Starting in January 2008, I will again offer the Two Year Novel Course, usually called 2YN. This is a weekly course -- 104 classes in all -- and covers everything from basic idea formation all the way to submission of the project. This class is a presentation of how I approach writing novels, and like any course of this type -- no matter who presents it -- the work will not suit everyone.

However, it is a free class so all you have to provide is a willingness try new things and a determination to do the work.

Having taught this class for four years now, I've learned that there is a third thing that will help, though it's not necessary: you should be willing help by commenting and suggesting ways for others in the class to improve their material. The first group did a great deal of this, but the second group was far quieter. I think the first group did better overall for that reason. You should be prepared to spend time on the 2008 2YN board offering what help you can. This is not a requirement, but I think you'll find it helpful for your own work as well.

The course will be held on a private board for participants. Classes are posted there and participants post assignments to their personal threads. There is no genre limitation (within the general rules of the site -- in other words, no Erotica or fanfiction novels).

For class purposes, you should have nothing more than a basic idea for a story. This should not be part of a series or anything with already developed characters or worldbuilding. However, bear in mind that you can use the same techniques that you learn in the class for any other manuscript you are working on -- just not as the work material for the course. In fact, I encourage you to work on something else at the same time, because the class will go slow in some areas, and you might find it frustrating to hold back.

Only people who are serious and can commit to two years of work should consider this program. Some months will be more intensive than others, and there will be some leeway as people finish different sections at different times. While the classes are presented once a week (usually posted sometime over the weekend), the work proceeds at your own pace. You may not have completed the work by the end of the two years, but you will still have all the material you need to finish.

People who are in the ongoing 2007 class cannot sign up this year. However, if you have completed any of the previous years, you are welcome to join again.

If you are interested, post to this thread and when I set up the new board I'll give you access.

You might also consider buying the 2YN: Year 1 book, which is available in PDF (Download) format and which you can print out. This is the material that I'll present in the class, so it's not necessary that you have it. However, some people have found it helpful to have the book since they can look ahead and do the work in an order that is more natural to them, though they cannot post material before the class is presented on the boards. It is also helpful so you can do the work even if they are not able to get to the computer on days I put the material up.

http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=206&rn=366&action=show_detail

Year One topics:

Writing Basics: Ideas, Genres, Themes, Conflict and more
Character development
Worldbuilding
Outlining
Writing, including what to do when you get stuck

Year Two topics:

Completing your first draft
The second draft
Final edits
Submission

As always, there are no fees or special requirements, other than you be a member of Forward Motion.

If you are interested, just post to this thread and I'll add you to the board when it's open.

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I didn't manage to complete the 2006/07 course, but it's been two years since I signed up for that one, and I've learned a lot in that time. Primarily, that I'm always going to be busy, so I have to make time to write when I can. And I've got lots of ideas that I just need to get working on.

So count me in.


Wolverine

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I'd like to sign up, but English is my secondary language. I'm not very fluent and sometimes have problems with grammar.

But if it isn't a problem, I'll do my best. Writing a novel is my primary directive, I'm fully determined to do it.
I'm sure I can benefit from 2YN Course, and perhaps help others in return, with advice or encouragement.

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Jumping in here, but: go for it.

It doesn't matter that English is your second language. The course itself is worth all the effort and time you invest in it, and more.

Enjoy! It's a fun ride.

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Thanks for answering, Lai!

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Sounds useful, and the timing seems right. Why not?

I have done writing classes before, as many as anyone, I think--almost completed a creative writing program, submitted a couple of amateurish manuscripts, got rejected, got confused, had a lot of fun with Gotham courses, got more confused . . . went back to the real world.

My first writing teacher, the only one I really trusted, had told me I could write but lacked real world experience. That was either true or truly a curse. In either case, it is not true now

I would like to give it another try. Please keep me posted.

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Sign me up!!!!!!!

This sounds like something that I could definitely benefit from and would like to sign up.

I didn't manage to complete this course the first time I took it either, Which I also believe was in 2006.

It's generally important for me to finish things I start. 2YN is too good of a class NOT to finish.

So, please, sign me up again.

--Chris

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Please sign me up!


Lisa S. --

I'd like to sign up, please

Please sign me up as well.

I'd like to sign up for the course too.

Vaipukka

I've got nothing in mind for this except a very basic idea, something rolling around loose in my head.

And I think I really need something a bit structured to get me back into really writing again, after life stomped me flat this year.

So count me in!

