The Novel Journey: A Year-Long Class to Launch and Complete Your Novel with Carol Goodman

Begins Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Classes will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET

APPLY NOW!

Any questions about this program? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

Instructor Bio

Instructor Carol Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-six novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the 2003 Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the 2018 Mary Higgins Clark Award, and The Night Visitors, which won the 2020 Mary Higgins Clark Award. For over twenty years, she has taught creative writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and offered private classes, book coaching, and editorial services to writers in fiction and memoir. She combines her love of and long experience in reading, writing, and teaching to offer a supportive and constructive framework for writers at every level and stage of the writing process.

Meet the Teaching Artist:

What 26 Novels Taught Carol Goodman About Writing a Book from Start to Finish

Who is this year-long program for?

This program is for the fiction writer who is ready to commit to the work of writing a novel. You don't need prior experience and you don't have to know everything about your novel — just that you have a story you're ready to tell. This year-long novel writing workshop welcomes dedicated writers at all levels who are prepared to build a sustained writing practice.

This workshop is designed for writers who are:

• Ready to commit to writing approximately 2,000–2,500 words per week
• Eager to complete a 70,000–80,000 word first draft over the course of a year
• Open to giving and receiving thoughtful feedback in a supportive workshop community
• Looking for experienced, compassionate guidance through every stage of the novel-writing process
• Willing to read and respond to fellow writers' work as part of a collaborative cohort

What to expect:

The Novel Journey is a structured, year-long online writing class divided into four quarters — Launching Your Novel, Your First Act, The Messy Middle, and The Road Home — each designed to address the specific craft challenges and psychological hurdles writers face at every stage of a long project. This creative writing course provides the framework, guidance, skill set, and support you need to move from inspiration to a completed first draft.

Each quarter offers weekly Zoom workshop sessions combining craft instruction with workshop feedback on your writing from both your instructor and a cohort of like-minded aspiring novelists. You will also receive individual meetings with your instructor and guest lectures with professionals in the writing and publishing field. Through published fiction excerpts, exercises, and targeted craft sessions, you will build the skills to establish point of view, character, conflict, setting, pacing, and more — while developing the habits and resilience necessary to sustain a long-term writing project.

Carol Goodman brings more than twenty-five years of teaching experience and twenty-six published novels to this fiction workshop, offering a rare combination of craft mastery and compassionate mentorship. Her approach addresses not only the technical elements of novel writing but also the personal and psychological challenges — doubt, distraction, the temptation to start over — that can derail even the most committed writer.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will work toward completing a 70,000–80,000 word first draft of their novel over four quarters, with specific word-count goals for each session. Students will produce approximately 10,000–20,000 words in Quarter 1, followed by 20,000–25,000 words in each subsequent quarter. Throughout the year, students will receive instructor feedback on their writing, participate in workshop discussions, and read and respond to three fellow writers' work each session. By the end of the program, students will have a workable first draft, a revision plan, and strategies for next steps in the publishing process.

To apply:

Please send a 2,500–3,000 word writing sample (preferably the beginning of your novel), a synopsis, and a statement of purpose that explains why you want to write this novel and what you expect to get out of this class.

APPLY NOW!

COURSE OUTLINE

First Quarter — Launching Your Novel 12 weeks on Zoom, September 9 – November 25, 2026 | Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM ET Word Goal: 10,000–20,000 words

This twelve-week session helps you launch the novel you've always meant to write. You will begin with setting intentions, overcoming obstacles, and shaping the best habits to carry you through a long project. Through examples and exercises, you will establish point of view, character, conflict, and setting through lively dialogue and active scenes, create an inciting incident that launches the action of your novel, and assemble a cast of supporting characters. By the end of the quarter, you will have the first few chapters, a synopsis, and strategies for moving forward.

Second Quarter — Your First Act 10 weeks on Zoom, January 6 – March 10, 2027 | Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM ET Word Goal: First 20,000–25,000 words

Once you've launched your novel, you will work to identify the overall arc of your story and complete the first act — roughly the first third of your novel. Craft topics include exposition, foreshadowing, establishing and maintaining tone, creating a body of imagery, building tension, and reaching the first turning point. You will also address the personal and psychological challenges of working on a long project: when to stop rewriting, how to handle doubt, what kind of feedback works best for you, and how to handle the ideas for other novels that threaten to lure you away. During this quarter you will meet with the whole class and instructor every week, your cohort once a month, and individually with your instructor once a month.

