“It’s finally here! It’s finally here!” – Me, running around my house this morning.
It seems like forever ago that I first announced Novel Boot Camp. I asked for topic ideas, your most common editing problems, and I spent hours upon hours (upon hours) writing and perfecting the course. Whew! It almost felt like Boot Camp was never going to arrive!
But here we are at the kickoff party – you with your manuscripts in hand and me ready to do nothing but eat, breathe, and sleep (or not sleep) Novel Boot Camp for the next month. It’s going to be a wild ride!
Before things get too crazy and some of you are inevitably reduced to tears with a bloody manuscript in your hands, let me say that the excitement and enthusiasm for Novel Boot Camp has reminded me of why I do what I do. It is the passion and dedication of writers like you that keeps me blogging, editing, and mentoring. You guys are the greatest!
To celebrate the kickoff party, keep meeting up with writing friends and critique partners (though I know some of you are at more than capacity in that department!) and let your friends and family know that you’ll be putting your pen where your passion is and might be a bit busier (and crazier) than usual. In order to keep the blog comments focused on the workshop, post your kickoff party excitement on Twitter and the FB group.
And now on to our first workshop!
Workshop #1: Genre Guessing Game
June 30 – July 6
For our first workshop, I want to focus on the most important aspect of editing – seeing your novel from the outside.
This is no easy task! You’ve toiled and slaved over your novel. You know it inside and out. If you’ve been editing it long enough, you can probably recite passages from heart. All of that is lovely and wonderful and passionate, but terrible for editing.
So for this first workshop, I want you to send your book out into the world – just a tiny piece of it – to see how it’s perceived by those outside yourself, by the people who know nothing about it.
Participants will submit the first 200 words of their manuscript. Guessers will attempt to identify the genre, tone, and basic plot of the novel. The objective is to have a bit of fun while exploring how your manuscript looks from the outside. Do people think your romantic comedy is a horror/thriller? Do readers expect your story of redemption to be a story of revenge?
Remember that how the Boot Campers perceive your novel is likely how agents and editors will perceive it too. We’ll be talking about why the reader’s perception of the first page is important in our first lecture tomorrow.
Warning: This is a new and totally untested workshop process. Please bare with me if there are any technical kinks or if things seem awkward. I wanted to do something unique so I hope it works!
How to Play the Genre Guessing Game
***Read the FULL directions and follow them or you will not be eligible to participate!***
Firstly, I understand that not all readers are comfortable sharing their work online. If you do not want to submit, you may still participate in the guessing.
How to Submit Your Opening
To streamline the process, decrease cheating, and increase participation, I will be posting all of the first pages anonymously (meaning that no one other than me will know whose first page is whose). If you attempt to submit your own first page, it will be deleted!
The submitted novel openings will be posted as quickly as possible, but since it must be done manually, there will likely be some delay.
Submit your novel’s opening in the form below. It will go to my email and I will manually post the first 200 words only (not your name, genre, tone, etc.) into the comments section.
Note that your novel’s opening is the very first 200 words. If you open with a prologue, use that rather than your first chapter.
How to Guess the Genre
In the comments section below this post, leave a reply to the novel openings submitted and post some or all of the following:
- Guess the Genre – Is it a contemporary romance? A YA paranormal? A horror/science fiction hybrid? Post your best guess. If you think it’s middle grade or young adult, please also include a genre (adventure, comedy, romance, etc.).
- Guess the Tone – What do you think the overall tone of this novel is? Is it creepy? Heartwarming? Spiritual? Disturbing? In other words, what adjective would you use to describe the book?
- Guess the Basic Plot – What do you think this novel is going to be about? What do you expect to happen?
- Do NOT post a critique of the opening or any comments about the writing quality or style. We will have a novel opening critique later in the month.
Please do not post your guesses anonymously unless you do not want to be eligible to win the prize for best guesser!
Sample comment/guess: I think this is a middle grade adventure story with a dark tone. I expect it to be about how the main character learns to overcome his fear of the water to defeat a sea monster.
What Should Writers Take Away?
The reader’s perception of your novel is more important than your own. Keep an eye on your novel’s opening this week to see how Boot Campers perceive your work. Is it right in line with your vision or way off?
Is the novel going to deliver what readers seem to expect? We’ll be talking about the importance of the first page’s promise in our first lecture tomorrow.
Prize – Free Edit of Your First 1,000 Words!
This workshop will have two winners! Due to the labor involved in posting, moderating, and then judging the posts, it may take me until after Novel Boot Camp to choose and notify the winners. How long it takes depends on the level of participation.
Award for the Best Guesser: This prize will go to the Novel Boot Camper with guessing power from the gods. In other words: the camper with the most correct guesses.
Award for the Best Opening: This prize will go to the opening that had its novel, genre, and basic plot guessed correctly the most often.
Both winners will receive a free edit of their first 1,000 words.
Connect with Other Novel Boot Camp Participants
Need a writing friend? Got a question? Need a shoulder to cry on? We’re there for you!