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I'm up for it again, this year. I didn't finish the 2006-7 one, and am still muddling away on my 2004-5 WIP, but I love this course enough to do it as often as I can.

Now I just have to figure out what to write for it.

Teri

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Sign me up, please.
English is not my native language, therefore I would like to know when i make to obvious a mistake in grammar in my assignments.
If possible, that is.

Paulien

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I'd be interested in joining. I feel like I've kind of hit a ceiling in terms of my craft, and any help I can get is welcome.

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This sounds awesome, I really appreciate you taking this on.

I'm a little worried about committing to something that I don't know the limits to.

On a average week, how many hours do I need to devote to the class and classmates? And how many pages will I need to write?


What about the more intense weeks you mention?


Thanks!!!

I'm in the 2007 class. It is awesome.

The time it takes to do an assignment each week depends on how much you want to put into it, and what kind of work you find easy or hard. I remember doing some in fifteen minutes. Others, such as scene writing snippets, I spent many hours on because I wasn't satisfied with my description, but that's a weakness of mine.

Most of the early assignments are pretty simple. The actual writing doesn't start until week 34. Even then, if you need extra time to do outlining or anything else, it is allowed. I am still working on my outline which I hope to complete by end of year or mid January.

You will get out what you put in. People who give a lot of feedback, get a lot of feedback. People who spend a lot of time on development will have deeper characters and world to work with later.

I highly recommend this course.

I am hopelessly in love with Lois McMaster Bujold, whom I've just recently discovered. I can't stop reading.

That sounds perfect. Please add my name to the list!!

I once signed up for another course on the web and they expected about 10 hours of my time a week, every week. I didn't want to make the same mistake again.

Thanks!!

Hello I would very much like to sign up for the class.
Thank you

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Please add me to the class.

Thank you.

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I'd Like to sign up

Been a long time since I posted in the forums...I guess I should say to sign me up. I should be working on Ikonia, and I can do that too, but maybe I'll benefit from getting involved in this class. So, sign me up, please.

Please sign me up too! Thankyou!
Laura

Hi Lazette -- I'm a newcomer to Forward Motion but have read Holly's technique books cover to cover. I'm looking forward to participating with y'all.

Count me in!

Mary (n2cats)

Hi, I am only new to forward motion, but I have read ever single one of the current Clinic series by Holly Lisle, and am always eager to learn more about writing.

So I would very much love to join this course

Please sign me up as well. Thanks.

Hey...i would like to sign up for the course and be part of the 2008 2YN....

I'm in. And this time I'm actually going to finish!!!

Val Griswold-Ford

"Not Your Father's Horseman" -
ISBN #1-896944-27-2
Available from Dragon Moon Press

Val didn't finish it? WOW.

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Please sign me up as well! I enrolled in the 2007 course, but ended up not being able to participate. But this class sounds great and also comes highly recommended by many FMers, so I'd like to give it another shot!

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Would it be possible for me to sign up to the 2008 course? I did sign up to the 2007 course but then, through a combination of factors, didn't take part. I'm in a much better position to be able to work on this this year, and would love to wholeheartedly take part in the 2008 course.

(I've just checked and I still have access to the 2007 boards even though I never posted there, so I don't know if you'd like to remove that access... I was remiss in not flagging that up before, I'm sorry).

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I'll remove you from the 2007 listing and put you on the 2008 one. Then you can start over!

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Thank you!

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Thanks very much.

Please sign me up.

We'll get this thing done.

Please sign me up.

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Sign me up, please.


Ann

Hi Lizette:

I'd like to join the 2 year writing
course.

Here's an interesting question.

(I will join no matter what you decide)

Howeveer, please consider if this is a
fan-fiction project or not:

Situation:
Single (non series book) published in
1988.
No fan fic ever published for this (I
searched)
author (still) alive.

Wrote and said he'd have no problem in my
taking the premise, to continue (what I
see as) an obvious 2nd book to continue as
a series.

What do you think?

Mark in NJ

No matter what, I want to be considered
for the 2year course!

mark Brown

The course is aimed at starting with
nothing but a basic idea -- no characters
(or not much of one, except what comes
with the idea), and no worldbuilding or
any other prep work.  That would make
working on a second book to a series out.

What I suggest (as I have to others in
the past), is that they start with a new
idea for the class itself, but use the
material you learn in the class to work on
the other book at the same time.  The
class is, by it's nature, very slow,
especially off the start.  You'll have
plenty of time to work on both.

Oh, and it's Lazette, not Lizette!

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I'd like to sign up .