Third Quarter — The Messy Middle 10 weeks on Zoom, 4/1/27 – 6/10/27 | Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM ET Word Goal: 20,000–25,000 words

Many writers find the middle of the novel the hardest part. Sustaining the action during the messy middle involves pacing, creating twists, thwarting expectations, and deepening the perspective of the protagonist. This is a time to examine the central themes and conflicts of your work and work toward finding a satisfying resolution. By facing doubt and uncertainty head on, you will work through this middle in a way that deepens the central themes of the work. During this quarter you will meet with the whole class and instructor every week, your cohort once a month, and individually with your instructor once a month.

Fourth Quarter — The Road Home 10 weeks on Zoom, June 30 – September 1, 2027 | Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM ET Word Goal: 20,000–25,000 words

This is when all the work you've put in begins to pay off — the conflicts you have set up catch fire, and your protagonist has gained the knowledge and support to see the journey through to the end. You will address the paradox of nearing your goal while confronting new doubts, resist the temptation to start over by building a solid revision-to-do list, and soldier on to the finish. Topics include happy endings, tragic endings, ambiguous endings, epilogues, revision plans, and that hardest of questions: when do you know you're done? Industry professionals will visit to lend their expertise on developmental editing, finding an agent, and traditional, self, and hybrid publishing. During this quarter you will meet with the whole class and instructor every week, your cohort once a month, and individually with your instructor once a month.

APPLY NOW!

PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS:

• A workable first draft of your novel, approximately 70,000–80,000 words, built over four structured quarters
• Weekly workshop feedback from your instructor and cohort on your writing-in-progress
• Monthly individual meetings with your instructor for personalized guidance
• Craft sessions addressing every stage of novel writing, from point of view and character to pacing, revision, and endings
• Guest lectures from publishing industry professionals covering developmental editing, finding an agent, and publishing pathways
• Strategies and habits for sustaining a long-term writing project, overcoming doubt, and managing the psychological challenges of novel writing
• A supportive community of fellow writers committed to the same year-long journey

Testimonials: 

"I have taken two workshops with Carol Goodman — Creating Mystery and Suspense in Fiction (6-Week Zoom Workshop) and Launching Your Novel (8-Week Zoom Workshop). Both were excellent experiences. Carol creates a focused, encouraging classroom atmosphere that fosters real camaraderie among writers. Her feedback is thoughtful and specific, striking the right balance between support and constructive critique. I left each workshop with greater clarity about my work and renewed confidence in my direction. I’m enrolled in her year-long Novel Journey course beginning in September and look forward to continuing to grow under her guidance." — Jillian O. 

"Today is the last class with Carol Goodman. It is a bittersweet kind of day. It's always nice to finish something, but I will miss this class, just as I miss the characters in her books when I have finished yet another one of her novels. Carol is a rockstar. I can honestly say that there are not many out there like her. Her class is content rich and you can see that she cares about her students and is passionate about the information. She is extremely generous with her knowledge, and she is a joy to learn from. What a great experience." — Char R. 

"Carol Goodman's Creating Mystery and Suspense in Fiction class exceeded my expectations. The exercises were focused and useful, and Carol's comments were both constructive and encouraging. I'd take another class with her in a heartbeat." — Former student

"Carol is amazing and generous with her knowledge. Her Writing Suspense & Mystery class was top notch — I couldn't recommend it more highly. I'd absolutely take another class with her." — Former Student

"Carol Goodman's Mystery and Suspense class went way over my expectations. She provided exactly the organization and structure I needed — a clear path to follow that got my writing back on track. The homework kept me honest, and her feedback was wonderful. Carol is exceptional, and I look forward to many more classes with her." — Caroline A.

"Carol is a wonderful instructor. I really enjoyed learning from her in Creating Mystery and Suspense in Fiction and would absolutely take another class with her." — Amy K.

"Carol's Creating Suspense & Mystery class exceeded all of my expectations. Her syllabus was excellent, and the feedback she gave on our assignments was invaluable. As someone just beginning my writing journey, I couldn't have asked for a better guide." — Tamara G.

