I believe that two things are essential to the writing life: accountability and community. My online courses offer both these things by giving you deadlines and the support of other writers on the same journey.
I offer four different online classes aimed at helping writers — both professional and first-timers — start, make progress on, and finish novels.
Check out the options below to find one that’s right for you — then email me! juliadahl@gmail.com
Class 1: Fiction for Journalists
After 20 years in journalism and five published novels, I have come to believe that almost all journalists have the skills to write fiction — they just need a little guidance and support.
This course consists of five 90-minute online sessions where journalists will discuss and experiment with fiction, getting feedback, guidance, and inspiration.
We’ll talk about:
- Finding the story you want to tell
- Building compelling characters
- Structure, pacing, tension, dialogue
- Creating time to write
- Generative research
- The publishing industry
- Querying an agent
Cost: $950
Class 2: First Draft Book Camp
For aspiring novelists who’ve never been professional writers, this course covers much of the material of Fiction for Journalists. Over five 90-minute sessions that meet you where you are in the novel writing process, you’ll gain the tools and inspiration necessary to make the crucial first step in publishing your novel: finishing a first draft!
We’ll talk about:
- Finding the story you want to tell
- Building compelling characters
- Structure, pacing, tension, dialogue
- Creating time to write
- Generative research
- The publishing industry
- Querying an agent
Cost: $950
Class 3: How to Write a Novel in 15 Minutes a Day
Based on the advice I laid out in an August article for Fast Company, this course helps writers create a sustainable writing practice — the first step to finishing a novel. In this course, which consists of three 60-minute sessions, we’ll work on:
- How to train you brain for success
- How to find the 15 minutes each day that work for you
- How to give yourself permission to embrace yourself as a writer
- Tricks to get through your first draft
Cost: $500
Class 4: Get Unstuck: Journalism for Fiction Writers
This course consists of one 90-minute session where fiction writers learn journalism skills — including research, interviewing techniques, and building a daily writing practice — that will help them get “unstuck” and finish their draft.
Cost: $150
Testimonials
“Working with Julia was such a game changer! I came into the class with some chapters and a concept, and left with 25,000 words and a fully formed plan for how to finish my first fiction book, as well as insight into the fiction publishing process. She provided great insight into how I can make the writing process work while also managing a busy full-time journalism job and had some great ideas for the plot of my book. The class was so much fun and never felt like work, more like something I was doing to invest in my own creative process and passion for writing.”
Melanie Hicken, Senior Investigative Reporter, CNN
“Julia is a generous, encouraging, thoughtful instructor and mentor. Her enthusiasm for helping writers become the best they can be is palpable (even through a screen!) and my excitement to work on my manuscript was always higher after meeting with her. I wish I could meet with her every day!”
Sara Gaynes Levy, Editor of Westport Lifestyle Magazine
I’ve never felt so confident or motivated that I can write and complete my first novel as I have after working with Julia in her Fiction For Journalists class—and I’ve started and half-finished over a dozen novels!
Her practical advice and enthusiasm for our projects is unmatched by any novel writing class I’ve ever taken. As a published novelist, seasoned journalist, and professor, Julia knows how to break down the process, mentor through the disbeliefs, and give actionable steps. From her classes to creating a bi-weekly support group for new novelists, Julia’s dedication to the craft and belief in her writers is evident.
After taking her FFJ class, I now have over 30,000 words, multiple chapters, and a solid plan on how to finish the first draft of my novel. Working with Julia is like having a coach, a therapist for the ever-conflicted writer, and a mentor. Julia manages to get writers to believe they too can write a novel.
Barbi Walker-Walsh, BJW Post LLC and co-founder of Journalists’ Wherehouse