I had high expectations for this writing course, but the information provided is the same as what you can find on the internet or what they teach you in school when you start writing your first stories. This writing course is practically IDENTICAL to other writing courses, films, TV series, and web series by Davi Wheeler. Asking people to share their writings in a world full of creativity thieves and passing off a text and opinions exchange as a course is truly disappointing to me. I don't know what to make of this course, but unfortunately, I've paid for it and now I've finished it. Moreover, there are people who come here just to advertise their Wattpad stories... basically, I paid for a course to see perpetual copy and paste. What a disappointment... I really expected a different kind of course. If I have to pay to write... well, what's the point for me? I already write on my own without having to pay for a course to do so. What I wanted from the writing course was far more substantial material, not the same repeated stuff across 4 courses! I know it by heart! I wonder why Coursera doesn't do quality control on courses, especially those that are paid!

This course has great content but the organisation is terrible. It's so frustrating!

There are still posts up in the discussion boards by people who completed the course up to two years ago. It's impossible to find a writing group (recommended in the course content) because it's not clear who has started the course at the same time and who is up to the same week of coursework. It seems there are a number of classes in the course run concurrently so people are at different stages of the class. I don't know how we are supposed to provide constructive feedback when we are working on different content.

Each week's course content should only become available during that week so that we can focus on it. I'm so frustrated about this whole process that I feel like I want to unenrol, but I really would like to write my novel. Please fix this!

Find a local writers group instead. And if you want to learn the craft of fiction writing, try Coursera's offering from Wesleyan, which gives lots of advice on technique.

It was a waste of money!! Go Green

I recommend this course to anyone who is keen to try out "Write Your First Novel". The course has many valuable features. The author of the course, David Wheeler is an exceptional teacher. Through small steps he leads you onto ever larger themes. his method of keeping you going has been absolutely invaluable to me. I was not able to visualise how i would write twenty chapters. But by staying the course and doing what was required I have managed it. Am I satisfied? and proud? you bet!

The format of editing 5 other writers before you continue with your next chapter has also proven invaluable. Truly, this process enabled me to continue even when it was difficult to do so (to keep going). Many of the writers i started with have slowed down quite dramatically. This is partly because life interferes and it must for most of us, but also because keeping up with the programme was sometimes hard. not because it was hard but because we all struggle sometimes.

David Wheeler take a bow.

I really enjoyed this course. I think David Wheeler has a very unique way of teaching and encouraging each writer to do their best. He helped me to believe I could achieve this goal and I did. Thank You!

There could be some changes to the course itself. I believe that some people were creating accounts for other reasons. They did not upload any chapters but had the ability to read and comment on mine. I think it would help to have a different way to upload the chapters and somehow not allow anyone to comment negatively. Often what I did was copy/paste from my scrivener draft but it was very time consuming as the format would change.

It also appears that after completing the course reflection we are unable to read reviews of our novel, strange!!!

Overall this course was excellent! I have taken many writing courses through Coursera and this one, was a once in a lifetime experience.

Sincerely,

Margaret (Lisa) Young

I am very impressed with the structure of this course. The short but engaging lectures guided me so well all the way through to the end. I have no experience writing novels, and now have a complete manuscript with a second book percolating in my mind. I would go through this course again to write another novel. There is such a great sense of achievement at the end. I did take longer to finish it since I work full time and have a family, but I got there in the end without the pressure of accredited study deadlines. David Wheeler is a charismatic lecturer, very easy to listen to, and gives clear direction to his students. Thank you Michigan State University for playing such a big part in writing my first novel!

The course is great and the way it is broken down makes it relatively easy to do. The work comes for you ensuring you stay committed. My only complaint is not about the course directly but how, being a peer review and feedback course, later on, you get less and less support from peers; seemingly because people are not continuing or going at their own pace. Those who did stay the course were engaged and helpful, yet sadly some copied and pasted generic information giving little or no feedback. So big win on the course, but make sure you have someone else to read it along the way to give you honest constructive feedback.

The course is done exceptionally well, and the lessons and brief lectures delivered by the prof are succinct and informative. I was originally going to put four stars instead of five, due to the interface and ability to interact with fellow writers on Coursera being rather limited. Perhaps if they added private messages or some other component, camaraderie would be much easier. However, I would rather rate the course unto itself, which, at its core, I believe is an incredibly valuable one. Thank you, and cheers!

This course is not only an aid to your writing skill, but also an aspirational source for those who don't believe in themselves. Through modern teaching method that the Dear professor of this course applies, after a short while, you find yourself writing hundreds of words each day, as effortlessly as you might not believe. This course helps you to reach whatever needed to become a writer.

So far, I love it! Once the work gets really hard, can I blame the course please? hahaha

I hope to get my pesos together and pay for the course before it's over. I'm not sure if I am in the same boat as the paying members, but I am personally profiting from the experience. So far no feedback from other members. Boohoo

This course has helped me to discipline myself in other to finish what I have started. Been able to consistently complete weekly assignments by uploading new chapters weekly and reading the works of my peers for review was challenging but an eye opener. Thank you for the opportunity.

a BILLION thanks to David Wheeler. I've taken many writing courses and this is the BEST. A step by step approach to get it done. PLUS how to write a logline and everything else a writer needs. SERIOUSLY take this course if you want to write or finish a novel. FABULOUS TEN STARS!!

Very helpful, especially for beginners like me. We're not all born with the talent to write. Some of us have an idea of how we would like the story to go but have no idea how to start writing it. This course provided me with what I needed to get started. Awesome job!

This was an outstanding course. If a student writes every week, and otherwise follows the guidance given, the result is the first draft of a novel, ready for further editing and eventual publication. The method works! Try it and see.

As a foreign student, I was thrilled for this course and I am glad I took it. Though I could not pay for the certificate, at least I got the opportunity to learn about the tools and methods for taking my passion, writing, seriously.

I achieved a lifelong dream of writing a novel and now, after taking this course, I have in my hands the first draft. I highly recommend the course because it keeps you on track and provides good tips and suggestions along the way.

It's such a good course for beginner but thre are something difficult to understand if you do not know about Beat Sheet before when you study about "All is lost" or "Dig deep down". It's great by the way.

The lectures are rather short but incredibly efficient. It makes you write, write and write. This writing course is very helpful and totally worth it.

Es una buena forma de expresar todo lo que sentimos mediante una novela o un personaje además tomo esto como una forma de sanar

I loved this course. It helped me write a wonderful novel titled King Aiko The Japanese - the first and last king in Africa.

Absolutely loved this course--wrote a book in a month! Great instructor, David Wheeler. Thanks so much for offering it

It really gives you the skills and motivation to start writing. Help you to lose that irrational fair.

A must do course if you truly aspire to become a good writer or an author.

Kudos to David Wheeler!

This course helped me write my first novel- in a matter of 7 months. I am so proud and so happy.