Novel Study Book Club
Bestselling authors aren’t using magic to write their novels — they’re using specific tools and techniques that you can learn through careful study. Each month, we’ll analyze a current bestseller to understand exactly how it works, breaking down the craft elements that make it successful.
You’ll get access to my detailed scene analysis, story structure breakdowns, and craft notes — the same tools I use in my book Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction.
As a professional editor for over ten years, I’ve helped hundreds of authors transform their manuscripts into books readers love, and now I’m excited to build a community where we can study contemporary bestsellers together. Join the community for monthly live discussions, ongoing forum conversations, and the chance to learn alongside other serious writers as we study today’s most successful novels.
The theme for this first season of the Novel Study Book Club is bestsellers.
Each month, we’ll vote on a book to study from one of the current bestseller charts (the big ones like The New York Times, USA Today, and the UK's Sunday Times, but also some smaller ones that include indie authors doing big numbers).
All subscribers will get my analytical blog posts on the month's novel, breaking down things like scene components, plot structure, dialogue techniques, and other craft insights.
In addition, for less than the cost of a craft workshop, paid subscribers will receive my behind-the-scenes craft notes, my detailed story structure spreadsheet breaking down the novel scene by scene, and a detailed deconstruction of one scene from the novel. You’ll also get access to weekly discussion forums and a monthly live Zoom book club discussion.
Here’s how the first season will run:
January: Launch and introductions! We’ll get to know one another while we study The New York Times bestseller lists for the month and decide on our first book.
February through June: We’ll study one book a month (5 total), with a live, hour-long Zoom discussion for paid subscribers at the end of the month.
July: Summer vacation! We’ll have informal chats and book recommendations, as well as a time to catch up on past discussions.
August through October: We’ll study 3 more books, again with monthly live Zoom discussions at the end of each month.
November: End of season 1! I’ll put paid subscriptions on hold for a winter rest, and we’ll discuss possibilities for a season 2.
Ready to join us? Subscribe now to be part of our founding member group and help shape our first season of the Novel Study Book Club!