I Completed James Patterson Writing MasterClass (Review)

Do you feel trapped in your mundane life, trying to voice the stories in your mind but unable to do so? Recognizing the need to hold on to your current job, but being unable to fight the hatred towards it because it is stopping you from becoming a full-fledged writer is a common dilemma most people experience.

The James Patterson Creative Writing course is right for overcoming this hurdle. Who said you can’t write when dealing with the troubles of the blasted everyday job? James has gone through all the pain a burgeoning writer faces. He knows what it feels like to have your work rejected. He is understanding and encouraging throughout the course.

Before we begin this James Patterson MasterClass review, let me clarify. This course doesn’t make you write a book overnight. You only get advice and valuable insights to help write gripping stories. You get guidance, don’t expect him to magically provide you with the right words to write your novel. Ready? Let’s see what’s special about Patterson’s class.

What Does The James Patterson MaterClass Teach?

This James Patterson online course guides you through the entire book writing process – from writing to publishing. I am having a hard time refraining from gushing about how great his tips and techniques are. But I don’t want to give any spoilers. So refrain, I must. Let’s see in detail what the 3+ hours course taught me about the whole process.

The Writing Process

The first thing you need to know is there are no rules for writing. Or if there is, as Patterson humorously said, take other classes to learn them. While he doesn’t necessarily advocate ignoring conventions regarding genres, James emphasizes writing what you feel is instinctively right. Now, let’s see what that involves.

The Research

You know how people say to practice writing a lot to improve your skills? Well, that’s sound advice, but what the hell are we supposed to write? You lose your readers if you get something wrong about the things they like. So, what do you do? James Patterson’s solution is research. You can’t write about something that you do not know.

A writer’s mindset must be positive when he writes. You shouldn’t get discouraged when faced with the dreaded blank page. Do more research; it sparks more ideas resulting in a gripping tale. You will come across several tips to aid research in this course.

The Outline

The James Patterson MasterClass writing course cannot stress enough the importance of creating an outline. You see, winging it only slows you down. It is a surefire way to end up with writer’s block. Spending an extra month on creating the outline (the skeleton of your book) prevents you from wondering what to write next.

James lists out the common problems you face when writing the outline and how you can rectify them. He also dives into what the outlines should have. If the outline isn’t great, the story wouldn’t be either.

Chapter Building

A typical writing masterclass would involve the instructor droning on about the importance of first lines and how to build on them. This James Patterson online writing course isn’t like that. The first line of the novel is important, James doesn’t deny that. But he explains how to write them concisely and uses stellar examples from his own works and that of others.

You will find his take on building chapters intriguing. I am blown away by this master storyteller’s simple yet effective fiction writing tips. Patterson knows what he wants, how to write it, and what to do to hook the readers. 

Plot development is not something to be taken lightly. Nevertheless, James makes it seem simple with his storytelling techniques. Let’s be realistic; our ultimate goal is to keep the readers glued to the book. Why not learn from the master himself?

Fleshing Out The Characters

A novel will sell itself if the characters are relatable and worth caring for even if the story’s core idea isn’t catchy or brilliant. So, how do you make your characters, not just the main character seem like living, breathing humans? In this online course with James Patterson, you will learn how to bring characters to life that will have a lasting impact.

Dialogue writing is just as important as character development. In fact, they go hand in hand sometimes. I was riveted when he explained how dialogues can be used to reveal character details. Moreover, Patterson teaches with ease the kind of dialogue you must write to keep your readers engaged without letting the story stagnate.

Suspense Writing

Do you know how transitional lines work? They are a handy tool for any writer, something you will learn about in this course. It is useful for sustaining suspense without breaking readers away from the scene or plot. This writing course by James Patterson has several tips for you to write in a way that keeps your readers on the edge of their seats.

Ending A Book

I have never seen someone put a complex concept like ending a book more understandably than James Patterson. I was left reeling when I saw the many ways to end a book. However, choosing one is a straightforward process. That’s something you will understand when you take the course. In my opinion, you will benefit a lot just by watching this part.

Rewriting

Did you think the novel writing process is complete once you write an earth-shattering ending (insert evil laughter, preferably Voldemort’s)? The misery never ends! You have to edit your work and go through several rewrites. What can you do to improve the pacing and structure? What parts of your scenes do you need to cut off no matter how painful it is?

James writes 9 – 10 drafts for each of his novels. If a bestselling author needs so many drafts to craft the perfect (at least in my eyes) story, how can we mere mortals expect to write the next revolutionary novel on the first try? Fortunately, he has some tips to render the rewriting process undaunting. All the more reason to take his course if you ask me.

