5-DAY WORKSHOP
novel foundations
Stress-test your story’s bones so you can write forward with confidence.
REGISTER NOWYou’ve been working on your story for a while now...
Maybe you’ve finished an outline, a draft, or you’re stuck endlessly revising Act One. But no matter where your story takes you, something isn’t working. You love parts of the story—the characters feel so real to you, the world is vivid and exciting, the vibes are everything, there are scenes and lines you’re genuinely proud of. But…
Lately, you’re doubting. You’re doubting your story and yourself.
Does this idea truly have merit, or are you crazy? Are your ideas working or are you far off the mark?
The doubt freaks you out. You’re either ignoring it, obsessing instead over all the little details, moving things around aimlessly, or trying to find some organizational or plotting system that might “fix” everything. Essentially, you’re getting nowhere, fast.
Every writer experiences this doubt at some point—whether they’re a plotter, a pantser, or something in between. It can feel existential to question your story at its core, but it's incredibly normal to pause at various points in a novel’s journey to assess its foundations.
Story foundations aren't some big mystery. They boil down to a single question:
Are your major plot events and character arcs driving one another effectively?
The good news is, you can evaluate those foundations yourself!
In our upcoming 5-day workshop, we’re going to show you how to stress-test and strengthen your story’s foundation.
We'll analyze how your major character and plot pieces are working together, and weave them into a single engine that will fuel a cohesive, compelling, un-put-downable read. By the end of the week, you’ll know where the bones are working and where they need to be strengthened. You’ll finally have the confidence to put your energy where it matters and keep moving forward in a real way.
INTRODUCING...
Novel Foundations
September 21-25 | 12-12:30pm Eastern Time each day
A week-long intensive for writers tired of second-guessing and ready to build a foundation for a story that they believe in.
REGISTER FOR $49Can't you just hire a professional editor to read your story?
Yes! Of course you can. We’re all about investing in your story. But a manuscript evaluation can cost $1000-$4000, and developmental editors don’t have some innate sixth sense for broken stories, they’ve simply learned how to ask the right questions to stress-test where a story’s foundation is strong, and where it’s beginning to crack.
Too often, we see writers pay loads of money for support too early, because they haven’t learned how to do this for themselves. In this workshop, we’re going to teach you how to do this high-level analysis yourself and how to fix any cracks you find, at a fraction of the price —so when you do hire a professional editor, you’ll know you’ll have taken your story as far as you could yourself.
The Schedule
Live every day from 12-12:30 Eastern Time
We’ll meet live on Zoom each day for a 30-minute craft lesson with exercises for you to complete before the next session. Each homework exercise will take you 30-60 minutes.
DAY ONE | Mon 9/21
story foundations
Learn how character arcs and plot weave together, so you can finally build a cohesive story that works.
DAY TWO | Tues 9/22
the story's heart
Refine who your story is about: who your main character is and the goals, fears, and beliefs driving them.
DAY THREE | Wed 9/23
find a plot that works
Craft the plot problems that will inevitably force your character to confront their inner demons.
DAY FOUR | Thurs 9/24
set 'em up for failure
Characters grow when they face the consequences of their mistakes. Let’s design the flawed plans and failures that will push them to transform.
DAY FIVE | Fri 9/25
tie it all together
In one final litmus test, ensure that your character arcs and plot events lock together in a cohesive, compelling, and un-put-downable way.
WED 9/23 & FRI 9/25 at 8pm ET
VIP coaching calls
Join Emily & Rachel to ask questions and get coached as you diagnose and build your story’s foundations. Exclusive to VIP ticket holders.
Novel Foundations is for you if…
- You have an idea but aren’t confident that it's strong enough to commit to
- You've finished a draft but sense something fundamental isn't working
- You're tired of revising the same chapters without solving the real problem
- You want to understand how stories really work, not just follow plot formulas
- You'd rather learn to evaluate your own work than rely entirely on expensive manuscript critiques
By Friday, you’ll have…
- A clearly defined arc of change for your main character
- A plot designed to trigger that character’s transformation
- The major pillars of your story mapped out so you know the concept works
- A roadmap for your next draft that you feel confident in
- A stress-test framework you’ll use on every future story
By Friday, you won’t be wondering if your story works anymore.
