Group coaching for fiction writers
Finish a first draft that reads like a third draft, and have fun writing it
FIRST DRAFT is my group coaching program for writers who want to finish their book. You get twice-weekly coaching calls, a private community and a training library, at a reasonable pace that fits around your life.
Six-month membership: $1,400 USD. Or $350 a month with no long-term commitment.
Join First Draft
Eight years, then eight weeks
It took me eight long years to write my first novel.
It was one step forward, two steps back. I struggled with focus and finding the time, and the words never landed on the page the way I’d pictured them. It’s physically and spiritually painful to know you have a novel inside you and not know how to get it out.
Maybe that’s you. You have a story to share, but life keeps getting in the way, the scenes don’t come together, and you’re stuck halfway. You may even have wondered whether you have the talent.
Here’s what I learned: publishing success is not about natural talent. You don’t need to quit your job, ignore your family or move to a cabin in the woods. You need focus, support, training and accountability. Nobody teaches writers how to write a book, so most of us assume we’re either blessed by the muse or doomed to fail. Neither is true.
When it was time to write the sequel, I wasn’t willing to spend another eight years. I deconstructed my workflow, cut everything slowing me down, and sequenced what remained into a system.
I wrote the first draft of my second novel in eight weeks, not eight years.
FIRST DRAFT is that system, plus the coaching and community that make it stick. After over a decade of coaching writers, I built it to get you to a finished first draft that reads like a third draft, at a pace of about six months.
How FIRST DRAFT works
Five pieces that keep you writing, learning and encouraged
1. Two live coaching calls a week
- Tuesdays, 6:30 pm Eastern: Q&A Office Hours and writing exercise. Ask anything about the writing process or your own book, then write alongside the group in an in-class exercise.
- Thursdays, 6:30 pm Eastern: Hotseat Office Hours. Members submit pages, and I explain what’s working in the scene and how to improve it. It’s the same process I use with my one-on-one clients.
Tuesday calls run 90 minutes and Thursday calls run an hour, on Zoom. Every call is recorded, and the video and transcript are posted the same evening.
2. The training library
33 courses and about 200 short video lessons, covering productivity, scene structure, opening pages, endings and more. Most courses come with sketch notes, slide decks or transcripts.
The lessons are short and practical, so you can watch the one you need, then go straight back to your draft. Inside you’ll find training on:
- Word-count goals, milestones and tracking your progress
- Scene structure, using three methods
- Opening pages that readers and agents love
3. A private community
Our Slack group keeps you away from the distractions and negativity of social media, and I’m in it every day. Inside it:
- Positivity partner. Each week you’re matched with a new member who reads your pages and gives only positive feedback. It’s a powerful way to stay excited about your book.
- Writing huddles. Write alongside other members several times a week.
- Share Pages Aloud sessions. Hear how readers experience your story, in a low-pressure setting.
4. The archive
More than 200 recorded Q&A calls and more than 200 recorded hotseat calls from the program’s first years, so you can find an answer without waiting for the next call. Every topic is indexed, so you can search “story structure” or “dialogue” and go straight to the answer.
5. A getting-started call with me
We review your story plan or current draft, spot the roadblocks that could slow you down, and set your word-count goals. You also receive my Novel Writer’s Blueprint ebook and the Smash Fear and Write Like a Pro course.
What members say
Writers who finished their drafts
A 60,000+ word first draft in under four months
“First Draft changed my life. It changed the way I write, and how I approach my writing. I learned new habits through accountability to my fellow writers, and new skills from Kevin’s teaching and editing. The biggest bonus is how much fun it is on our weekly calls. I’ve made new friendships and at the same time completed a 60,000+ word first draft in under 4 months. Highly recommend!”
Sandy Day, author of Odd Mom Out
A 100K-word first draft in five months
“For me, First Draft was the natural stepping stone from Kevin’s Story Plan program. He delivers on everything he says. I was able to plan and complete a 100K-word first draft in 5 months. To say it changed the way I write is an understatement. I expected to learn about writing, but I didn’t expect it to be so much fun!”
Rick Bradshaw, First Draft member
“I have finally finished the first draft of my novel”
“Kevin’s passion and enthusiasm for writing is infectious. He always finds thought-provoking ways to guide the group through personal writing challenges and to be curious and playful with our writing. I always feel motivated when working with Kevin, and I am happy to say that I have finally finished the first draft of my novel!”
