At last! A simple, repeatable way to develop a story that readers will love.
The 5W Process
Mini Course
Inside The 5W Process Mini Course, you’ll learn a process you can use over and over to lay the groundwork for your compelling historical novel.
Join today — doors close soon!
Tell me if this sounds like you:
➲ You’re wallowing in research overload. You know there’s a story in there somewhere but you can’t decide exactly where.
➲ You wish you could have some practical help and guidance so you aren’t endlessly wondering whether the story in your head will work on the page.
➲ You’ve tried other online writing courses, but none of them broke down the process of planning a historical novel draft or revise in a way that made sense to you.
➲ You want a repeatable system that works for you—whether you’re a plotter, planner, or plantser!
Good news!
I help my clients with those same problems every single day.
And if you’re like any of them, you’ve probably made
some of the same mistakes.
Mistakes like…
Mistake #1:
Not setting your personal goals and intentions for your project.
Fix:
Really think about your whys, and do the exercises in the workbook!
Mistake #2:
Thinking your characters can take care of themselves if you map out your plot.
Fix:
Start with your protagonist, make them strong, compelling, and engaging to your reader before you weave the story around them.
Mistake #3:
Trying to cover too much time and overloading your story with backstory.
Fix:
Set those boundaries around your character and story arcs.
Mistake #4:
Worrying about the haters while you’re writing your book.
Fix:
Construct a strong story with a compelling protagonist first of all, then check your research, put your world-building on hold, make liberal use of “TK.”
Imagine if…
➯ You could “see” your story in a way that gave you confidence to
go forward and draft or revise.
➯ You got out of your endless research and world building cycles and could focus
on the protagonist and the plot.
➯ You had concrete exercises and examples to help you achieve your goal of
writing a compelling novel.
All of that’s possible inside
The 5W Process Mini Course!
Join today — doors close soon!
Who is this course right for?
Beginning Novelists
You’re raring to go, you’ve done a ton of research, thought through your setting and your world, but you’re not entirely sure how to wrangle it into a really compelling story—and you wish you could have some guidance along the way.
Experienced Authors
Sometimes approaching something differently can help you get through a block, or identify a weakness you missed before. I take lots of workshops and courses myself for just that reason!
Authors stuck in the messy middle!
We’ve all been there. It’s hard to get the perspective you need to see your way forward. By focusing on these fundamentals, you can unlock something that will give you the incentive you need to keep going—and get that book finished!
Basically, this course is for you if…
You have a great idea for a novel but aren’t sure where to start.
You’re starting on a revision, and want to be able to see how
the big picture of your story measures up.
You’ve done oodles of research and planning, but it’s overwhelming, and you’re not sure how it will work with your story.
You want a tried, effective process for seeing your story and putting it together—
without paying thousands for 1:1 coaching.
This course is NOT for you if…
You’d rather lose yourself in endless planning and say, “I’ll write this book someday.”
You don’t want to take the time to do the character work for a protagonist that will drive your story.
You’re in a hurry to get your book out there and don’t want to take the time to make it as good as it can be.
Hi, I’m Susanne!
I’m an award-winning, multi-published author and an Author Accelerator Certified book coach who works with new and experienced writers on craft, story structure—and anything else they need in order to get their novels out of their heads and onto the page. I’ve helped many authors acheive their dream of writing a novel they can be proud of.
I started trying to write a novel before I knew anything at all about storytelling or scene creation.
My first efforts were…not great!
But I studied, and read, and took workshops, and got great feedback, and I managed to write and publish 14 novels—six of them traditionally.
I wanted to help other authors get there faster than I did, and with more guidance, so I became an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, and have been developing my own methods and processes for working with new and experienced authors.
Why I created this course:
I’ve been working as a book coach for five years now, after being certified by Author Accelerator, and I’ve loved every minute of working with my 1:1 clients on their stories. But not everyone can afford this kind of coaching, and I knew there were many more aspiring novelists out there who I could help if I created an online course.
And I developed a process I use with my clients to help envision the underlying drivers of a story—especially one that’s rooted in history.
I wanted my long experience as a novelist and my passion for teaching to reach writers who, for
one reason or another, couldn’t do 1:1 coaching with me. I believe that everyone who really wants to
write a novel can achieve that goal. Not quickly, not easily, but with a solid start using the 5W Process Mini Course.
Praise for Susanne Dunlap
The wisest thing I’ve ever done was to recruit Susanne Dunlap to be my book coach. She helped get me out of my rut and writing again. Susanne is a wonderfully intuitive editor, but more importantly, she well understands both the writing and publishing process. I highly recommend her!”
Susanne Dunlap is a warm, encouraging book coach who emphasizes what is good and special in your work, and then works with you to bring the story into its best and most marketable form. Because she herself is not only an editor but a multi-published and well regarded novelist, she understands what it is like to create something, take it apart, and form it again until it lands on a publisher’s list of acquired books.
What’s inside The 5W Process Mini course?
My proprietary 5W Process for nailing down the fundamentals of your story:
Lesson 1: WHY?
The fundamental question to answer
before you start or revise:
Why this book? Why this period? It’s the whys that will
keep you going through this long project!
Lesson 2: WHO?
Everything revolves around your protagonist
Does your protagonist have all the necessary qualities to carry the whole story? How are they embedded in your setting and time?
Lesson 3: WHEN?
Not a general question: something very specific
Establish your story present to put boundaries around your research, identify what’s backstory, and lay the groundwork for narrative drive.
Lesson 4: WHERE
Another opportunity to establish time-saving boundaries
Prioritize locations for research and plot.
Lesson 5: WHAT?
What events form the backdrop for your story?
How does your protagonist interact with them? Which parts are important and which are not? Some great tips for putting boundaries around your planning.
PLUS you get:
A comprehensive workbook with all the exercises—
to use on your computer or print out
($150 value)
Get started today for just
$97!
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
not for me?
A:
If you’ve read this far…
You have two options:
Remain stuck in research mode, or overthinking mode, and never get your novel out of your head and onto the page.
Or…
take the plunge and focus in on the 5 essential questions that will help you see your story and get it written!
So, are you ready?
🔥 You’re ready to knuckle down and do the fundamental work to craft a compelling novel.
🔥 You’re ready to create a protagonist your reader will care about from page one to the end.
🔥 You’re ready to feel more confident about your storytelling overall.
🔥 You’re ready to believe in yourself, because you know your story is strong, compelling, and meaningful.