Narrative Voice For Novelists

Writing novels, blogs, or nonfiction books? Learn editing techniques in this writing course and up your writing skills

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 3.8

- add snazz and pizzazz to the fiction you write by using figures of speech!
- choose the strongest POV for the novel you're writing.
- spiffy up your novel with solid editing tips
- before you submit it to agents and editors.

What you'll learn

add snazz and pizzazz to the fiction you write by using figures of speech!

choose the strongest POV for the novel you're writing.

spiffy up your novel with solid editing tips

before you submit it to agents and editors.

write your novels and creative nonfiction books with an engaging voice.

write books with confidence.

* Requirements

* All you need is pen and paper
* or a computer
* and a story idea.
* I am putting basic lectures in
* so you can take this course if you know nothing about writing a novel. More advanced students can skip the basic lectures.
* Please note that your experience will be enhanced if you join the companion Facebook group associated with this course. Joining is free
* but to join you will need to have a Facebook profile. This is not required and you will get much benefit by taking part in course discussions even if you don't join the Facebook group. But the Facebook group offers added benefit as it allows students to share larger pieces of work with each other. Also
* I have office hours in that group a few times a month.

Description

Writing a novel or a creative nonfiction book? Even if you're writing a blog, the editing techniques in this course will help you.Join over a thousand satisfied students who have given dozens of five-star reviews in this course where you'll learn how to draw in agents, editors, and readers with your voice.

Writing Novels That Sings: Write Fiction With Great Voice

This is part of a series of writing courses, taught by literary agent Sally Apokedak, that will help you if you are trying to get an agent, sell to a publisher, or sell your self-published books directly to the reader. After reading thousands of queries, Sally has come to believe that four things are essential if you want to write novels that will sell.

VOICE is one of those essentials. It's the first thing agents notice when they open your novel manuscripts or nonfiction books.

Whether you're writing novels or creative nonfiction books, this writing course can help you. If you're unpublished and having a hard time breaking in or if you're published but having a hard time breaking out, this course will help you. You get the voice lectures that Sally gives at writers' conferences around the United States, but you get them at a fraction of what they normally cost. Plus, you can take them in your own home, at your own pace, you don't have to pay for a hotel, and you have lifetime access to these lectures.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING about this course:

~~~~~

THIS is the course that will shower you with confidence and give your voice the punch it needs.

~ Robyn

~~~~~

Sally is a wealth of knowledge . . . I'm looking forward to taking more of Sally's classes on Udemy.

~ Cheryl

~~~~~

Sally is a great teacher and is obviously extremely knowledgable . . . The topics move quickly, and you won't be bored.

~ Hannah

~~~~~~

Sally is a very enthusiastic and involved instructor and makes the course valuable and enjoyable for everyone.

~ Rachel

~~~~~~

I can understand why Sally Apokedak is a sought-after teacher at writer's conferences. First, Sally (if I may) knows her stuff. . . .

~ Deborah

~~~~~~

This class shows you both the science and art of writing. . . . If she produces another course, I will be sure to return!

~ Rebecca R.

~~~~~~

The material is fun and easy to learn . . . I highly recommend any writer or aspiring writer take it to improve their writing.

~ Teresa

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING about Sally's conference classes, retreats, and online courses:

. . . thank you again for a fabulous weekend. I left encouraged and energized . . . It was a wise investment and fun.

~ Jean Wilund

~~~~~~~~~

Sally,

We had so many wonderful comments about you and your class on our evaluations. We hope you'll be able to join us again next summer.

Blessings, Lindy Jacobs, OCW Summer Conference Director

~~~~~~~~

Hello Sally,

I hope you realize how much wisdom and knowledge you imparted during your time at the wik13 conference in Birmingham. . . .

~ Heather L. Montgomery Assistant Regional Advisor Southern Breeze SCBWI

~~~~~~~

Thank you for your incredible class. It was a valuable, valuable learning experience. . . .

