plot your novel in six weeks

Plotstormers 2024

Start the new year with a bang and get your novel plotted, outlined and ready to go!

STARTS 8 JANUARY 2024
bag your place now
A white woman sits cross legged on a fluffy rug in front of an armchair, writing in a notebook. Behind her is a fully stocked bookshelf.
It's time to get your novel written

Join Plotstormers 2024 and turn your idea into a big chonky outline ready for drafting in just six weeks

Let’s get your new year writing plan in order.

Yes yes, we know, we know. But seriously. If you don’t do it now you’re going to get to the end of the year like awww maaahh gawwdddddd paneeeek and make a super rushed plan which will either be too grand or too small or you process won’t quite be right and then you’ll launch headlong into 2024 and the risk of fizzling out is, well, big.

But. Right. Look. You don’t need to worry your pretty head about that because Writers’ HQ has been doing this for a Very Long Time ™ and we have a tried and tested plan to make sure your fizz remains fizzy and not fizzled. Aww yeah. 

A white woman sits cross legged on a fluffy rug in front of an armchair, writing in a notebook. Behind her is a fully stocked bookshelf.
A white woman sits cross legged on a fluffy rug in front of an armchair, writing in a notebook. Behind her is a fully stocked bookshelf.

Plotstormers 2024 is designed to get you ready and set up for a solid 12 months of novel writing, starting with the idea and getting you to The End.

Led by Sarah WHQ, this course is for anyone with a novel idea, a zero draft, a stalled first draft, or any draft that needs a serious structural makeover.

Plot your novel from beginning to end in six weeks with tailored guidance from a team of writing experts who’ll support you every step of the way.

Why now? Because it’s time. Really it is. Stop fucking about and get that novel written.

First step: know what you’re actually writing about with a detailed novel outline and plan of action.

Join Plotstormers 2024 and you’ll get a 5* step-by-step online course, weekly workshop sessions, regular coaching and guidance from your tutors, plus a private discussion group for peer-to-peer feedback.

Build a practical understanding of story structure and plotting, and walk away with a comprehensive outline of your story and a plan for what to do next (clue: write!).

It’s gonna be freakin’ great. Join us!,

Here's how it works...

1

You sign up for Plotstormers 2024

2

We guide you through the creation of a comprehensive outline of your story and a plan for what to do next

3

You write your novel, sell it in a multiway auction for a quidjillion pounds, the world is changed with your Earth shattering awesomeness*

4

You feel good and we celebrate yay!

*we can’t actually guarantee this but we’ll do our best, natch

Click here to join us for Plotstormers 2024!

Here’s what Plotstormers 2024 will give you...

Plotstormers! The course!

Access to the famous Writers' HQ novel plotting course, Plotstormers in all its 5 star glory. Get yerself a step-by-step breakdown of how story structure works and how to use it for your story

A whole bunch of writing workshops

Six weeks of online tutorials to help you through the course and support you on your writerly journey to a fully plotted novel

1-1 tuition with Sarah

You'll get a 30-minute, one-to-one tutorial with Sarah based on a 2,000 word extract of your plan. Use this time to address any concerns, talk over plot holes, discuss how you find writing time, or anything you need to help you write

End of course open mic partay

A bonus final webinar to discuss next steps, and give everyone a chance to read some of their favourite words from the course

Creative coaching, email-style

Six weeks of emails all up in your inbox, keeping you going, pepping you into writerly action, blasting away your doubts and putting that dastardly inner critic to bed. Night night inner critic. Let's go! We've got some serious writing to do

Tutor and peer review of your work

Your own private forum where you can share work, get feedback and offer your own critique. Sarah will be on hand during set office hours to answer any questions and support this batch of fledgling stories emerge from their story-eggs

An awesome community of writers

Writing is a team sport and there's no better place to find your writing team than Writers' HQ. Many of our students have gone on to form close friendships and trusted critiquing partnerships. Introverted? Don't worry! We're all awkward writer-types here

What Writers’ HQ brings to the party...

Experience!

Over a decade of experience supporting writers through their challenges, getting them moving and getting them to love their writing

Magic!

Creators of the famous, five star, super magical Plotstormers, as well home to the most special, most magical, most kickass and supportive community of writers this side of the internet

Track record!

A proven track record of guiding writers through their novels to create something wonderful

Guidance!

Years of know-how in guiding writers through their arghs and blarghs and blocks, and getting them to sit down and write

Writers!

Run by award-winning writers for writers at every stage of their work. We understand the process and we understand that what you need is complex and mutable

Joy!

We focus on the joy. Writing shouldn’t be a chore. Sure, sometimes it’s hard but writing is an exploration of the deepest parts of what it means to be human. It’s at once absurd, ephemeral and vital. It’s powerful work and it’s all too easy to get bogged down in our own sense of seriousness. We bring the joy, and the rest follows easily (ish).

Are you ready to stop fucking about and get your novel plotted? >>

You want a schedule? We've got a schedule!

