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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Write Your First Novel by Michigan State University

4.3
stars
298 ratings

About the Course

WRITE YOUR FIRST NOVEL From Inc.com - The 30 Most Popular Online Courses of 2020 "Write Your First Novel" made the list at #15 https://lnkd.in/gZqscmn If you’ve ever had the dream, the desire or even just a vague notion that you would like to write a novel, this course is for you. Whether you are a full-time student, have a full-time job, a family to take care of or all of the above, you can do it. Really! And I will help you get there. In this Course, you will write your first novel. Many people say they have often thought about writing a novel and are planning to do it someday, but very few ever actually do. However, in this course, you will do it. You will learn how to form a basic idea, any idea, into a structure and discipline that will allow you to create, write and complete a fully-realized novel ready to submit for publication. If you have any concerns regarding the protection of your original work, Coursera's privacy policy protects the learner's IP and you are indeed the sole owners of your work. Here is a link to a trailer for the course. To view the trailer, please copy and paste the link into your browser. https://vimeo.com/385761391/c5e7f873cf Learner review: "It was a great experience, I really enjoyed it." In Write Your First Novel, you’ll learn to break down your creative endeavor into components and you’ll discover a process that will allow you to do what few have done: produce and complete a full-length work of fiction in the form of a 50,000-word novel. Learner Review: "You teach storytelling like no other teacher. I cannot put in words how much I appreciate it. This daily writing, and the product that comes with it, have been a great mental support during the pandemic time. Art is a support for life, as Stephen King said, and thanks to you I experienced it first-hand during this time. I think I will keep writing 500 words per night for the rest of my life. I owe it to you. You taught me how to write a novel, and it works every time. Huge thanks, and wishing you all the best." I am a proponent of experiential learning (also known as active learning). My lectures are short and to the point, designed in a step-by-step process essential to your success as a writer. I will guide you, I will show you how to get there, hopefully I will inspire you. You will learn through your own activity - which is writing! I firmly believe that the only way to become a writer is to write, write, write! Learner review: "As a published author, I took this course to relearn the skills. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every lecture and quiz. This course was very, very helpful and the videos were very well executed. Cheers!" Writing fiction is a truly beautiful thing. Putting your own words on a page to tell a story which enters your readers minds and allows them to share the thoughts, emotions and lives of your characters is a very satisfying, rewarding experience. Learner review: "BEST TEACHER EVER! LOVE THE COURSE."...

Top reviews

C

Oct 10, 2022

This course provided the structure and accountability I needed to write my first novel. It was low pressure and fun. I loved reading the comments from my fellow writers and reading their submissions.

LL

Dec 7, 2022

I loved this course! The pacing was good. The instructor was clear without being too wordy and the feedback was helpful and appropriate. I would definitely recommend this course to a friend.

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26 - 50 of 128 Reviews for Write Your First Novel

By Danial S

Oct 3, 2020

This novel writing course was impressive where I have learned how to use my creativity to convey to others what I want to share as a writer with them. I took this course with pleasure through the entire step-by-step process that helped me complete a full-length piece of fiction in English. Of course, this process helped me write my novel. Writing regularly helps to keep yourself in good shape, teaches to be disciplined and promotes orderliness. Without a doubt, I will use these tools and techniques in the future in my writing and teaching practice. Thank you for such a thoughtful and quality course.

By Bianca

Jun 28, 2020

Exactly what I was looking for. A challenging, yet mellow course to start me on my way.

I was enjoying the lectures right from when the instructor, David Wheeler, spoke his first hynotizing sentence. I know I picked the right choice and look forward to putting such good advice to work in my future endeavors. Thank you!

By Valen P

Oct 20, 2020

Being a full-time student was not a problem in achieving the goal that the course offered. The technique and tips taught will always remain in my mind for the next time I write. Awesome course! 100% recommended.

By Lalitha M

May 7, 2021

An excellent course. The trainer guided us thr=roughout the course. Deadlines helped us complete all tasks.

I am planning to self-publish my novel.

By Christina J

Oct 11, 2022

This course provided the structure and accountability I needed to write my first novel. It was low pressure and fun. I loved reading the comments from my fellow writers and reading their submissions.

By Lanniece L

Dec 8, 2022

I loved this course! The pacing was good. The instructor was clear without being too wordy and the feedback was helpful and appropriate. I would definitely recommend this course to a friend.

By Sharanjit K

Nov 20, 2021

I really learnt a lot. Sir you have inspired me to write. The course is so good can make any one a good writer. Thank You for sharing all the information

By Dan D

May 26, 2022

Self discipline was of course a necessity, but I was given the tools I needed to write a full-length, 50,000-word novel. Thank you, Professor Wheeler!

By Yassine O

Jun 20, 2021

I really enjoyed while I was watching those useful videos <3 many thanks

By Jennifer A P D

Jan 22, 2021

I would prefer the professor to review my writings during the course.