~ Kimberly

~~~~~~

Thank you so much. I got a lot out of the class and it gave me a lot to think about. I'm grateful for all the feedback.

~ Christie

~~~~~~

Thank you so much for your feedback . . . throughout the course. I appreciated how much you know about this field and your willingness to share your expertise.

~ Sandy

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In Sally's video lectures, she made me think about writing like I hadn't before, especially the weeks about voice and theme.

~ Margo L. Dill

~~~~~~~

What this course promises:

To teach you how to make your voice more interesting and compelling in the fiction and creative nonfiction you write.

What this course does not promise:

That you'll get a book contract.

Some questions this course answers:

How do I write in the close-third-person point of view?
Should I be writing in past tense or present tense?
How can I improve my narrative voice when I write fiction or creative nonfiction?
How can I make up fresh metaphors in a novel I'm writing?

Who this course is for:

If you want a conference-quality writing course without the cost and hassle of traveling to a conference, this class is for you.
If you have always wanted to write a novel or a creative nonfiction book, this is a good course to start you out right.
If you're writing a novel, this class will give you tips for revision and help you write books that dazzle your readers.
If you want to know what a literary agent really thinks of the novel manuscripts in her slush pile then sign up.
If you're already published and getting starred reviews, then this course will be a waste of your time. :)

Course content

7 sections • 51 lectures

Introduction ~ Write Fantastic Fiction 2 lectures

Writing Fiction With a Great Voice Makes a Great First Impression Preview 04:36

Voice is the first thing readers notice, and it is essential to evoking emotion in your readers and drawing them into your stories.

Writing Fiction that Sings: Course Structure Preview 03:47

Here's what you can expect from the course. And this is also where I give you permission to skip around if you like. Bypass the early grammar lectures if you don't need them. Because, hey, you paid for the course, so you may take the lectures that help you and skip the ones you don't need.

Laying the Foundation for Fantastic Fiction Books 14 lectures

To Make Your Fiction Writing Sing, Master Grammar and Punctuation Preview 17 pages

Here is a quick study of the most prevalent punctuation and grammar errors in my inbox. I've also added in my thoughts on time adverbials. If you struggle with these issues, download this booklet, please, and staple it to you forehead. :)

Punctuation Quiz

Point of View ~ Defining POV types That Can Make Your Books Compelling Preview 01:51

This is a short slideshow presentation that gives examples of different narrators.

Point of View ~ Past or Present Tense? What Tense Should You Use For Your Novel? Preview 02:06

This lecture gives you a quick look at a few verbs in the past and present tense.

POV Quiz

POV ~ Limited and Omniscient Preview 6 pages

Learn about the two ways that your narrator can view the world--with omniscience or with a limited perspective.

Point of View ~ How to Decide Which One to Use When Writing Your Novel Preview 09:33

In this lecture I give you several questions to ask. These will help you narrow down which POV will work for your story.

Narrator QUIZ

New Speaker, New Paragraph Preview 01:16

Here's how to help your reader keep track of who is speaking.

Tags and Beats Preview 02:36

Here you learn the difference between dialogue tags and action beats.

Dialogue Punctuation Preview 01:19

Here you learn how the punctuation differs for tags and beats.

"That tag doesn't work well," she insisted. Preview 02:38

Listen to this to this lecture to learn which tags work these days and which tags are presently out of favor with editors.

"That tag is brilliant," she said, brightly. Preview 02:13

Listen to this lecture to discover when you should avoid "ly" adverbs in your dialogue tags and when you should use them happily.

The Great Invisible Dialogue Tag Preview 03:10

Listen here to find out which tags are invisible and which ones call attention to themselves.

Furnishings 18 lectures

As You Know Preview 01:12

Here I rant about what is probably the thing that bothers me most in dialogue.

Umms Preview 01:21

Listen to this one if you have a penchant for adding in the little niceties.

Slang Preview 01:15