You’ll know exactly what’s already strong, what’s missing, and what to fix first. It’s time to stop second guessing every one of your decisions. Move into drafting or revising with confidence that you’re building on something solid.
REGISTER →Plotter?
Sweet, Emily is too! The tools you’ll learn in this workshop will be invaluable for outlining the core of your idea to ensure you’re considering both your characters' arcs and the plot events at the same time and you don’t end up with a random outline of ‘things that happen’. Revisit it every time you get stuck, at the beginning of every new draft, and whenever you’re worried your plans are getting off track. Above all, you can trust this stress-test will give you the confidence to finally put words on the page.
Pantser?
Amazing! So is Rachel! Everything you learn in this workshop can be applied in your pantser process–even as you come up with ideas on the fly! When you understand the theory behind how story foundations work, you can implement it into your drafting or revisions process and make sure you don’t end up with a story that goes nowhere. Let your pantser heart soar, but give it the tools it needs to make solid decisions that keep you and your story on the right path. Take away the doubt, and leave the fun instead!
What you’ll get in Novel Foundations…
- Five 30-Minute workshop sessions with Emily & Rachel (Value: $500)—In each session we’ll show you how plot and character arcs work together and give you brief exercises to not only diagnose your current idea or draft, but also fix any weaknesses you find.
- Course Workbook (Value: $100)—A comprehensive workbook that contains readings, exercises, and resources to guide you through doing the exercises assigned during each day’s session.
- Downloadable workshop materials (Value: $50)—All class slides, workbook materials, and transcripts—so you can relax during the live sessions and take it all in without worrying about taking notes.
- (VIP ONLY) Two live group coaching sessions (Value: $400)—When you purchase the VIP package, you’ll also get access to live group coaching sessions with Emily and Rachel where you can pick their brains, ask your questions, and get direction from the pros.
That's over $1000 in value—for just $149!
REGISTER NOW
Choose the level of support that’s right for you.
your workshop instructors
Emily & Rachel from Golden May
Hey hey! I'm Emily.
I’m your resident excitable, dirtbag, cat-lady coach. I’m a type-A perfectionist who played the hustle game for years, could never finish a draft, and burned out because of it. In my journey climbing out of that ditch, I tuned out the noise of what I should do, learned to love myself, and built a writing life that works for ME. As a result, my debut fantasy romance novel was published in 2024. Now I’m devoted to helping tenacious writers like you ditch the ‘shoulds’ and build a sustainable writing life that works for you, that brings you joy, and that fulfills you all the way to your bones. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me exploring the mountains of southwest Colorado with my husband and daughter, and sometimes our cats. You can find me on Instagram @ebgoldenbooks.
Hey there! I’m Rachel.
I’m your mac n' cheese loving, neurodivergent, book fairy godmother. As a coach and writer with ADHD, I understand how downright confusing craft can be and how much those "rules" can feel limiting. I understand what it’s like to struggle with your process and get hung up with mental hurdles. Throughout my journey, I've learned how to break past creative blocks and merge craft theory with my unique brain and body–and that’s exactly what I’ll help you do, too. Because of this eye-opening work, I published the first two books of The Shadows Syndicate series in 2024 and I’m looking toward the future with huge heart-eyes. I live in Colorado with my husband and daughter, dream of the perfect slice of pizza, and love staying up way too late to read. You can find me on Instagram @bookcoachrachel and @author.remay.
Imagine sitting down to write…
And your writing blocks are gone.
You’re excited to move forward, not because you know every decision you make will be ‘perfect’ (whatever that means) but because you believe in the bones of your story. You know what your trying to say to your readers. You know your character’s journey supports the plot. You know the plot is pushing them to change. You know every major building block of your narrative weaves seamlessly together and belongs.
Imagine how much easier (and more joyful!) writing will be when you trust the foundation beneath your words.
No more second-guessing. No more hidden anxieties.
Just clarity in your next steps and confidence you’re heading in the right direction.
REGISTER NOW