By Herbert G

Feb 24, 2022

I don't know which is at fault with the stupid opening page of the website...Michigan State or Coursera. I open it and get the stupid thing that asks me to tell you about me. Every damn time. And then, just below that is a Welcome back, and then the bloody stupid little blue lines that say Home Progress and Completed. If you click on Home and Progress, you get the exact same thing....nothing! Progress doesn't show your progress. It frequently shows an assignment THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED and the most stupid thing of all is if you click on Completed, you don't get what work you completed yesterday, or the day before, so you can review your own work. You get a thing about courses you took THREE YEARS AGO. Who cares???? I want to know what I did yesterday or the day before to see if I have any comments from my peers. Or to verify exactly what I wrote. I don't give a flip what I did three years ago. In another location, it would be fine if you had a button that shows what previous courses you may have taken three years ago. AND THEN, the most stupid thing is, I try to find my submittals, it takes half a dozen clicks or more....of clicking on this or clicking on that to find my submittals. How bloody stupid of your website to make things so difficult. Jesus! And then, I spend hours and hours and hours trying to write a logline, or a dramatic question, or a chapter of a novel, and post it, and then get zero or maybe one comment from my peers. What kind of teacher/learning exercise is this? How do we get feedback? It is one thing for Coursera to say we're not getting a grade, but we don't get any feedback.

By Malcolm ( M L

Feb 9, 2021

This is without doubt the best course I have ever taken. It excels in pedagogy, content and collegial form. My only regret is that I didn't come to it 15-years ago at the start of my lectureship career at University; it would have changed my teaching methodology and probably made me a better person!

MORE COURSES PLEASE BY COURSE LEADER, DAVID WHEELER.

By Carolyn D

Feb 7, 2022

I really enjoyed this course. It taught me a lot on how to be a better writer. David Wheeler is a great instructor, I like his style and he made learning to write a novel fun, and easy. It takes work, but it's fun engaging work. You get to also know if you are good or not, but having fellow students crtique your chapters. I'm glad the course.

By Robert M

Jun 14, 2022

Great course. I'm restarting it right now to work on another project. I like the guidance the professor offers in each video lecture, plus the 20 chapter structure is extremely helpful towards creating a book that I feel like I can complete.

By Duncan M

Apr 30, 2022

I enjoyed this course. After at least three started, but unfinished novels over 40 years, I have finally finished one, and I have 4 others in various stages. Coursera always helps you learn what you need to learn.

By Cherry B

Jan 27, 2021

This made me realize how much potential i really do have in writing and it made me find out that I love writing and reading books.

By Muhsina K I

Oct 10, 2020

A wonderful course. Received writing tips from a very talented instructor. Thank you so much sir.

By Meghann M

Dec 7, 2020

Great course to get you to the end of your first novel. The platform is a little frustrating sometimes. But, if you stick to it, and write every day...you WILL have a finished book at the end of the course! (Albeit unedited, of course.) :) I highly recommend this class to anyone struggling to finish a project. Thank you!

By Shenyce S

Jun 10, 2021

Nice course. David was great but would have been better to let the lecturer edit people chapters better. Instead of always getting feedback from group. It was not always good but discouraging.

By Anwita P

Apr 28, 2020

It was a great experience ,I really enjoyed it.

By Cherise M

Nov 5, 2021

I'm in the 3rd week and for some odd reason I am unable to receive any feedback on my work. Though, I should review and give feedback on others which has me to think this isn't supportive. The other thing is you cannot reach anyone for help. You'r simply on your own and if I would've paid for a certificate. This would have been a very frustrating and unfair course.

I did submit a question in the forum and still no answer as if I'm invisible. This wasn't so for the first 2 weeks.

By Karny A

May 26, 2021

I'm not done.

By Jason Y

Nov 8, 2022

Too many people here that really have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to peer reviews. Not everyone falls into this category of course. There are some great story tellers in this course. The reviews are based on a criterion required to complete an assignment. However, there are so many terrible writers on here that when it comes to reviews, they only implement negativity towards your story. Then they try to change it, break you down, and leave you without the ability to respond back to them. I read the required writing assignments from these people and was appalled to discover how terrible all of their writing and storytelling came to be.

My suggestion is to just believe in yourself, take a creative writing course, grammar, and editing to help develop your writing skills. Engage in an active community with other writers such as poetry readings for example or join library clubs in your local areas. There are too many people here that are not great and will tear you down just for a grade because that is the only way they can contribute to the community from this platform.

On a positive note, the instructor here is quite passionate, and you can learn a lot from him. There is just zero control for the toxic element that comes from this course.

To all the great writers out there discovering this path, flee the wretched winds of toxicity. To all the others, do not quit your day jobs.

By Debbie P

Aug 19, 2022

This class is a joke. The first couple of weeks have actual assignments, but no real instruction. As a student, you have to do your own research to learn about the topics he briefly mentions. I was okay with that, but I should have looked ahead because after you write Chapter 1, you get short videos that tell you to 'Write Chapter X' and that continues until you get to the end, where you get more short videos that tell you nothing. I only know because I looked ahead and decided not to waste my time here. I'm taking my first chapter and moving to another site where I can actually learn about writing a book. The other thing is that the feedback is really hit and miss. You might have a couple of serious students, but most of them are people who can't even form a complete sentence correctly and are judging your work, all because it's required to continue. That being the case, it's difficult to get good feedback. Mostly though, it's just the lack of instruction. As an adult, I don't need a 15-second video telling me to write the next chapter. I think I can figure that one out on my own. Very disappointing.

By Catherine C

Apr 10, 2022

This course has great content but the organisation is terrible. It's so frustrating!

There are still posts up in the discussion boards by people who completed the course up to two years ago. It's impossible to find a writing group (recommended in the course content) because it's not clear who has started the course at the same time and who is up to the same week of coursework. It seems there are a number of classes in the course run concurrently so people are at different stages of the class. I don't know how we are supposed to provide constructive feedback when we are working on different content.

Each week's course content should only become available during that week so that we can focus on it. I'm so frustrated about this whole process that I feel like I want to unenrol, but I really would like to write my novel. Please fix this!