Who should be using them slang words when they speak, and who ain't allowed to use 'em? That's what you'll learn in this lecture.

Little Sir Echo Preview 01:57

Incredulous characters often repeat the info they just heard. Should you shush them or not? Listen to find out.

Contractions Preview 01:14

Listen to this lecture for my thoughts on why characters ought to use contractions.

Incomplete Sentences Preview 00:56

Should you use incomplete sentences? You bet. Listen to this lecture to find out why.

Dialogue Assignment Preview 1 page

Post your assignment for an extra chance at winning one of the monthly chapter critiques.

Dialogue Quiz

Nouns, Verbs, and Adverbs, Oh my! Preview 09:50

Learn how to power up you writing--cut weak adverbs and adjectives and go, instead, for sound and color that grabs your reader and drags him in.

Specific Words Assignment Preview 00:11

Post your assignment for an extra chance at winning one of the monthly chapter critiques.

Compound Adjectives and Adverbs Preview 02:26

In this lecture I give you four quick tips to help you give your manuscript that look-at-me-because-I'm-fresh feel.

Contest ~ Compound Adjectives, compound nouns, and Verb-al-ized Nouns Preview 1 page

Your assignment is to make up some words and post them in the discussion forum. One winner each month will get a free coupon to one of my courses to keep or to give away to a friend.

Internal Monologue Preview 3 pages

In this lecture you'll learn three tips to help you write effective internal monologue.

Mood and Tone Preview 09:42

Here you learn how to change the mood by using words that create a picture in the readers' minds.

How Words Make us Feel Preview 03:24

Figures of Speech, Learning from Picture Books and Poetry Preview 00:22

We can improve our narrative voices by spending time in great picture books or reading great poetry. But the operative word there is "great" because there are a lot books and poems out that that not all that good. Read the best stuff and push yourself to write your best stuff. This downloadable PDF is an article I wrote for a rhyming picture book blog. It is not about novel writing, but it is about voice and you may find it helpful. If you study great poetry, your prose will improve.

Figures of Speech Download Preview 2 pages

Here is a list of figures of speech, with their definitions, and examples. Add these in when you revise your manuscript to lift your voice from flat to fantastic.

A Short List of Cliches Preview 1 page

Rewrite several of these cliches for practice.

Finishing Touches ~ Self Editing 10 lectures

For Discussion ~ Figures of Speech Preview 1 page

Post your work for extra chances at winning the monthly critique.

Repeated Words Preview 04:25

Repeating words can tire the reader. Here you will learn how to avoid this problem.

Redundant Thoughts and Actions Preview 01:59

This lecture covers the common tendency novelists have to treat their readers like small, dumb children who need to be told the same thing once, twice, three times.

Sensory Words Preview 04:21

Avoid these words that distance the reader from your POV character and give them a chance to detach from your story.

Pacing With Sentence and Paragraph Variation Preview 04:48

This video tells you how to change your sentences up so you don’t wear you readers down.

Ing/As Construction Preview 03:24

This lesson covers when to use, and when not to use, the ing/as construction.

Was That Passive Voice Preview 00:13

There Once Was a Lecture Preview 02:41

Though "there was" is not always an indication that the narrator has slipped into passive voice, that sentence construction can often deleted in favor of stronger, more picturesque writing.

Micromanaging the Reader Preview 3 pages

Here I beg you not to bury the reader in minutiae.

Editing Quiz

See if you can spot all the blunders!

Professional Remodeling ~ Monthly Critiques 1 lectures

Instructions For Emailing Chapters Preview 00:32

If you want a chance at having your chapter critiqued, send it to me. I'll choose one chapter a month.

Critiques 5 lectures

June 2015 Preview 23:42

July 2015 pdf Preview 8 pages

July 2015 video critique Preview 26:46

August, 2015, pdf Preview 8 pages

The August, 2015 pdf

September 2015 video critique Preview 30:35

Bonus! Discounts, downloads, and deals, oh my! 1 lectures

Bonus! Have a Book You Want to Submit to Sally Apokedak? Here's How to do That. Preview 01:25

Learn how to submit to me; get all the downloads here, in one easy location; and keep an eye on this section for deals on my other Udemy courses and for discounts on my editing services. Thanks!