The Novelry, and I'm getting in a tangle.

[WonderfulCheese]

I have two questions which might be linked.

I've been writing the story I've had in my heart for twenty maddening years. I really believe in it, but I'm in a tangle.

I've got about 100k words. It's probably a cross over book: adventureish theme but doesn't talk to the reader in a young way, so I'm not honestly sure where to categorize it (the bin??)

100k might well be overlong but it can of course be trimmed.

The problem is I need to read the whole thing each time I start up with it. Which now takes ages. I'm utterly lost. There is a gap where the final battle/climax should be. For some reason as I read and try to make notes, I can't manage to out together a coherent summary. Is this normal? What's wrong with me 😂

My second question then is, I was thinking about doing a course of some kind to get it over the line. I always dreamt of an MA but they are now utterly out of reach. As a straight, white female there are very few bursaries as many target under represented groups.

So, just recently facebook has shown me an ad for The Novelry. My question is, has anyone any experience with this? It seems to promise that if you pay the fee and do the work you have a 60% chance of being published. The question that jumped to mind was immediately, how can they claim that, what if you just haven't got what it takes?

I also saw an advert for something called "immersed in story". But I'm really wary of all of these Facebook adverts. Does anyone have any experience of that one?

Thank you very much.

Novelry is legit, but like any writing course it can't promise that you'll get published.
If you're writing for a child audience, 100k is way too long. It would need to be around half that if writing for 9-12s.
As an author who sometimes mentors writers, I tend to find that when someone's laboured over something for a very long time but can't sum up what it's about that's a bit of a red flag and it is often difficult to salvage. You might be better off reading some of the books recommended above (Save the Cat, Into the Woods, Story, etc) or taking a class but starting something new. You will have learned a lot by writing the first manuscript, so nothing is wasted. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's very common to have written a few manuscripts before producing one that's publishable.

I don't think it's for 9-12s, sorry if I gave that impression.
The problem with it is that my life hasn't been very accommodating of the project.
Ages 20-34 I was working extremely long hours and suffering from burn out.
Age 35-now I've had small children.

So I haven't managed to complete it. Each time i find a couple of hours to go back to it, I need to reread the whole thing to remind myself of the details. You'd think i would have noted the main points but i seem to find that hard too. However I have had a short story published in an anthology so I don't think I'm dreadful.

I am very hesitant about paying out for the novelry, particularly after these helpful comments (thank you everyone) because money is extremely tight. Loads of places have bursaries if you are a minority, but I'm not one.

@SequioaAwriter
You said
even if you don't get onto the submission service.

Do you mean that there is a competitive element? Can you tell me more about it?

@WonderfulCheese If the Novelry's partner agents are interested in your book idea then they will work with you for the submission service - if you can also write. I notice that the Novelry has changed their website blurb to state something to that effect.