I will be answering writing and editing questions on our Twitter hashtag as time allows. Due to the insane volume of emails I’m receiving, I cannot provide free advice or assistance via email. Thank you!
What is Novel Boot Camp?
Novel Boot Camp is a free online novel writing course focused on identifying and correcting problems in your novel. Learn more about Novel Boot Camp and find past (and future) posts here.
Ellen Brock 
We are eating dinner, my mother, father and I, in our cabin aboard the Sky Brim. “Think of it like summer camp,” I say as I push my peas into the sauce around my pork chop.”
“But it’s not a sweet little field trip to the mountains on earth where you spend three months bonding with kids your age,” says my Mother. She takes a sip of her wine and looks at my father for support. It’s his decision and we both know it. I think he is on my side. When he was my age, sixteen, he left earth for a job on a starship. He sets his fork down, takes a sip of water.
“It’s not like we won’t be back this way and the New Arbor settlement is well established. I keep my eyes on my plate. Inside I’m screaming yes, I get to go, but I don’t look at either of them. If I’m quiet and just wait it out, this could be settled tonight. If I look at my mother she will see the triumph in my face and somehow I think that will make her sad.
“And Joss is going too? You know that for sure?” asks my mother.
G: Sci Fi adventure
T: Light
P: MC convinces her parents to let go on “summer camp” with her friend. She’s exited, for the first time she’s allowed on her own and away from earth. When her parents carry on and leave a rebellion strikes out. She has to hide herself as visitors from earth are not welcome at that time.
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Tone: anxious, excited
Plot: MC wants to embark on a new experience that will involve her traveling on a starship. It would be her first taste of independence and the possibilities of seeing new settlements is thrilling. The best part is that she would be travelling with her best friend Josh and together they would make new memories.
Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
Tone: youthful, adventurous
Plot: MC goes to a space version of summer camp where she meets other kids in similar situations. They are presented with an epic issue which threatens their families and which only those kids can solve.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Tone: light
Basic plot: Young Joss leaves his parents to go on a space adventure.
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Tone: light and fun
Plot: An adventure/coming of age story set in space.
Laughter filled our crunched corner booth at Greek ( a local college bar) as we set bets on how long it would take Dax to remember the bleach blondes name who has attached herself to his leg worse then a dog in heat (I bet it would be atleast 15 minutes, The rest gave him from 3 to10 minutes). His eyes were glazed over and you could smell the wood burning while the wheels were cranking to try to remember barbies name. Finally after the 15 minute mark I put my best friend out of his misery.
“Bray, why don’t you go get us another round of shots?” I said while tossing her a twenty.
Finally the lights went on in Dax’s head; you could virtual see the recognition. I couldn’t help laughing; I don’t know how this man gets himself into these predicaments. Truth be told neither of us were angels but at least I was able to keep my names straight. Bray removed herself from Dax’s leg and began walking towards the bar.”Alright everyone pay up I gave it fifteen minutes before I dropped the bomb, meaning I win and you bitches owe me 20$ a piece.” I said looking at our friends.
Genre: NA Romance
Tone: playful
Plot: MC lives a nearly charmed life. School is a breeze, his friends are good, and he has no trouble finding female companionship whenever he’s in the mood. It’s all about to change when a woman intrigues him, but also has not interest in him whatsoever. This further intrigues him and the story unfolds with him trying to win her attention and eventually her heart.
G: Romance
T: Light
P: MC enjoys his college experience, embracing every aspect of it. He’s not looking for love, all he wants is to have a good time. But then his attitude towards relationship changes when he meet a new girl. Her beauty sweeps him of his feet, her laugh is a music to his ears but there’s one problem – she’s involved with someone else. That normally wouldn’t be an issue to him, morals is not exactly what he’s known for, but she seems to not noticing him. Now, that’s a challenge he can’t refuse.
Genre: NA/Romance
Tone: playful, young
Plot: MC falls for best friend’s girl
Genre: New Adult
Tone: Humorous
Basic plot: Young people in college play with romance until finally, someone unforgettable comes along.
Genre: Adult Romance
Tone: fun
Plot: A witty romance where the love interest isn’t obvious at first.
“Oh my Looord,” she said, peering at me with a shade of campy alarm and looking around the edges of my living room. Each piece of art I had on the walls and each piece of furniture made me cringe, then fight back: “No, I chose it.”
She was trembling a bit, shakier than the mornings when we woke up hung over from smoking and drinking and could feel our blood vessels pulse behind our eyes. This shake wasn’t added on from a night of overdoing it, this was her at baseline. She tried to push past it and summon our familiarity by forcing it.
“Aidan” I said. “Aidan, Aidan, Aidan,” I said, trying out how to say her name again. It was like I was thirteen. I kept trying to get it just right. I hugged her hard.
“I know,” she said, pulling back and looking sideways at my face.
“You know what?”
“I look like shit.”
She walked right past me and straight to my O magazines on the coffee table. She put her finger on Oprah’s face and smiled like she was meeting up with a buddy.
