They will learn everything about writing a novel: plotting, characterization, tension, pacing, world-building, and literary devices. 

I have over twenty years of experience teaching in a multi-sensory, interactive and joyful way. I'm a novelist with two acclaimed young adult novels published by Penguin and Disney-Hyperion. They both made top national lists, including Columbia's Bank Street Books and NPR's Top Books, as well as many state lists. As a novelist, I've done school visits at high schools across the US and Canada. Penguin is also publishing my writer's guide: The Busy Writer's Guide to Finishing a Novel in 100 Days. It comes out in 2026. 

Besides my experience as a novelist and author, I have twenty years of teaching experience, teaching both creative writing and ESL. I currently run a successful afterschool writing program in the LA area. I was the curriculum director of the famous nonprofit, WriteGirl LA, helping to design their multi-sensory way of teaching writing to teens. Besides teaching on Outschool, I have private groups of homeschooled teens I teach, many of them for several years.

My goal is to help my students feel more joyful through writing, to recognize the power of their unique voice and to build their creative confidence.

숙제 제공
You'll need to write at least five days a week for at least two hours a day - which means at least an hour of writing outside of the class time. You'll finish a quarter of your book each week. Set a realistic goal. It can be a short book or a long book, depending on how much time you have. 
수업 외 주당 4+ 시간
제공되는 평가
Students hand in pages once a week. I will send you an email and tell you what's wonderful and give you suggestions. At the end of the month, I'll give you suggestions for what could work on for the next draft. 
제공되는 성적

This camp works for teens with ADHD, Dyslexia, ASD, and Anxiety. I have experience helping all types of learners. My classes are low-pressure and joyful. We use the chat, students can turn off monitors, and we don't read work out loud. 

No pre-reqs. 

I will be giving students an ebook with specific skills to focus on for each chapter. They also need their own favorite book to use as a mentor text.