The NovelryReviews of thenovelry.com

I've written four novels with The Novelry, all of which have been published. I've been with The Novelry since it began and have watched it grow organically out of Louise Dean's vision and passion into the global phenomenon it is today. The course materials are first class, as are all the writing coaches and editors and the community of writers is so supportive and helpful. Can't recommend it highly enough!

I bought The Novelry’s Novel Development Course in 2024 and finished a rough draft through the Ninety Day Novel. The teaching genuinely helped. But when I asked to pay for a rollover to start The Big Edit, they refused because my membership had lapsed. I’d never started that course or used its editorial sessions. The only option was to buy it again for $1,595. They bundle drafting and editing and encourage a break between them. Their current website repeatedly emphasizes flexibility, with phrases like “don’t worry if you need to stop writing for a while,” “no pressure to finish within that time,” and “roll over everything, including any unused coaching, editorial, or manuscript sessions.” Yet I couldn’t find a clear warning in those extension descriptions that letting membership lapse could make me ineligible for a paid rollover. When you sell stages together, encourage breaks, and advertise flexibility, that restriction should be just as clear. I contacted them almost a year after expiry. They sent warnings, which I missed among their weekly marketing emails—I acknowledge that they gave notice. But I don’t remember it being clear when I bought the bundle that missing the deadline meant losing the option to pay for an extension. Had I understood that upfront, I would have renewed. They first cited data privacy regulations. After discussing my request with Louise, they emphasized applying the policy consistently. Neither explained the reasoning behind making a full-price repurchase the only paid way back. My experience is that I paid for editing upfront as part of the bundle and never used it. I’m now left with no access, no credit, and no reduced-cost way back—just the option to buy it again for $1,595. That doesn’t feel like the flexibility they repeatedly advertise. ----------------- Update — September 23, 2026 Thanks, Louise. Deleting my old account explains the need for a fresh enrollment, but not why it must be at full price. For example, a one-time discount code would let me enroll again while recognizing the editing component I already purchased but never used. That wouldn’t require restoring my old account or any deleted work. One clarification on the reminders: the ones I can find were sent within the week before my access expired. I haven’t found one sent a month beforehand.

This was one of the best investments I made in my journey as a writer. The courses and content really elevated my understanding of the craft, and the UMA ultimately led me to writing a novel that received a glowing review from Kirkus Reviews. Their Golden Hour method led me to writing three novels in a one-year time period, and gave me the discipline I needed to set and meet a daily word count. I highly recommend this program!

I'm really loving this course. I already had about a quarter of my manuscript work in progress written. The Big Idea stress tested it and it has come out a lot stronger. I'm now starting The Big Write. The lessons and extra resources, like the community and the live and recorded masterclasses, add up to create really excellent value.

Should you spend your hard-earned money on The Novelry?  The answer: It depends. But probably not. Why do I say this?  Because most writers dream of a traditional publishing contract with agent representation, and if you are one of those who lock onto The Novelry's most notable offering—an opportunity to have your novel submitted to an affiliated agent—you will likely be disappointed.  Don't believe me? Think I am disgruntled (which they will undoubtedly say I am despite being award-winning and having a bestselling book)? That's fine. But do yourself a favor and ask questions. I did. In fact, I asked The Novelry editor who had positive things to say about my writing a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: What percentage of writers who work with The Novelry are chosen to have their package submitted to those affiliated agents?   The answer: They don't track or publish that information.  Why is that, especially when statistical evidence says a lot about the quality of an organization's services?  The answer I received was that it isn't tracked or published because it isn't viewed as a "meaningful measure of a writer's prospects."  It may not be a meaningful measure of prospects, but it is definitely a meaningful measure of The Novelry helping hopeful writers crack open that traditional iron door. Moreover, it is a VERY EASY figure to calculate. So, in my opinion, there can be only one reason they don't calculate it. I'll let you do the math.   Now, I'd like to backtrack a bit, because I don't want you walking away thinking this program lacks merit. Are there less costly ways to obtain what you get from The Novery? Yes. A $15 book off Amazon or the free material certain agents provide when you sign up for their newsletter, perhaps. The courses are essentially structured as premade training modules featuring short videos designed to motivate and guide writers throughout the developmental process. The information is solid. Depending on the option you select, you may work with an expert writer or submit a portion or all of your manuscript for an experienced professional to edit. The sessions are short and limited. If you think you are going to get back-and-forth brainstorming and feedback sessions, think again. The community area is more useful for that. You should also read the print carefully. The Big Edit is NOT a full book edit. That is a different option.  I signed up for The Big Edit. Basically, the first session was a review of my outline and plan (not a true edit, as imagined). The second covered three chapters, the synopsis, and the query. More valuable. Either way, the term "The Big Edit" is misleading. "Small Edit" is more fitting, but it doesn't have the same ring to it. Also, upselling seems to be the name of the game with constructive feedback and denials accompanied by paid offerings. By doing this, aspiring writers may find themselves trapped in an endless loop of payment for services with zero guarantee that it will bring them to their intended goal.  Do not get me wrong. Most of the staff at The Novelry are extremely nice. They have impressive backgrounds. But I wonder, given the changes in the market and how competitive it has become over those years, would doors have been closed to some of them? Have they forgotten what it was like? I think if they remembered, the help would be more...helpful. Be sure to be realistic with yourselves and keep trying. That's what I plan to do, even though the statistics for newcomers are dismal. Do your due diligence before spending the money. As a course, it may be worth the expense. If you plan to self-publish, it may help improve your writing. But there are less costly ways, and you'd probably be better off investing in a full edit by an experienced professional who does not dangle a proverbial carrot in front of your face for more dimes.   Wherever you are in your writing career, I wish you nothing but the best. Truly, I do. And despite my review, my honest opinion, I thank those at The Novelry for the lessons I've learned from this process. It wasn't all that I had hoped for, but it was something. And for that, I hold only gratitude.

I really enjoyed the methodical process of The Big Idea. I came in with a basic sense of what I wanted to do and this course helped me structure a full storyline! Kudos to the Novelry with breaking down the process of novel creation, and making it more tangible for those of us that have never writtten before.

Love the platform and Louise's take on fiction. It seems the coaching calls and end of membership practices are a little questionable sometimes. The coaches are good people but seem to be following a script that ensures upsells. When there were glitches in their system, I was made to feel it was my fault.

The platform is not distracting, every presentation is professional, the coaches are published authors across several genre, and the course helps to build solid story concepts in ways I had not considered before. It has the most welcoming, positive and active online community—one that even this introvert finds easy to participate in. Hands down the best investment I’ve ever made in my dream to become a published author. I only wish I had found The Novelry sooner!