Summer Camp: Write a Novel With Published YA Novelist Kim Purcell

Welcome to my novel-writing camp in which students not only improve their writing, but they also aim to finish their books. You don't have to write a long book! It can be just 50 pages . . . or it can be a two hundred pages. Whatever your goal might be, I'm here to help. This is my highest level camp and it's designed for writers who want to FINISH a book. 

I'm a novelist with two novels published by Penguin and Disney-Hyperion. I have a third book, a writing guide, being published by Penguin next year: The Busy Writer's Guide to Finishing a Novel in 100 Days. 

This course will help teens finish a shorter novel in a month with a solid plot structure so that they go on to finish any future novels. 

As a novelist, I've written a book in a month, so I know you can do it. Like any rough first draft, it will be imperfect; however, you'll be finished, and then you can rewrite it or edit it. If you're 13 or older by the end of November, you can submit it to Scholastic's Novel Writing Contest. Even if you get honorable mention, it's fabulous for college apps. Also, you can self publish it and make some money! I show you how to do this. 

Below I answer some of the common questions. 

------What is the structure of each day of the camp?------

Discussion, skill, and brainstorming: 25 Minutes
Writing: 25 Minutes practicing the Pomodoro Technique (I'm available the entire time on the chat to answer questions and help when students get stuck.)
Final discussion or game: 5 min (To lead you into your next min solo writing session afterward)

------Can I really finish a book in two weeks or a month?------
Definitely. Thousands of people write books in a month for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). You can do it too! As soon as you sign up, I'll send you a series of brainstorming videos to help you explore your story idea. 

------Are you a published novelist?------
I'm a young adult novelist with two acclaimed novels, Trafficked, published by Penguin, and This Is Not a Love Letter, published by Disney-Hyperion. They've both made top lists like NPR's Best Books and Columbia's Banks Street Best Books, and they've both received starred trade reviews.

------How is this camp different from other novel-writing classes on Outschool?-----
First, it is very intense and you will finish a solid draft of your book if you follow my proven system. Plus, you'll be taught by me! We have a lot of fun and I know what I'm doing. I not only have published books, I also have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

-------Can I write any type of book?-------
Yes, I can help you write any book from realistic to fantasy to romance to horror. I've studied every genre and I've written most of them as well. 

-------What is the vibe of the class?------
I want everyone to feel comfortable in the class. All types of learners and writers are welcome. I guide the class in such a way that everyone feels heard and valued...and we try to laugh and have fun. It's important to me to build you up, and help your confidence grow as a writer so that you believe in yourself and your unique voice. The minute you sign up for this class, you are a novelist. I believe in you and I know you can do it. 

-------Why is this class so intense?-------
If you write a book slowly, it often does not get finished. Writers of all ages get distracted by shiny new ideas. Writing fast means you finish, and then you can improve it. 

-------How will I finish a book now when I didn't finish before? --------
You'll finish your book by committing to it for a month and clearing your life of other things: you'll write every day for at least an extra hour outside of our class time. There's a reason National Novel Writing Month in November works. Creativity thrives with greater focus. Both my teen and adult students struggle with finishing. That's why we write fast in this class...racing ahead of any self-doubt and chasing creative joy. Writing a novel intensively actually works. Yes, your hands will ache. Your back will break. This is a creative marathon! I'm going to help you, panting and sweating, all the way to the finish line. When you've finished your first draft, we will have a party. Then you can edit and refine it. But first, let's fly. 

------I've written a first draft. Can I write a second draft in this camp?-----
Yes, you can. In this case, you'll evaluate your rough draft before the class starts, and I'll give you some video workshops to do this. Then, you'll either substantially edit or you'll rewrite it from scratch, including everything we're working on in the class. Most authors do not keep their first draft. You'll need to rewrite pages. 

------How many pages do I need to write per day?------
This depends on how long you want your book to be. It could be two. It could be ten. It's up to you. 

------What are the additional benefits of finishing a novel?-------
You'll pour your unique voice into your prose and grow your creative confidence, which will then spread to the rest of your life. Creative confidence is a key element of future success, no matter what you choose to do. From this point on, you'll always be able to say that you finished a novel. It will also help you become a better storyteller in general. 

------Will you give me feedback?------
Yes! I will read up to 20 double-spaced 12 font pages a week. I tell you mostly what's great to encourage you and I'll give you one or two skills to work on. 

The first deadline is on the Sunday BEFORE camp: you send me your story idea based on the brainstorming materials. 

The second deadline is on first day of camp: you give me your first two-five pages and then I will give you immediate feedback about what specific skills you should work on that week.

Then, every week, you give me pages by the Saturday and I'll give you feedback by Sunday. 

-------What do I do before the class starts?-------
Before the class starts, you'll brainstorm your characters, world, and plot. I will give you videos and experiments to do this.

------What's the vibe of the class?------
The happiness and comfort of our community of writers is important. The supportive energy helps with creativity. The class is positive and upbeat, and everyone cheers everyone else on. You don't have to share your writing and you don't have to talk. I want every person to feel comfortable and uplifted throughout the class.