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I'd definitely like to join this year. Please include me!

I'd like to join too, please!

I was in the 2004-2005 class, and I found it very helpful because the weekly exercises acted as deadlines for me -- I wanted to finish the week's work before the next exercise came out. Anyway, I'd like another go, largely for that reason. Please sign me up.

Daphne

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Me, too, please! And many thanks, in advance!

Rif

Third time is a charm. I learned so much from the 2004/05 and 2006/07 I just have to jump back into this. And I am attempting to drag other people with me this time... mwahahahaha!!!

I will complete it dangit....


Love the workbooks btw Zette, well worth the money IMO.

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I'm new here, but I'd like to sign up, too, please!

Thanks!

**tackles**

GOTCHA!!!

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OUCH!

Thanks for the welcome, hee hee, and for recommending this, btw.

best writing site on the web, imo.

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Another newbie dropping in.

I would like to sign up for the course, pretty please.

**tackles you too**

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>**tackles you too**
>
>
Dogpile on glass!!

Eeek! *is piled on*

Thanks, both of you.

I did this in 2005 and think it's time to start a fresh.

There are some ideas brewing around hat might suit.

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Please sign me up. I need all the help I can get

Lisa PT

Sign me up, please.

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Hi,

Sign me up, please.

Paul

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Please sign me up for this 2-yr course. Thank You!

Please include me in this course.

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I don't know how I did it, but I've talked myself into joining this class again

Now to find an idea

Signing up!

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Hi! I've heard of FM for a while now but someone on another forum just posted a link to this course, and it sounds cool.

How strict is the no-series rule? I'm not writing a series, but I have several WIPs that are a set ... some overlap of settings and characters, but each one focuses on a different MC and usually a different setting. (And usually a different point in the timeline.) So I'd still be developing most of it from scratch. (And I still would have to come up with a new idea.) I don't currently have any ideas in the wings outside of this universe, at least that are incomplete enough to use for the course.

I would love to sign up for your course, but I don't want to break the rules right off.

I've done Nano for three years now, and Edmo for two. (So my brain is still in post-Nano burnout, though I'm still tinkering with some short stories.)

Having done the 2yn course twice trust me when I say start with a fresh idea.

For the worldbuilding part of the course we start from the ground up. I now have THREE worlds I write about not just one **grin**

not to mention the methods help enrich other ms's you might have.

It is a good class and one I am very glad to have taken.

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It's good to hear from someone who's been there!

Actually, in the car on the way to a family Christmas celebration today, my dh and I were talking it over. He actually thought of something I'd been meaning to maybe write some day ... far earlier in the story timeline than anything I've tried before (by several hundred years). It will require totally new characters and world-building from the ground up, but still sate my desire to stick with the same universe. So I think I'm pretty good to go now, and not bending rules! Yay!

I really want to do this 'right' and give it a good shot, so I was glad to find an idea that would work. And it's good to hear the confirmation that we really do need to start fresh. Thank you!

Would you mind if I forward this link to a yahoo writing group, or would you prefer to keep signups to current Forward Motion members? I didn't want to advertise if you're already overwhelmed with subscribers, since you had mentioned your blood pressure was forcing you to cut back.

Thanks for offering it!

Trisha

As long as they sign up at FM, there is no problem. Go ahead and post it. Many people join FM at the start of the year to take the course.

Does this mean that you are not to be put on the list, though? I usually just go through the list of names here and get them set up for the class, so I need to know if you are in or out. (grin)

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Thanks, Zette. I'll let others know about it, then.

You're safe from me this time, though. I'd better work on finishing some things before I start something new.

Sorry to make you read another post--I should have thought to mention my status before.

Hope you're feeling great!

Trisha

Please add me to the list for the 2YN course.

I would like to sign up.

Thanks!

I am very interested in signing up for this course.
Thank you, Jennifer

I did the first one, but never really did the group/participation side of it, and I'd like to give it another go with a new idea and such.

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I'd like to start over. I already saved my 2007 thread, so I have the comments people made on my assignments.

I'm not sure if I'll do something new or reuse/rework what I had started, but either way I'd rather start the year over instead of playing catchup. That way to it'll be easier to be more involved.

(I've decided that the novel I'd started for 2007 2yn would work better as SF instead of present day.)

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Please count me in.

April G.

I might as well get on board. Nothing to lose, right? I guess I better start thinking of a story idea...

Count me in please---this should be just the thing I need to get me motivated to finally finish an idea and help me decide once and for all whether I am a novelist or a short story author.