Create a Plot that Keeps Readers Hooked and Meets the Needs of Agents & Publishers

Learn to easily create plots that keep readers glued to the page – without mapping out your entire novel.

If you want to create a stellar plot for your story, you don't need to plan your entire plot structure in advance. In fact, if you answer just a few key questions, you're already halfway to building a compelling plot that can sustain an entire novel and meet the needs of publishers.

Not only does this course make it easy to create an engaging plot – you’ll be writing with awareness of what publishers need, so you can maximize your chances of successful publication, and avoid the need for major revisions. (While still honoring your vision as an author.)

Throughout the course, you'll get extensive personal feedback from John Claude Bemis, so you can move through every step of the process with confidence. John is a successful author. He's had books published by Penguin Random House and Disney/Hyperion.

More importantly, John is a gifted educator. This course makes creating engaging plots surprisingly easy. As one student wrote:

"John broke down plot, scene and structure so clearly, so reasonably, so do-ably that even a writer like me could feel heartened. Each bite-sized assignment was doable, even fun. His critiques were timely and specific. Of course, his easygoing warmth and knowledgeable regard for a well-told story only deepened the experience." --Lesley Dormen

During the course you’ll learn:

  • How to choose the right structure for your story – so you can keep readers glued to the page (and agents/publishers interested)
  • How to keep readers engaged with every scene using simple “microplotting” strategies
  • How “plot” fits into the entire writing process – so you know when to ignore it, and when to think about it
  • Why it’s critical to boil your plot down to two simple sentences before fleshing it out
  • The three simple questions that practically guarantee you’ll have a satisfying ending to your book
  • How to present your plot in your query letter – so you can attract the right agents/publishers for your book
  • John’s simple “8 Box” method for plotting your book – so you can be sure the reader is hooked throughout the entire story

During the course, John will help you develop your plot structure, including your big picture plotting, as well as the individual “beats” of your plot. He’ll even help you hone a scene in your novel – so you can be sure you’re keeping readers deeply engaged in your book. 

John is offering extensive feedback on student writing as a course part of this course. Each week you will have the opportunity to submit work for feedback from John. This includes feedback on your major plot points, outline, synopsis, and 2500 words of your manuscript. This is in addition to the interaction you can have with John via email, live office hours, and text-based discussion.

The course starts on Monday, February 12th and ends on Friday, March 8th, 2024. Everything is hosted online.

For those who need extra time, you will have a full six months to complete the course and submit your work for feedback.

Enrollment is strictly limited to just 22 students. No exceptions. For those interested in participating, you are encouraged to enroll right away.

Enroll Now for $600 $525 (Early Bird Tuition)

Reviews of this Course

5 star rating

Worth every penny!

Erin Swann

John was an amazing teacher! I learned so much in this class and he was so enthusiastic and helpful. This method has helped me revise my novel and plan my future ones. Take this class!!!!

John was an amazing teacher! I learned so much in this class and he was so enthusiastic and helpful. This method has helped me revise my novel and plan my future ones. Take this class!!!!

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5 star rating

Illuminating

Lesley Dormen

I’m a well-published short story writer and journalist, but I came to this course hat in hand. Structuring a novel was beyond me. John broke down plot, scene and structure so clearly, so reasonably, so do-ably that even a writer like me could feel...

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I’m a well-published short story writer and journalist, but I came to this course hat in hand. Structuring a novel was beyond me. John broke down plot, scene and structure so clearly, so reasonably, so do-ably that even a writer like me could feel heartened. Each bite-sized assignment was doable, even fun. His critiques were timely and specific. Of course, his easygoing warmth and knowledgeable regard for a well-told story only deepened the experience. My thinking about this damn book has been defrosted. Maybe I will finish it after all.

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5 star rating

Amazing tips on how to tell and plot a story. John Bemis gives helpful examples from books and makes suggestions that improve your work.

Caroline Vaughan

This course has made a significant impact on my desire to continue writing. I often think, after having many instructors, that John is the most understandable and clear about what will improve my writing. I am very pleased that he offers this cour...

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This course has made a significant impact on my desire to continue writing. I often think, after having many instructors, that John is the most understandable and clear about what will improve my writing. I am very pleased that he offers this course online as he is too popular at Table Rock--I would never be able to get into his class. Caroline Vaughan

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5 star rating

A Class Every Writer Should Do

julie ledoux

I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop. I found every lesson useful and each one I could use towards my story. I now have a better understanding of the structure a story should have and how to develop each chapter in order to keep the reader intereste...

