I’ve started (and abandoned) more novel drafts than I’d like to admit, so a structured course that actually walks you to a finished first draft caught my eye. Reedsy is a name I already trusted from the publishing world, and their flagship “How to Write a Novel” course on Reedsy Learning promises exactly that. Here’s my honest review.
Reedsy Learning is the education arm of Reedsy, the well-known marketplace connecting authors with professional editors, designers, and publishing pros. Learning offers writing courses — from free short email courses to a flagship video program, “How to Write a Novel,” taught by Tom Bromley. That course packs 101 video lessons (20+ hours of masterclasses), weekly live teaching from the instructor and acclaimed editors, office hours, and a private student community, all aimed at getting you to a finished first draft. Enrolling also includes a free 12-month Reedsy Learning Membership.
If you start drafts but never finish, the structured, deadline-driven format is designed to carry you to the end. That’s exactly my problem, and the appeal.
Weekly live masterclasses, office hours, and a private student forum mean you’re not writing in a vacuum.
Reedsy’s reputation in the indie-publishing space gives the instruction real credibility.
The flagship course is a serious one-time investment; casual writers may prefer Reedsy’s free courses first.
If you’ve finished several novels, a “how to write a novel” course may cover ground you already know.
The curriculum spans beginnings, character, plot, description, dialogue, chapters, middles, and craft fundamentals — a genuinely complete path from blank page to finished draft.
You get live teaching from the instructor and acclaimed editors each week, plus office hours to ask questions — the accountability piece that self-paced courses lack.
A private forum for peer support and feedback keeps you motivated and gives you readers as you go.
Enrollment includes a year of membership: tickets to 6 online publishing conferences, live Q&As with publishing experts, and access to the full archive of masterclasses and events.
Reedsy Learning offers free short courses as well as the flagship paid program. Current pricing for the main course:
How to Write a Novel — $1,399, one-time payment with lifetime access. Includes all 101 video lessons, weekly live teaching and office hours, the private student forum, and a free 12-month Reedsy Learning Membership.
Reedsy also runs free 10-day email courses on various writing and publishing topics, so you can sample their teaching at no cost. Confirm current pricing and any promotions on the Reedsy Learning site.
Pros: Comprehensive, structured path to a finished draft; live weekly teaching and office hours (not just pre-recorded); private community for accountability; taught under a trusted publishing brand; lifetime access on a one-time payment; bonus 12-month membership; free courses available to try first.
Cons: The flagship course is a significant upfront cost; it’s focused on novel-writing specifically; live-element value depends on your participation; experienced authors may find it too foundational.
Generic platforms like Udemy or MasterClass offer cheaper, self-paced writing courses, but they’re largely watch-and-go with little accountability or feedback. Reedsy Learning’s differentiator is the live teaching, office hours, deadlines, and community built around actually finishing your draft — plus the credibility of a real publishing marketplace. If you just want inspiration on the cheap, self-paced wins on price; if you want structure and support to complete a novel, Reedsy’s higher-touch model is the point.
If finishing a novel is a real goal and you’ve struggled to do it alone, the flagship course’s structure, live support, and community make a strong case — and lifetime access plus the bonus membership soften the one-time price. It’s clearly aimed at committed writers, not dabblers. My advice: start with Reedsy’s free courses to test the teaching style, and if it clicks and you’re serious, the full course is a credible investment in actually getting the book done.
“How to Write a Novel” — 101 video lessons with weekly live teaching, office hours, and a student community, designed to get you to a finished first draft.
$1,399 as a one-time payment with lifetime access, which also includes a free 12-month Reedsy Learning Membership.
Yes — Reedsy Learning offers free short (10-day) email courses on writing and publishing topics.
Both — on-demand video lessons plus weekly live masterclasses and office hours.
The course is led by Tom Bromley, with additional live teaching from acclaimed editors.
You can explore the courses (including free ones) here: Visit Reedsy Learning.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you enroll through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
