The Basics of Writing a Novel Course with Becky Hunter – Jericho Writers
Jericho Writers
167-169 Great Portland street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
UK: +44 (0)330 043 0150
US: +1 (646) 974 9060
Exclusive to Premium Members. Membership from £15/month.

The Basics of Writing a Novel: Video Course

Learn how to write a novel and put your skills into action in this interactive video course.
6 Lessons
Online

About this course

In this six-week course, expert editor and author Becky Hunter will guide you through the core elements of novel writing, from developing your initial idea to refining your writing. Each of the six video modules is packed with practical exercises to help you apply what you’ve learned. This course, and many more, is free and exclusive to our Premium Members.

In this course, you will…

Writing a novel is hard, so don’t do it alone! Throughout this course, you’ll learn all the foundational skills you need to write a great novel, with weekly exercises that will help you stay on track.

Learn actionable tips

that will enhance every scene you write in this and all future novels, through six video lessons.

Try out your skills

by completing each weekly exercise using the techniques you’ve learned.

Get feedback

by sharing your work in our designated forum.

Lifetime access

to the course videos, worksheets, and forums for as long as you are a Premium Member, so that you can revisit your learning at any time

You don’t just get this course

All of our self-paced video courses are included in your Premium Membership, which starts at just £15/month. As well as our expert-led courses, you also get monthly live online feedback events, tools, resources, and more.

Browse lesson plans

The idea is the foundation of any novel! In this lesson, Becky covers where to get ideas and how to develop them.

Lesson two covers the beginning of your action. We’ll look at what an inciting incident is, where in your novel it should go, and have a go at creating our own.

In this lesson, we’re looking at character! We’ll look at your characters like they’re real people and look at the world through their point of view.

Planning a novel isn’t for everyone, but knowing the basic plot points of a story is essential knowledge for every writer. In lesson four, we look at the three-act structure and how to plot a main narrative alongside subplots and multiple timelines.

It’s important to keep your reader turning pages, so in this lesson, we’ll be looking at scene structure and purpose to maintain pace and avoid that soggy middle.

Now that we’ve broken down each part of your novel, it’s time to put pen to paper and think about the writing. In this lesson we cover show, don’t tell; point of view; exposition; emotion and dialogue.

Meet your course tutor

Becky Hunter brings over eight years of experience in the publishing industry, having worked in both editorial and PR roles. On the PR side, she has collaborated with authors across fiction and non-fiction at major publishers such as Transworld (Penguin Random House) and Headline (Hachette). She now works freelance, offering both editorial and PR services.

On the editorial side, Becky supports aspiring authors through consultancies like Jericho Writers, alongside partnering with traditional publishers, including Bloomsbury.

Becky is also a published author, with a thriller released by Orion and a women’s fiction title from Headline.

What’s included in Your Premium Membership

All self-paced video courses

Instant access to every self-paced video course, with more being added throughout the year

Downloadable course guides

Every course comes with a downloadable guide to support your learning

Private course forums

Talk to your fellow students, get feedback on your work, and offer feedback on others’ work

Personalised feedback

Twice a month, submit your work for the opportunity to get live feedback from the Jericho Writers team

Weekly live events

Participate in online group writing sprints and join Q&As with top authors and industry professionals

AgentMatch

Our unique database helps you effortlessly find the perfect agent for your novel

Tools & resources

Unlimited access to our library of over 300 masterclass videos, plus digital tools and resources

Query letter review

Once a year, we’ll review your query letter for free.

Discounts & writing opportunities

Enter competitions for free and enjoy 10% off our other services

Reviews for Jericho Writers

4.7 star average

Rated ‘Excellent’

Previous

I’ve been a premium member for almost three years and have received helpful, detailed and relevant advice. Wish I’d found this site even sooner!

Cynthia MacChelsea

via TrustPilot

I’ve been a member for years but this was the first time I tried an interactive online course with Jericho Writers and I’m so glad I did.

Amanda

via TrustPilot

The Jericho Writers team are comprehensive in their offerings and generously thoughtful in their support.

Emma

via TrustPilot

Next

Self-Paced Online Writing Courses

Gain unlimited access to our ever-expanding library of self-paced video courses. New titles are added regularly, with recent releases including Crime Writing for Beginners, Non-Fiction for Beginners, and Start Editing Your Novel. Enjoy full access with a Premium Membership or unlock access to a single course for just £99, no subscription required.

Debi Alper

Debi Alper

Introduction to self-editing your novel

£99

Free & included for Premium Members

Join author, editor, and creative writing tutor Debi Alper to get to grips with the basics of self-editing your novel. Get past that messy first draft stage and start working towards a publishable manuscript.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Sam Jordison

Sam Jordison

Introduction to creative non-fiction

£99

Free & included for Premium Members

Join bestselling author Sam Jordison to master the art of writing creative non-fiction and memoirs. Unlock your storytelling potential and start drafting your book with expert guidance.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Becca Day

Becca Day

How to get a literary agent

£99

Free & included for Premium Members

Guided by bestselling author and Head of Membership at Jericho Writers Becca Day, learn the basics of how to get a literary agent to represent your book.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
uk-literary-agents-for-crime-thrillers-and-action-novels
Graham Bartlett

Graham Bartlett

Crime writing for beginners

£99

Free & included for Premium Members

Guided by former Chief Superintendent and bestselling crime author Graham Bartlett, learn the key principles of writing a compelling crime novel.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Harry Bingham

Harry Bingham

Take your novel from good to great

Free & included for Premium Members

Join Jericho Writers founder and author Harry Bingham as he helps you elevate an existing draft. From making it marketable to perfecting your prose, this course will refine your work and take it to the next level.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Becky Hunter

Becky Hunter

The basics of novel writing

Free & included for Premium Members

Led by expert editor and author Becky Hunter, this course covers the fundamentals of novel writing, from generating ideas to mastering key writing techniques. Get the essential skills to confidently start your novel.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Harry Bingham

Harry Bingham

How to write a novel in six weeks

Free & included for Premium Members

Harry Bingham guides you through the process of writing a novel in six weeks. From planning to editing, you’ll learn how to get your story off to a strong start and keep your momentum going as you write.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

6 lessons

Learn More
Melvin Burgess

Melvin Burgess

Writing for children & YA

Free & included for Premium Members

Discover the unique world of young adult literature with Melvin Burgess, the ‘Godfather’ of YA fiction. This course covers everything you need to write compelling novels for younger readers, from concept to execution.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

5 lessons

Learn More
kindle publishing
Gwyn GB

Gwyn GB

Introduction to self-publishing

Free & included for Premium Members

Is self-publishing the right path for you? Join bestselling independent author Gwyn GB as she guides you step-by-step through the indie publishing process, complete with actionable exercises to implement along the way.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

8 lessons

Learn More
Amazon Ads
Nicholas Erik

Nicholas Erik

Amazon ads for authors

Free & included for Premium Members

Master the essentials of using Amazon Ads to sell your books with expert Nicholas Erik. Learn how to navigate the dashboard, optimise your campaigns, and boost your book’s visibility to grow your sales.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

12 lessons

Learn More
Harry Bingham
Becca Day
Sophie Flynn

Various Tutors

Write with Jericho

Free & included for Premium Members

Kickstart your writing year with expert guidance from Harry Bingham, Sophie Flynn, Becca Day, and Laura Starkey. In this four week course, you’ll ensure your ideas are strong, avoid common pitfalls, and set yourself up for success.

location

Online

number_of_lessons

4 lessons

Learn More