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I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop. I found every lesson useful and each one I could use towards my story. I now have a better understanding of the structure a story should have and how to develop each chapter in order to keep the reader interested in my story. I enjoyed reading the lessons, as well as listening to the videos. I also found the feedback given by Mr. Bemis for each assignment to be constructive and positive, and I was always waiting impatiently until I'd receive them. I absolutely recommend this workshop.

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5 star rating

BEMIS THE BRILLIANT

Joseph Goldman

John taught the best course on Plot I've ever had anywhere; that includes the IOWA WRITER'S FESTIVAL. The lecture materials were well-developed in content, highly informative and inspirational, and just plain comprehensive. John has a wonderful ...

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John taught the best course on Plot I've ever had anywhere; that includes the IOWA WRITER'S FESTIVAL. The lecture materials were well-developed in content, highly informative and inspirational, and just plain comprehensive. John has a wonderful "writing desk side manner" about him. He is funny, serious, shares his curiosity and sense of discovery with student writers in his video presentations. He does his homework on our submissions w/o the usual "wonderful, wonderful" gloss. I learned a lot about the craft from John's perspective and attention to excellence. Joe G

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Course Overview

John Claude Bemis is leading a four week workshop on the art and craft of creating engaging plots. This is a unique chance to work directly with a successful author and award winning educator.

  • Four weeks of in-depth guidance on writing a novel that keeps readers glued to the page

  • Personal guidance on choosing the right plot structure for your story, so you can win over readers and publishers

  • Personal feedback from John Claude Bemis on your writing, so you can submit it to publishers with confidence

  • Full access to our private community of writers, so you can connect with your fellow students, even after the course is complete

  • Access to live office hours with John Claude Bemis and all of our instructors, even after the course is complete, so you can stay part of our community, and learn from our entire faculty of instructors

Personal Feedback on Your Writing

In addition to the 4 weeks of in-depth lessons on the art of novel writing, John Bemis is offering four rounds of feedback on your work. This includes feedback on your major plot points, outline, synopsis, and 2,500 words of your manuscript.

The best progress happens when a caring teacher gives thoughtful feedback, which is why this is a feedback centered course that centers you and your work.

Please note: You will have a full six months to submit your work for feedback from the instructor, so you can submit your work to John when you are ready.


The Course is Limited to 22 Students
Because of the personal feedback John is providing, the course is strictly limited to 22 students. Once we reach that number we will close enrollment.

Workshop Schedule

The course starts on Monday, February 12th and ends on Friday, March 8th, 2024. Each week, the course includes five lessons you can do on your own time, text-based discussion with John, as well as the opportunity to submit an assignment for feedback. This is in addition to the live office hour sessions, which you will get access to even after the course is complete. Everything is provided online, through the digital learning platform hosted by Thinkific.

Note that you will have a full six months from the start of the course to submit your writing for feedback. Also note that you will have access to office hours and the course material even after the course is complete.

  • Daily lessons, available to study any time on our online learning platform, hosted by Thinkific.

  • Feedback and discussion with John via our online discussion platform, email, or our private Facebook Group.

  • When you are ready, John will provide feedback on various aspects of your plot, as well as one 2,500 word scene from your manuscript.

Enroll

Early Bird Tuition is available until January 29th.
Enrollment is strictly limited to 22 students.

About John Claude Bemis

John Claude Bemis is an author, with books published by Penguin Random House and Disney/Hyperion.

Before becoming a full time author, John was an award winning elementary school teacher.  He now regularly visits elementary schools as a guest author.  

As a teacher, his passion for sharing literature with his students grew into a passion for writing, and, eventually, a successful publishing career.

He now lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

FAQ

  • What is the course schedule?

    The course starts on Monday, February 12th and ends on Friday, March 8th, 2024. Each week we will release five lessons that you can study on your own time. These will be a mix of text-based lessons, recommended essays, and pre-recorded lectures. Each lesson comes with text-based discussion with the instructor and the class.

    At the end of each week, you will have the opportunity to submit an assignment to the instructor for in-depth feedback.

    There will also be two office hour sessions held via Zoom, which will be recorded for those who cannot attend live. They have not yet been scheduled. After the course, you will be welcome to attend office hours with all of our instructors at no additional cost.

    Note, that if you fall behind on the course, you will have a full six months to complete the course and submit your work for feedback from the instructor.

  • How much time will the course require?

    Overall, expect to spend around 30 minutes a day on the course. Some days will require less work, some days will require more.

    Lessons are released weekly, which gives you flexibility. Based on our experience with other courses, some students do the bulk of their work in one or two days each week, while others spend a little bit of time each day on our courses.

  • How many students will be allowed to enroll?

    Because of the personal feedback John is providing, the workshop is strictly limited to 22 students. Once we reach that number we will immediately close enrollment.