“You look perfectly amazing. I saw you in that magazine, by the way.”
Genre: Women’s Lit
Tone: a little nervous, concerned
Plot: MC and childhood friend Aidan meet again after years of being apart. MC has been successful and Aidan has struggled. The MC wants to try and rekindle their friendship.
G: contemporary
T: not to serious but not light
P: MC and Aidan were best friends back in college afterwords their ways parted naturally. MC kept an eye on her friend, following her success in various magazines. Even though they haven’t seen each other in a long time, she was proud of Aidan’s accomplishments. Now Aidan came back to her home town. No one knows why. MC is going to get involved in Aidan’s problem, it’s big, she needs help, support.
Modern day ..Tinny bop..Rehab..ish..Fallen dreams of stardom..will have to learn how to find them self before they can reconnect.
Genre: Women’s Lit
Tone: Light, possibly humorous
Basic Plot: The protagonist and Aidan are friends getting ready to go on an adventure together.
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Tone: casual, light
Plot: Friendship and journey of life – trying to make it in the world.
I’m going with cozy mystery. The tone seems like it will be humorous. I’m oblivious when it comes to the plot.
Genre: Romance
Tone: Introspective
Plot: mc is coming out of the closet, trying to come to terms with his sexuality and accept himself. he finds a male partner and falls in love.
The alarm clock on her cell was bleeping 4:a.m, Maddie groaned and rolled over ready to fall back into her sleep when she remembered that today she couldn’t sleep in. She tried to focus her mind on what it was… the breeze of the open window was pleasantly cooling her until she realized that she didn’t remember if she had opened her window the previous evening. An uneasy feeling crept over her and then was quickly replaced with thoughts of self doubt and she told herself that she was just being paranoid again. She forced herself out of bed remembering the 4 hour long grueling bike ride through the Peace River hills that she was had planned for the morning. She knew she had to hurry before the sun came out or it would be almost impossible to finish those gruesome hills of the mighty Peace in the noon heat. Clambering out of bed she quickly glanced in the hall mirror and could see her sinewy bronzed leg muscles and how incongruent they looked against her brown belly protruding out like bowl of overflowing bread dough that someone had forgotten to punch down. She quickly averted her eyes from her
I think this is going to be a thriller with a reflective tone. I think perhaps someone is about to do something to her that she will have to fight to survive.
Genre: Adult Thriller
Tone: light
Plot: Her life has become bland and she is insecure, but that is about to change.
This feels like a fast paced thriller with some romantic elements thrown in. I think the tone will be abrupt with some light bits of humor tossed in. I suspect that someone is going to be chasing after the MC and she’ll have to use her wits to out think them.
Genre: New Adult
Tone: Light
Basic plot: Maddie is a neurotic young woman who wants to defeat her own self doubt.
G: Thriller
T: Serious
P: Maddie is feeling watched for some time and is looking over her shoulder every few steps she makes. She can’t point her finger out at what exactly makes her so uneasy but it is the first time the feeling came to her when she is in safety of her own bed. She disregards it for a hundred time and goes about her life. As the feeling is becoming more and more frequent it becomes harder for Maddie to carry on with her day. It all ends when she comes face to face with a person who’s shadow always lurked in the background.
genre: contemporary literary fiction
tone: self deprecating humor
Plot: Maddie learns to love who she is.
I think this is either a suspense or mystery genre with a matter-of-fact tone. I think the uneasy feeling about the window being open foreshadows a situation that the character will have to struggle to get out of.
Our school bus bumps down the highway, full of my fellow classmates. I can barely hear myself think in the middle of all of the conversations going on around me. I just stare out the window to my right. The vibrations coming from the engine and tires travel up to my arm, which is propped up on the ledge. While I lean my head against the window, I can hear a faint buzzing sound when my skull bounces slightly against the glass. Then, everything goes blurry and I straighten my spine. This, my friends, is the most comfort I will get while on this accursed contraption.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see some guy leaning over to me with a smirk on his face. Oh no. I mentally panic and prepare myself for the worst.
“Hey A, guess-,” he says, but is cut off by a jerk from below. Everything is thrown up in the air, and my head hits the seat in front of me. Oh frick! My hand flies up to my nose. The whole of my face is numb, and there’s heat trickling down my lips. Oh come on. Like I need a bloody nose right now.
I think this is Young Adult genre with resigned yet humorous tone. I think the story is going to be a humorous look at surviving life as a kid.
Genre: YA Drama
Tone: witty
Plot: Coming of age.
It feels like a lower YA novel. The tone is going to be self-deprecating and sarcastic. The MC is going to struggle with fitting in and take on some big challenge that forces them to step out of their comfort zone.
Genre: MG maybe
Tone: Satirical
Basic plot: Maybe a day in the life of a school day?
G: YA adventure/Crime
T: light
P: MC is on a school trip. The bus with all the kids inside is kidnapped for a ransom. MC and his friends find themselves in a situation where they have to make decision- be quite and do what they’re told or try to brake free.