ENROLL NOW: Craft Compelling Characters

For Novels or Screenplays

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Enroll now and learn how to develop unforgettable characters for your book, screenplay or memoir. Still not sure? Preview class content below.

As published and produced writers, we understand that writing can be challenging. We created this course to give back to the writing community. It's our way of thanking everyone that helped us in our journey.

This course is perfect for anyone trying to create commercial characters for literary fiction, YA novels, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi/fantasies, romances and more.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Is this course designed for beginners or published authors or screenwriters?
Good question! This class is designed for beginners or experienced writers who need a refresher. That said, we have had published authors who were trying to elevate their writing tell us they found it useful.
Will I learn about plot or structure?
We love plot and structure. You will definitely learn some about these elements, too. Especially how they intersect with character building!
Is this class really FREE? Why?
We are extremely happy people because we get to live a writer's life. And, we want to give back to spread that knowledge that got us there.

Your Instructor


Ayn & Sam Gailey
Ayn & Sam Gailey

Ayn and Sam are critically-acclaimed authors, ghost writers and editors. Their own work and projects on behalf of authors and publishers has been praised by notable critics of The New York Times, Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Elle, Kirkus Reviews, Good Reads, Esquire and by author Stephen King, amongst others. Creators of Novel Lab in Los Angeles and Orcas Island, they have offered free help to help writers of all ages find their voice, write their stories and make their literary dreams happen.

Ayn is a graduate of Harvard University and UCLA and holds a Masters of Fine Arts in screenwriting from UCLA Film School. Her poignant yet humorous non-fiction book Pornology was published in the U.S. (Running Press), the UK (Random House), Germany, and Asia. The movie adaptation of Pornology, entitled A Nice Girl Like You, stars Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) and Jackie Cruz (Orange is the New Black) premiered July 2020 and was the top indie movie on Apple for two months. You can read more about Ayn's writing at AynGailey.com. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from North Carolina. His scriptwriting has won the grand prize in Scriptapalooza and his recent novel, Deep Winter, was critically-acclaimed by all major critics in the U.S. and France, described as "Beautifully written" by The New York Times, and reviewed by Esquire Magazine as "Enthralling.." His second novel, The Guilt We Carry, has been hailed as “The Breaking Bad of the book world” by NY Journal of Books, “A gripping tale of redemption” by Booklist, and “A Top Thriller for 2019” by Chicago Review of Books. You can read more about Sam's writing at SamuelWGailey.com



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WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT AYN & SAM'S WORK & COACHING

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“Ayn & Sam helped me find the heart of my story and guided me through the writing and publishing process with expertise, passion and a lot of patience. Without them, my book would not have made it onto the New York Times Bestseller list. — Lenny Dykstra: Memoir of Life on the Edge (Harper Collins 2016)

“Tough, straight, upsetting, and strangely beautiful. One of the best sports autobiographies I’ve ever read. It comes from the heart. — Author Stephen King on "Memoir Of Life On The Edge"

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“Novel Lab was just what I needed to move my writing project forward. I started with an unwieldy amount of raw material and by the end, I had a much better grasp on the story I wanted to tell and the tools to structure it.

— Theresa H.

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“Novel Lab has been instrumental in helping me understand how structure, character, and themes intersect to create a powerful story. Sam and Ayn are inspiring, motivating mentors... They have reawakened in me the deep, sleeping passion to start writing again and find my true spirit. I am forever grateful to them... — Charles S.

“Ayn and Sam created simple stepping stones as a way to approach the intimidating web of storytelling.

— Chelsea H.