Please see below for some feedback from our Edit Your Novel course alumni:
“I have totally enjoyed the course. It’s been the best learning experience I have ever had. That’s partly the amazing material and support, partly that it’s so timely to my writing needs and partly because the online learning platform is so well suited to support all this. Together it has made all this possible!”
– Alex
“This programme has been structured brilliantly, and has taught me so much about the editing process, now a step to embrace, not one to dread. It’s not personal, it’s about leading the reader through an amazing journey … like mine with Cornerstones, it has been one of the best experiences ever! “
– Sonia
“[The course] has given me a step up— while I’ve always enjoyed reviewing classmates’ work because you learn so much, I’m now beginning to think I could critically evaluate new books, and certainly new writers. The course is giving me such a depth of understanding of what editing fiction involves that I may even add these skills to my CV. Now, that can’t be bad, can it?”
– Stella (Stella has also written a blog post on her experience, here)
“This course has saved me months, if not years, of extraneous writing and tinkering. My tutor, Kathryn, nudged me towards a large-scale structural edit which led to a culling from 115K to around 70K words as I write this. If nothing else, this course had been worth the money for that one, critical piece of advice.
Almost at the finish line and with some expert self-editing from these brilliant classes, already I notice my writing is becoming tighter, more professional and I’ve teased out the story I’ve been trying to tell all along. Thank you for a cracker of a course.”
– Dawn
“In all the years I’ve signed up for courses online I’ve never felt so much a part of a course, nor have I felt that the course itself was so ‘life-changing’ for my writing. At last I recognise where I am succeeding and where I’m failing.”
– Fynvola
“Thank you […] for developing such a challenging and rewarding course. I have been searching, unsuccessfully, for 4 years for this level of excellence!”
– Shelagh
“Brilliant course. I feel like the tutor just handed me a surgical scalpel with which to slice into my scenes. It’s got me buzzing.”
– EYN alumni
“I’ve loved this course and have been recommending it to a couple of my friends. It’s changed how I think about writing (I used to batter out a few chapters then start planning). I’ve written three novels’ synopses since starting this course, so I’ve got my writing sorted for the next little while.
The advice I’ve given is nothing compared to what I’ve received from everyone. You’ve all had a hand in this novel – I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t left a mark on the MS.”
– Ewan
“The course has been absolutely fantastic. I know there will be many challenges ahead (once you step away from one scene and one area of focus things can very quickly start feeling overwhelming again), but I do feel that I have that toolkit to deal with them and, most importantly, not just a rigid set of tools, but the flexible approach that this course encourages you to develop by taking ownership and applying it to your own and others’ work.”
– Andrew
“I am really enjoying the course. The lessons are teaching me so much about editing. Now I know how to approach some of the challenges in my first draft.”
– Sarah
“I knew when I decided to do this course, with the expense considerations and the time, that if nothing else it would at least make me a better writer, but honestly it’s really surpassed my expectations. I just feel like I’ve been given a complete tool-kit.”
– Cary
“The course is brilliant, and the reason I say that is because it is built on firm and reliable foundations.”
– Jerome
“The course has helped me put together a methodology which will be vital if I am to succeed in this new career.”
– Mona
“I have found the course extremely constructive and useful. The design and execution of the various elements has opened my eyes to the way editing works. Before I started the course, I wondered about the interactive nature of the class, but I have found that the input from my colleagues at all levels has been full of insight, and invariably constructive.”
– Rohan
“I don’t think I could ever have got my novel to this level without the guidance of this course and the incredible friendship and support of my fellow writers.”
– Jason
“I completed the Edit Your Novel course which was invaluable in helping me take a critical look at my writing and provide me with the tools to improve it. I learned how to think about point of view, pacing and structure of chapters and the book as a whole. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Not only did the course provide practical advice and feedback, I have also made lifelong writing friends who have been incredibly supportive and helpful.”
– Catherine
“Thanks a million. I’m looking forward to staying in touch with our talented, generous colleagues. I also appreciate your efforts making sure such great resources were available to us and keeping the ball rolling – and Kathryn’s outstanding contribution in so many ways as the go-to person for the course. Cornerstones feels like a home away from home now, so congrats for that and deep gratitude.”
– Mike