger. The concept of a novel is totally different to the writing I’ve done so far and I found the section on narrative and dialogue to be of particular use. I found I was either using all dialogue or none at all, so it was very useful having some advice and tips on how to get the right balance.

  26. I am happy I purchased this course, though I do not know if I would recommend it to a friend seeking help in writing. Much of the course is quotes from authors and without feedback from an instructor one can be left feeling uncertain if they are truly learning well the point. I understood there was no instructor from the beginning, it’s just a point I would like to relate. I ended up knowing 90% of the information being “taught” so this was disappointing to me. I did however like that this course does not end at the end of your writing, but takes you through Industrial Script’s best knowledge of how to get published and how to present your work.

  27. It was perfect for what I wanted; that being a thorough nuts and bolts approach to converting the creative process to something marketable. It provided me with a number of action items that I didn’t previously consider from a plot and character development standpoint, as well as from a “take it to market” standpoint.

  28. I found the learning material to be concise and to the point. There were many good examples of the lesson being taught, and links to other useful resources. I was able to work at my own pace, and the quizzes were helpful in confirming my learning. I look forward to applying the newly learned and the recently reinforced knowledge of writing in the writing of my own novel. This training has bolstered my resolve and armed me with the tools to complete that task.

  29. I found this course to be informative and knowledgeable about the creative process. It helped me fill in the blanks where I haven’t been yet, and gave some good advice that helped me get through a hard rewrite.

  30. Concise, easy to understand, and very informative. I loved taking this course on my own time and learning so much from it! Thank you!

  31. This reminds me of a BBC interview for producer I had once. I gave all my ideas for the show where I was a researcher and the interviewer said “Why aren’t you using those ideas in the show now?’

    You see, I don’t think they do any of the things you say – they don’t facilitate peer-review; they have never suggested getting paid-for readings before submitting (it makes sense but not a level playing-field), ONE success in Dominic Mitchell in all those years for something with pretty mediocre critical response, and this continued BBC obsession with hurting young women (The Fall, Happy Valley) now duplicated in Laura K which, in my view, is a very dubious project to have ever been conceived by Writersroom, as was its under the radar conception.

    I don’t think enough of the Writersroom foundations come from actual writers, just like BBC’s commissioners now departing. You can see when you view the stuff they make that the basics of screenwriting, as anyone studying the craft knows – character arc, building conflict etc etc, do not apply to their productions. Of course, they get all the money they need anyway whether anyone watches or not.
    And so it probably is time for a cash cull and a reboot of the system.

  32. This novel writing course is one of the best investments I have ever made! Straight to the point learning and easily comprehendable. I recommend this course to anyone interested in writing their own novel or to anyone that is just interested in how the writing process should be done! Thanks Industrial Scripts.

  33. I thoroughly enjoyed this course! It was eye-opening, insightful and invaluable! The lessons were layered very well, from the beginning of your book idea, all the way to having your book in print and on the market. It’s an A-Z how to write your novel, and do it well. I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering writing their own novel. A bang up job Industrial Scripts!

  34. Predator shift to a slasher film.

    Examples of slasher films: Halloween, Alien, Aliens, Terminator 1 and 2, Final Destination and so on.

    Some films mixed genres/subgenres. Terminator 1 and 2 are also examples of Chase films.

    Is not a slasher/chase film like Terminator 1 and 2. And, because of that, relies in a RIVALRY. After the group know that someone is killing, the movie becomes a rivalry genre (like One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest) between the group and the killer.

    Each attack/counter attack more harder.

    Conventions:
    – a lot of killings;
    – people more closer from the hero + or more empathic die last;
    – The hero find out things about the killer. More and more (he can find out traits about the killing, habits, backstory);
    – Every killing becomes more incredible and great;
    – suspense/horror scene (someone hear something, go check it out);
    – The hero must kill the villain alone;

  35. A time saver! This course was to the point! No wasted time as I read each lesson! So much information given. Industrial Scripts knows what they are talking about. I was able to gain all the information I needed from this online course. I was able to keep my mama duties and work on my book and the same time! Complete life saver!!! Highly recommend! Thank you I.S. I am now more motivated to get my vision of telling my story out in the open!!!!

  36. I would say this course was very good. It gave me a lot of information and inspired me to begin thinking of my next novel in a more organized fashion. The explanations in each lesson were clear and informative and the quiz at the end of the lesson were very easy to pass. The exercises included with each lesson will help me when I’m at each stage. I like the fact that I will be able to retrieve the information when I need it.

  37. IMHO, this is the absolute best and most heart-wrenching moment in this great film. A close second is when the doctor tests Jerome’s urine sample just before he is to get aboard the spacecraft and Jerome knows he’s about to be found out and lose everything, both he and we learn that the doctor has known all along. Jerome has not been as alone as he thought. Love this film.

    • It’s a film packed full of incredible scenes, isn’t it? So many books, TV shows and movies try every-which-way to persuade the audience/reader to invest in the protagonist’s journey: his hopes, his desires, his dreams and goals. But GATTACA really, really nails it. Even if space travel is your worst nightmare, the film is a veritable masterclass in how to get an audience to buy in to what the protagonist is doing. “Do you have any idea what it took to get IN here?” Here’s the scene in all is glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM-znjDGubE p.s. we love the urine sample scene at the end, too, a magic moment that feels neither contrived, nor unrealistic, when it easily could be…

  38. While leading the development of this course, I have tried to inspire, motivate and educate new writers in equal measure to put them in a confident position to complete their first novel. The lessons take you from a flicker of an idea, through the important planning stages, to getting crafted words on the page and finally submitting the result of all your hard work. Enjoy the journey!

  39. Novel writing can be a tough, long and lonely road, but with our online course you can work within a tight structure and give yourself the best shot of nailing that brilliant first draft. The course takes around 80 hours to complete, and we think it’s a must for all aspiring authors.

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