Mon 8 Jan, 10am – 11am: webinar + course materials made available

Tues 9 Jan: Booking link for 1-1s sent out

Wed 10 Jan, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Friday 12 Jan, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Mon 15 Jan, 10am – 11am: webinar

Wed 17 Jan, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Friday 19 Jan, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Mon 22 Jan, 10am – 11am: webinar

Wed 24 Jan, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Friday 26 Jan, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Mon 29 Jan, 10am – 11am: webinar

Wed 31 Jan, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Friday 2 Feb, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Mon 5 Feb, 10am – 11am: webinar

Wed 7 Feb, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Fri 9 Feb, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Mon 12 Feb, 10am – 11am: webinar

Wed 14 Feb, 12noon – 1pm: forum office hours

Friday 16 Feb, 9am – 10am: share your work, plus forum office hours

Friday 16 Feb, 7pm – 8pm: end of course open mic partay!

Plotstorming with Writers' HQ really really really works

(Just ask Hannah Mary McKinnon who's on her seventh novel. Yes SEVENTH!)

Everyone needs to take this course!

It's a bold statement but I'm pretty sure that without taking this course I would never have got past four chapters of my novel. The tools which I gained allowed me to not only structure my novel in a way that makes sense but to give myself the boundaries within which to really move forward with the book. I've written more in the last four months than I've written in two years and I'm coming to the end of my first draft now which is something I never thought I'd actually say. I've been able to set realistic goals, be disciplined and really see my novel take shape. I would recommend this course to everyone and I couldn't be more grateful for it!
Kezia Barr
Revelation: I CAN plot a novel!

This was an amazing course. A generation ago, I did a degree course to help me sort out how to plan and write the story I had in my head. It helped me to appreciate what other people have written, and what makes people tick. It didn't help my writing. So I started an MA in Creative Writing, but the tutor was only interested in creating clones of herself, her style, her opinions and her preoccupations. She put me off for over a decade and a half. This course, in ONE MONTH, has given me all the guidance on structure, writing habits, pacing myself (and my story outline) that I needed in order to PLOT A WHOLE NOVEL. And I've done it! I've only gone and flippin' DONE it! Moral? Don't waste years procrastinating with expensive degree courses: Plotstormers and a deadline is what you need!
Kate Heusser
Glorious course!

After freaking out about the idea of a plot, by end of week 1 I have a plot outline and what's more- it was fun making it! Really supportive space to create and great to see so many other works in progress. I love the fun, quirky and unpretentious approach of the organisers and the way everything is broken down into manageable bites.
Nancy Pike
Plotstormers changed my life!

This is an amazing course that I have revisited over and over again with the aim of transforming a hitherto unused portion of my brain into a dedicated 'plotstormarius' - making WHQ's take on story structure an integral part of me. Alternatively, I can just come back here and do it again. To anyone pantsing themselves into a panic, this is your 'panswer' (see what I did there?). Highly recommended.
Katie Fewings
From losing the plot to becoming a plot master!

I've pantsed my way to 50k (yay) but then got so lost and kerfuffled so then I stoped writing my novel (boo), and then I was easily distracted by shiny new ideas but then my original story still niggled and gnawed away at my soul. So then I tried to regain the momentum of writing my novel (yay) but then it just seemed too hard, so then I gave up again. But then I found Plotstormers and then totally sorted my life (yay) so now I'm back on track and excited about writing again! (BIG YAY).
Angela Archer
I've plotted a bloody novel!

I can't believe I have 24 plotted chapters that make sense (as far as I can see). It has been great fun and has really helped me understand who and what the story is about. So excited about my whole project now! Thanks Writers' HQ. It's a million Gold Stars from me.
Writers' HQ member
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SIGN ME UP! LET'S GET PLOTTING!

Writers' HQ is committed to supporting writers' on a low income. If you need help accessing Plotstormers 2024, or need a different instalment option, email sarah@writershq.co.uk

CHEAPEST OPTION!

£ 325 one off payment
(gold star member price)
  • £350 for non-members
  • All the goodies listed above, except no 1-1 with Sarah
  • 1-1 can be added later (subject to availability)
Book my place!

ALL IN ONE

£ 460 one off payment
(gold star member price)
  • £500 for non-members
  • All the goodies listed above, plus everything else in a gold star membership
  • Feel smug for having 2024 in the bag
Book my place!
ONLY 4 left

INSTALMENT PLAN

£ 155 a month for three months
(gold star member price)
  • £169 a month for non-members
  • All the goodies listed above, plus everything else in a gold star membership
  • Feel smug for having 2024 in the bag
Book my place!
FAQS

Nope, although you’ll get access to ALL our writing courses as part of your Gold Star membership, so if you want to dip in and out of other courses as you go that’s totally cool (and highly recommended). It would be handy to have some sort of 4-point plan to work with during this course, so if you need a hand with that we’d suggest starting with Write A Tiny Novel.

All the online workshops will be recorded and available to course participants after the event so you can watch (or re-watch) at a time that suits you.

Nah. Everyone works at their own pace in their own way. We’ll be going through the course material in the order it’s written and working with a group will help you along the way, but you do you, you glorious writing beast.

FYI the course material will all be available all the time – you won’t have to wait days or a week for the next unit to be released.

Stick a Story Clinic in the bag as well and get a further 45 minutes with Sarah to really nail your novel.

Details will be available when the course starts.