"Carol is an excellent instructor who goes above and beyond for her students, including giving thoughtful feedback and meeting with us individually. Her dedication to her students' growth really sets her apart." — Former student

"Carol's Creating Mystery and Suspense in Fiction class exceeded my expectations. She came to every session prepared and knowledgeable — a great instructor I'd happily study with again." — Former student

"Carol's Mystery and Suspense class introduced me to a wonderful community of fellow writers. I connected with classmates I'll stay in touch with as we continue our writing journeys together." — Former student

"I loved Carol's Creating Mystery and Suspense in Fiction class. The feedback from Carol was incredibly valuable, and hearing the stories of my classmates made the experience even richer. I'd take another class with her without hesitation." — Kristen M.W.

"Carol Goodman leads her classes with a wonderfully positive and supportive spirit. Her feedback on our writing was invaluable, and her lessons on characters, setting, and more taught me a great deal. I joined from Sweden and found the experience absolutely worth it." — Krillan A.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Carol's Launching Your Novel class. Having a deadline and a writing prompt every week kept me motivated, and the feedback was fantastic. I especially valued being able to ask Carol about her own writing process and how she develops her work. I'd absolutely take another class with her." — Lori F.

Tuition Payment

Full tuition for the 12-month program is $7,200. You can pay the tuition in full, or payment plans of varying installments are available upon acceptance to the course. Accepted writers must commit to the full year and meet all assigned deadlines.

Additional Program Information

• Tuition is $7,200 USD
• No more than 10 writers will be accepted.
• Program starts Wednesday, September 9, 2026
• The program is fully online and students may participate from anywhere
• Meeting format: Zoom
• Level: All Levels — writers who are committed to completing a novel
• NOTE: Shifting some dates around may be necessary, but any changes will be communicated well in advance

APPLY NOW!

FAQs:

Why not an MFA program?

This program combines the best aspects of an MFA program — community, mentorship, and intensive craft instruction — with specialized, practical publishing advice. You'll receive sustained, personal attention from a New York Times bestselling author who has taught creative writing for over twenty-five years, along with guest lectures from publishing professionals — all without the cost or time commitment of a graduate degree.

Why does this class cost so much?

The 12-month Novel Journey is an MFA-level course, taught by a New York Times bestselling, award-winning novelist who is also an experienced educator with over twenty-five years of creative writing teaching experience. Your tuition helps pay your instructor a living wage and covers the cost of booking guest speakers, arranging individual consultations, and administering the program.

Can I get a refund if I do not complete the program?

Once paid, your full tuition is nonrefundable. This is a selective program with limited spots. We are making a commitment to you for the full year and expect that you will do the same. For this reason, there are no refunds after your tuition has been paid.

I finished the program. When will I get published?

We can't promise that every writer who completes The Novel Journey will get published right away, or ever. Publishing is a tricky business, involving lots of luck and time — as students who enroll in this course will learn! That said, as writers ourselves, we strongly believe that we can help prepare emerging novelists to better navigate the publishing industry, and that our program and the connections made here will increase your chances of success.

In the course description, there are mentions of meetings with guest speakers. I want the details right now! Why can't I have them?

People who work in publishing are busy, and we confirm guest speakers on a rolling basis, as their schedules permit.

I barely have an idea for a novel. Is this class too advanced?

Maybe. How serious are you about the idea? If you have a story you're ready to commit to — even if you don't know everything about it yet — this class might be the right fit. The key thing is that on the first day, you come ready to write. No one will write the pages for you, but this course will give you the framework, guidance, and support to develop your idea into a complete draft.

I have written several drafts of a novel, and I can't seem to figure out the next steps. Should I take this class?

Absolutely. Sometimes, taking a novel to the next level requires a fresh perspective and new readers who can help you see the work clearly. This class will give you structured feedback, craft tools, and concrete next steps — plus the sustained support of an experienced instructor and a committed cohort of fellow writers.

APPLY NOW!

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

• Instructor: Carol Goodman
• Begins Wednesday, September 9, 2026
• Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET
• Tuition is $7,200 USD.
• Maximum enrollment: 10 writers