Siobhan Maas, First Draft member
“Kevin’s coaching is a master’s class in creative writing and a crash course in how to get out of my own way.”
Laura Morano, First Draft Client Success Manager and former First Draft member
What you’ll learn
The craft skills that keep a first draft moving
The training library teaches you what to do at the scene level, the chapter level and the book level. A few highlights:
- Set word-count goals and project milestones, then track your progress.
- Structure scenes, using three methods, and know the difference between scenes, sequences, chapters and acts.
- End scenes in five ways that keep readers turning pages.
- Write opening pages that readers and agents love.
- Build an incredible midpoint shift and an “All is Lost” moment that earns its place.
- Use “show and tell” to control pacing and avoid info dumps.
- Make each character’s voice distinct and work conflict and tension into your dialogue.
- Revise with a plan: the three phases of revision, plus eleven questions to ask about every scene.
There’s much more inside, from point of view and subplots to punctuation and formatting your manuscript.
Is FIRST DRAFT right for you?
FIRST DRAFT fits you if:
- You’re writing a work of fiction and want to finish a first draft.
- You can set aside about five hours a week for the calls, the courses and your own writing.
- You want accountability and feedback from a community of writers working toward the same goal.
- You’d rather make steady progress than sprint through all-nighters.
It’s probably not the right fit if you want a full edit of a finished manuscript, or private one-on-one attention on every page.
Schedule. The live calls are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm Eastern. If that doesn’t work for you, every call is recorded and posted the same evening with a transcript.
Pace. Finish in under six months and that’s great. After over a decade of working with writers, many of them first-time authors, I can say six months is a realistic timeline to draft a manuscript while looking after your family and day job.
Choose your plan
Pick the plan that fits
A month of private coaching with me costs $1,250 USD. FIRST DRAFT gives you my coaching, a community and a full training library from about $233 a month.
Best value
Six-month membership
$1,400 USD
About $233 a month. That saves you $700 compared with six monthly payments.
Get the six-month membership
Monthly membership
$350 USD a month
No long-term commitment. End your payments any time, or upgrade to the six-month plan later.
Get the monthly membershipEvery member also gets a one-on-one getting-started call with me.
The 30-day Words on the Page Guarantee
Join FIRST DRAFT and try it for 30 days. If it isn’t right for you, email me within 30 days and I’ll refund you 100%, with no conditions.
Not sure yet? Book a free call with me and we’ll talk about your book and whether FIRST DRAFT is the right fit.
Your coach
Kevin T. Johns
I have a master’s degree in English literature, and I’ve published fiction (young adult, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and thriller), nonfiction (leadership and business), writing instructional books and children’s picture books.
I’ve coached writers for over a decade, working with hundreds of them through workshops, courses, group programs and one-on-one coaching. I also spent six years reading the masterworks of English literature, then another decade and tens of thousands of dollars on craft books, workshops and courses, so the lessons in FIRST DRAFT hand you the useful parts in short, easy videos.
Frequently asked questions
Questions
When are the live calls?
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm Eastern (Q&A and an in-class writing exercise) and Thursdays at 6:30 pm Eastern (Hotseat).
Are the calls recorded?
Yes. The video and transcript are posted to the group the same evening.
How long are the calls, and where are they held?
Tuesday calls run 90 minutes and Thursday calls run one hour, on Zoom.
How much time should I set aside each week?
At least five hours, to cover the calls, the training courses and your own writing.
If I pay monthly, am I locked in for six months?
No. You can end your payments at any time, and you can upgrade to the six-month plan later.
Is the community a Facebook group?
No. It’s a private Slack group, kept away from social media negativity and distractions.
How is FIRST DRAFT different from Story Plan or one-on-one coaching?
Story Plan helps you plan your book; FIRST DRAFT is where you write it, with weekly coaching and a community. One-on-one coaching is private and costs $1,250 USD a month.
Is it for fiction or nonfiction, and what stage should I be at?
FIRST DRAFT is for fiction writers. First-time authors are welcome, whether you’re starting from scratch or already have a story plan or outline.
Your next step
Six months from now, you could be holding a finished first draft
You could be looking back at today as the moment you chose to believe in yourself and in what you’re capable of achieving as an artist. Join now, and I’ll see you inside our community.
Your pal in writing,
Kevin T. Johns, Writing Coach
