A structured path from first draft chaos to a purposeful, powerful manuscript.
Timeframe: April 8 – June 17
Live Teaching Sessions:
Wednesdays, 7–8:30 PM EST
Dates: April 8, April 22
May 6, May 20
June 3, June 17
Group Size: 8–15 novelists
Enrollment Closes: April 1 or when spots fill ♡ join the waitlist if full
The Novel Revision Lab is a three-month, small-group experience for writers standing at the threshold between a messy draft and the novel they know it can become. This container is designed to help you see your story clearly, understand what it needs, and begin shaping a second or third draft with confidence, clarity, and care.
Together, we’ll move through a structured rhythm of biweekly lessons, guided write-ins, and weekly check-ins that keep you anchored to your work.
You’ll learn how to read your draft with discernment, rebuild its architecture, and rewrite from a place of intention rather than overwhelm. With craft guidance, supportive tools, and space to ask real questions, you’ll begin transforming chaos into something purposeful—one step at a time.
This cohort is for you if:
You’ve completed a full draft of a novel
You know something isn’t working, but you’re not sure what
You feel overwhelmed by the idea of revision
You don’t want to rewrite blindly
You crave structure, guidance, and accountability
You want community during this stage
Have a complete Revision Roadmap
Understand your novel’s structure at a high level
Possess a revised scene list
Have 15–30 intentionally rewritten pages
Be able to articulate your protagonist’s transformation clearly
Know how to sustain your second draft without restarting
Feel confident—not chaotic—about your manuscript
And perhaps most importantly: you’ll trust yourself as a reviser.
$797 in full (or 3 monthly payments of $270)
6 Live Teaching & Coaching Sessions — Strategic craft lessons + real-time guidance to shape your revision plan.
4 Guided Virtual Write-Ins — Structured, focused writing time to implement what you learn.
Weekly Accountability Threads — Momentum, check-ins, and community support between sessions.
Revision Prompts + Worksheets — Clear tools to help you diagnose, restructure, and rewrite with intention.
Your Personalized Revision Roadmap — A structured blueprint for your second draft.
A Small, Supportive Cohort of Novelists
Optional:
50-Page Editorial Feedback Add-On ($397) For writers who want detailed notes on their first 50 pages.
Goal: Diagnose your draft and build your Revision Roadmap.
April is about stepping back from your manuscript and learning how to read it like an architect instead of a critic. Instead of spiraling into line edits or tearing everything apart, you’ll gain the tools to evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and—most importantly—why.
Through two live teaching sessions and a guided write-in, you’ll learn how to:
Reread your draft without panic
Identify the emotional core of your novel
Pinpoint structural gaps and missed opportunities
Clarify your protagonist’s desire, stakes, and transformation
Separate foundational issues from surface-level tweaks
Goal: Rebuild your novel’s architecture with intention.
This is where you move from insight to action: reworking your plot, refining your character arcs, and strengthening the tension that drives your story forward.
Across two live sessions and guided write-ins, you’ll learn how to:
Reevaluate your protagonist’s arc and transformation
Clarify the central conflict and antagonistic force
Strengthen stakes and escalation
Diagnose and fix a sagging middle
Create a revised scene list aligned with your new structure
Instead of rewriting blindly, you’ll rebuild your novel from the framework up, so scenes have a purpose and every turning point moves the story forward.
Goal: Protect the heart of your novel and build lasting revision momentum.
By June, you’ll already be inside your rewrite. You’ll have a clearer structure, rewritten scenes, and a stronger sense of your story’s direction. This month is about protecting that clarity.
Across two live sessions and a final write-in, you’ll focus on staying aligned with the core of your novel, so your draft doesn’t drift, spiral, or lose its emotional center.
You’ll learn how to:
Clarify the central transformation your novel explores
Strengthen narrative cohesion
Avoid common second-draft traps
Build a sustainable rewrite plan
I’ve spent the past six years immersed in the writing and publishing world—as the founder of Write or Die, I’ve built a thriving community of writers, interviewed hundreds of authors about their process, and helped countless creatives shape, submit, and share their work. Through my collaboration with Chill Subs, I’ve guided writers through the often-intimidating world of querying and finding the right agent.
I’ve been where you are. I spent four years writing, revising, and querying—and when I finally landed my agent, it happened in just three months, because I had done the groundwork. I know the emotional highs and lows of the process, and I bring real, lived experience to every step of the journey.
I specialize in the early stages of writing—the messy first drafts, the false starts, and the breakthroughs. I love helping writers tap into their creative rhythm, stay accountable, and build sustainable practices that last well beyond one project. I’ll offer clear, thoughtful feedback on your opening pages, treat your work with care and attention, and support you through the inevitable ups and downs of the creative process.
My own writing partnerships have been essential to my growth—I know how powerful it is to have someone in your corner. I bring that same spirit to the writers I work with.
If you're craving honest support, clear guidance, and a mentor who shows up with both strategy and heart, I’m here to walk alongside you.
Want to get a better feel for my approach? Browse some of my recent YouTube videos or join my newsletter for encouragement, creative tools, and behind-the-scenes insights.
— Samira Jafar
— Basak Yuksel Balakrishnan
— Kallie M
You should have a full (or nearly full) draft of your novel. It doesn’t need to be polished, coherent, or “good.” Messy is expected. This container is designed for writers who have something substantial on the page and are ready to reshape it.
That’s normal. Most drafts feel worse during revision than they actually are. In April, you’ll learn how to read your manuscript strategically instead of emotionally.
No. The Wild Draft focuses on writing a first draft from scratch.
The Novel Revision Lab is specifically for shaping and restructuring an existing draft. It’s the next step in the process.
Plan for:
90 minutes for the live session (biweekly)
1–3 hours per week of reading, restructuring, or rewriting
Optional additional writing time during rewrite months
This is structured but sustainable. You won’t be expected to overhaul your entire novel in 10 weeks.
Write-in dates will be scheduled with the cohort during our first session to ensure strong attendance and accessibility across time zones.
Structure, clarity, and accountability.Most writers stall in revision because they don’t know what to fix first, or they lose momentum halfway through. This cohort gives you a roadmap, live guidance, and a small community to keep you moving. And we will keep it fun!!
All sessions will be recorded and shared with the cohort. While live attendance is encouraged (especially for community connection), you can stay fully engaged if you need to watch the replay.
Direct page-by-page feedback is not included in the core program. However, you can add on 50-page editorial feedback for $397 if you’d like detailed notes on your revised opening.