Novel Writing for Medical and Legal Professionals

Turn your real-world experiences into a riveting novel readers won’t forget

COMING OCTOBER 15, 2025
Space is very limited — register now!

Everyone has stories to tell, but few have stories as powerful as those who work in medicine and law—stories of life, death, courage, and redemption. If you’ve always wanted to turn your experiences into a novel, this is your moment.

In this three-week online class, bestselling authors DP Lyle, MD, and Meg Gardiner will guide you in transforming your real-life insights into a page-turning novel. You’ll learn the essential tools and craft techniques you need to write the story that’s been waiting inside you—and make it one readers can’t put down.

What You Will Learn:

The essential elements of a compelling story
How to develop a strong premise for your story
How to create believable characters and bring them to life
How to create a dynamic plot that will engage readers
How to determine the best Point Of View for your story
How to create believable and compelling Dialog
How Setting and Mood affect your story
What is a writer’s Voice and how do you find yours

Join Us In October!

OCTOBER

Live on Zoom • 4pm PT / 7pm ET

Access to the classes for review will remain available for one month after the last class.

Today's Price: $299

Space is very limited — reserve your spot today!

Session 1: Storytelling, Premise, and Characters

Every story has a What If? What if this happened, or that situation popped up? This is the premise or the main story question. The central problem the protagonist must resolve. The writer poses this question for the reader and the story answers it. This is the “hook” that grabs readers’ attention and draws them into the story. In this class, we will examine the elements of a strong premise and delve into the creation of characters that engage the reader and give them someone to root for, and against. A protagonist they empathize with and worry about. Good characters possess strengths, weaknesses, needs, and fears, and each of these impacts the flow of your story and ultimately how the story question will be resolved.
Session 2: Point of View and Dialog

Point Of View (POV) is critical to how a story unfolds. First person, the “I” character can draw the reader tightly inside the protagonist, but can also limit how a story is told. Third person POV, the he, she, they characters, can be as close as first person or much more detached from the readar. We will examine the things you must consider when choosing the best POV for your story. Dialog isn’t like talking. It’s tighter, cleaner, and more focused. It reveals character, creates conflict, moves the story forward, and ramps up tension. Well handled dialog can make or break a story. We will dive into how compelling dialog is created.
Session 3: Setting, Mood, and Voice

Setting is more than simply a place and a time frame. It sets the story’s mood and effects everything—the characters, the plot, the story outcome. It is a living, breathing character on its own. We will examine how to select and use setting to enhance your story. Voice is elusive, but critical. It is your personal style of storytelling. The tone, rhythm, word choice, and mood. Remember, every story has been told, but not by you. Your voice is yours and yours alone. This more than anything draws a reader into your story world, and attracts the attention of agents and editors. We will show you how to find your voice and tell your story your way.

Course Outline

Meet Your Instructors

D.P. Lyle

DP Lyle, MD, is the Amazon #1 bestselling author of 27 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and a Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Award winner. He hosts the Crime Fiction Writer’s Blog and Criminal Mischief podcast, and as a founding member of International Thriller Writers, helped create CraftFest, Online Thriller School, and Master Class. DP has consulted for many novelists and popular TV shows, including Law & Order, CSI: Miami, House, and Pretty Little Liars.

Meg Gardiner

Meg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 17 thrillers, including Heat 2 with Michael Mann, which debuted at #1. Her novels have won the Edgar Award and been featured by The Today Show and O, The Oprah Magazine. A former lawyer and past president of Mystery Writers of America, Meg has taught writing at UC Santa Barbara and presented for organizations including the American Bar Association, International Thriller Writers, and HarperCollins UK.

COMING OCTOBER 15, 2025
Space is very limited — register now!