Publishing Your Work

When I saw the ‘James Patterson teaches writing masterclass’ course, I didn’t expect to gain insights into publishing or marketing. I honestly went in fully expecting to learn only the nuances of thriller writing and get some creative writing tips. Imagine my surprise when James went into detail about getting the books published.

You will find his personal anecdotes refreshing and informative. You will also grasp the significance of query letters and contacts in the publishing industry through the ‘Getting Published’ class in this course. Moreover, you understand how the vital role a literary agent and an editor play in selling your book.

Remember, he talks about the publishing process from our (the writers’) perspective, not the publishing house. He can’t tell you why publishers turn your work down (when it is exceptionally great) and the inner politics behind such decisions.

Marketing

I must say, James has a quite humorous way of explaining things. I laughed out several times without realizing it. It took several dark looks from those around me to shut me up. His sense of humor shines best as he gives advice for effective book marketing. I wanted to give him a firm hug several times because of how helpful he was in this class.

Book promotion isn’t archaic; it is more important than ever as books don’t seem to be as tantalizing as they once were to people. Whether you dabble in mystery writing, crime fiction writing, or any genre for that matter, you will find this course an extremely helpful resource for getting writing advice and marketing expertise.

James Patterson Course Instruction Style

Patterson blends humor, anecdotes, and his vast experience to guide you through writing commercial fiction. My God, the man talked for more than three hours, and I sat there soaking up every word. It’s exhilarating to understand how his brain ticks and how he is capable of writing ten books a year.

With a writing career spanning almost five decades, the brilliant mind is still exceptional at igniting your passion for writing. His views on writer’s discipline, book publicity, and book reviews are fresh and relevant to the changing times. I can’t say this enough: he is a brilliant mastermind. And it shows when he provides instructions to guide you in his course.

James Patterson Writing Course: Do’s and Do Not’s

It’s pretty common to overlook certain things and overemphasize irrelevant ones while writing. Veterans and rookies alike deal with this problem. James puts forward several do’s and don’ts to help you avoid such pitfalls.

The Do’s:

• Keep the readers in mind when writing in any genre.
• Create characters worth caring about.
• Raise the stakes to build suspense.
• Always write to propel the story forward.
• Take a break and return with a fresh perspective.

The Don’ts:

• Info dumping.
• Writing something that distracts readers from the scene.
• Overemphasize logic and fail to incorporate the emotional factor.
• Leave easily discernable clues.
• Write abrupt endings.

Of course, this list is not comprehensive. James provides many more tips and teaches how to incorporate the do’s in your work and avoid the don’ts.

James Patterson Writing MasterClass: Pros And Cons

Now that we have seen what the James Patterson MasterClass videos teach, let’s analyze the pros and cons of enrolling in the course. Let me say right off the bat that there aren’t many cons to talk about, and even the ones I will mention are trivial. So, buckle up as I walk you through the benefits first.

The pros:

• Clarity about the writing process and everything associated with it.
• Invaluable insights from the master of writing thrillers.
• Tried and tested methods to prevent/combat writer’s block.
• Understanding the readers’ perspective.

The cons:

• Some repetitions when explaining related concepts.
• Sometimes, the cuts and transitions from one location to another (especially in the ‘Writing Suspense’) videos aren’t smooth.

Is the James Patterson Writing Class Worth it?

Do you even need to ask anymore? Yes, his class is completely worth it. If my and other James Patterson MasterClass reviews haven’t convinced you to take the course yet, I don’t think anything will. But let me take one final shot at making you believe in the maestro. 

In addition to letting you in on what makes his ‘pages turn themselves’, he is so caring, understanding, and supportive in his classes. I was already moved by his gentle guidance and encouragement. His parting words (the closing video) nearly left me in tears. I just wanna become his friend and raise his friend count to 22 (he said he has 21).

FAQs

1. Why is James Patterson’s class so popular?

Apart from the fact that he is a renowned author who writes best sellers in multiple genres, the advice he gives and his relatable teaching persona are the key to his class’ popularity.

2. Out of the three, who is the – MasterClass James Patterson, Neil Gaiman, or Margaret Atwood – best one?

No one true master exists. Each author has something unique to teach; their classes complement each other in surprising ways.

3. How many days a week does James Patterson write?

He writes seven days a week. He firmly believes if you are passionate enough about writing and get paid to do that, you won’t let even a day go by without writing. Don’t force yourself to write, but force yourself to make time to write.

4. How much does the James Patterson course cost?

Individual courses cannot be purchased on MasterClass. You have to subscribe to the standard ($120/year), plus ($150/year), or premium ($240/year) plan.