Writing a Novel Step by Step
A course by Cristina López BarrioAuthor
A course by Cristina López Barrio, Author
Learn the keys to writing a novel and stimulate your imagination with practical exercises that connect you with your inner world
For some, writing is a way to dream, escape from reality, and travel to worlds that only exist in our imagination. For Cristina López Barrio, it's much more than that, it's a way of life. After working thirteen years as a lawyer, she decided to devote herself to writing full time in 2009. Since then, she has achieved several important milestones in her career such as publishing her novel La casa de los amores imposibles in 22 countries, getting it translated in 15 languages, and being selected as a Premio Planeta finalist for her book Niebla en Tánger.
The creative process is similar to a roller coaster with its ups and downs. In this course, embark on a literary journey with Cristina and learn how to write a novel from cover to cover, including how to develop your concept, characters, narrators, and the setting and time frame. By the end of the course, you'll have the tools to transform your ideas into words on a page and write an original story.
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 23 downloads
Influences
9 minutes, 10 seconds
Materials 1
14 minutes, 26 seconds
Theme, Idea and Plot 1
13 minutes, 51 seconds
Characters: Construction or Possession 1
10 minutes, 35 seconds
Time
11 minutes, 6 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start this adventure by getting to know your teacher, Cristina López Barrio. She tells you about how she discovered her passion for storytelling as a child and how she made a name for herself in the publishing world. She also shares some of the most influential authors in her life and her work.
Next, stimulate your imagination with some creative exercises and explore original ideas. Learn why it's important to create rituals to overcome the blank page and analyze factors that may cause writer's block. Then, dive into your inner world to explore yourself and your imagination.
Now it's time to start working on your project. Outline the concept and plot for your story. Develop your characters and add dimensions to their personality through conflicts and explore the figure of the narrator, a crucial step in shaping the tone of your novel. Then, learn how to use objects as a narrative technique to create associations for the reader between concepts, characters, and places.
Next, see how to approach two key components of any novel: the setting and the time frame. Ask yourself some questions like when is the action taking place, how long will it last, and where will it happen. Then, learn how to play with the order of events to create tension.
Once you've got all the pieces in place, start writing the first lines and find the narrative voice of your story. Cristina shows you different possible beginnings and explains the golden rule of writing a novel: There are no rules, anything is possible if it makes sense in the world you've created.
What is this course's project?
Create an outline with all the key elements needed to write a novel with an original plot.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Creative minds who love to read and anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel but doesn't know where to begin.
Requirements and materials
You don’t need any prior knowledge, just the desire to connect with your imagination and discover your inner writer.
The materials for this course include two notebooks, a pen or a pencil, and a computer if you'd prefer to write your novel in a digital format.
Reviews
- 1 hour ago
Recomendable.
- 10 days ago
Un curso muy detallado, pensé que pasaría más por encima pero me ha sorprendido gratamente. Cristina explica muy claro con todo lujo de detalles. En definitiva un buen curso para iniciarse en la escritura de novelas.
- 13 days ago
Me encantó el curso. Me ayudó mucho aprendiendo técnicas nuevas como la escritura libre (automática). Valoré toda la información aportada en cada video. Los ejercicios en el foro me han ayudado a liberar mi creatividad y el uso de las palabras para expresar una idea.
- lauraetodobomPLUS17 days ago
Amei a forma como ela explica, parece que estou conversando com uma amiga, ela fala de cada coisa com tanto cuidado, amei o curso!!
- 23 days ago
Me gusta, es directo y claro
Since then, La casa de los amores imposibles has been translated into 15 languages and published in 22 countries including the United States, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Israel, and Mexico. Cristina has also published a collection of stories titled El reloj del mundo (Flash from Penguin Random House, 2012) and several other novels including El cielo en un infierno cabe (Plaza&Janés 2013), Tierra de brumas (Plaza&Janés 2015), and Rómpete, corazón (Planeta 2019). In October 2017, she was chosen as a finalist for the Premio Planeta award for her novel Niebla en Tánger.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
In Search of Inspiration
- Materials 1
- Materials 2
- Imagination 1
- Imagination 2
- Looking for Us 1
- Looking for Us 2
- U3
In Search of Creativity
- Theme, Idea and Plot 1
- Theme, Idea and Plot 2
- Theme, Idea and Plot 3
- Characters: Construction or Possession 1
- Characters: Construction or Possession 2
- The Conflict
- Of Narrators and Gods 1
- Of Narrators and Gods 2
- Objects
- U4
In Search of Another Dimension
- Space
- Time
- Time Jumps: Narrative Form and Tension
- Our Novel Scheme
- U5
In Search of the Narrative Voice
- A Good Start
- Everything Is Possible If You Fit Into the Created World
- FP
Final project
- Writing a Novel Step by Step
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
You’ll learn techniques for writing novels, overcoming writer’s block, creating complex characters, developing your unique narrative style, and exploring sensory tools and rituals to boost inspiration and discipline.
This course is designed for intermediate writers—perfect if you already have some basic knowledge and want to deepen your skills in narrative techniques and novel development.
All you need is a passion for writing, a notebook for exercises, and internet access. Prior experience writing stories or creative texts is recommended.
The course offers practical exercises, relaxation techniques, meditation, and automatic writing to unlock creativity and conquer the fear of the blank page.
Yes, the course covers strategies for writing young adult and historical novels, including research methods and building believable plots and characters in various settings.
The course explores styles like magical realism, Gothic literature, and lyrical novels, analyzing examples such as 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' and influential authors like Luis Cernuda.
You’ll do sensory writing exercises, explore literary influences, make emotional associations, and engage in self-discovery to find and refine your personal narrative voice.