2025 Bookcamp is in the Books!
Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, Inc. ~ Newsletter 14; July 2025
Greetings, Campers! This is the July Post-Camp issue of our monthly newsletter. Tell us what you think in the comments. This month we’re featuring Highlights of Bookcamp, Camp Stories, and more! The next newsletter issue comes out in August 2025. To feature your news and updates, please click here to fill out the form. Don’t worry, we won’t spam you.
In This Issue
A Note From the Director
2025 Bookcamp Recap
Poll: How Did You Learn About Bookcamp?
Thank You Lisa Lickel!
Bookcamp Experience Story Contest
Watch This Space for the 2026 Bookcamp Details…June 21st—27th, 2026!
A Note From the Director
It's a week after we closed our successful 2025 Novel Bookcamp, and I've finally caught my breath and caught up on the paperwork left in its wake. Deborah and I both felt this may have been the smoothest Bookcamp week ever. And for that, I thank our wonderful staff and our dedicated writers for a great week of craft, conversation, and camaraderie. I especially want to thank Deborah King for diving headfirst into her Assistant Director role. Her enthusiasm, insight, and willingness to help out, I'm sure, were noticed by all.
We're already at work pulling together our next Bookcamp, which will be held June 21-27, 2026 at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Spread the word, it will be another opportunity to network with writing and publishing experts, learn more about the craft we all love so much, and develop additional writing friends.
We'll keep you informed on developments as we plan for the 2026 Novel Bookcamp. Until then, keep on writing, and let us know how you are progressing.
Dave Rank
2025 Bookcamp Recap
The weather alternated between irrationally hot and very rainy… so it was practically boiling outside of the highly air-conditioned Siena Retreat Center. Each day began with a 30-minute yoga session led by Book Coach Lisa Lickel. Along with workshops and writing, Bookcampers took walks and rode bikes along the lakefront paths.
The meals were significantly upgraded from previous sessions, with 3 specially catered meals including 4 Airplane Carrier sized pizzas from Infusino’s and on-site grilling from Danny’s Meats & Catering.
New this year was Book Coach Nicole Whisler and Literary Agents Miriam Cortinovis and Tina Schwartz.
Please share your 2025 camp stories & photos! Click here to fill out the form.
Watch This Space for the 2026 Bookcamp Details…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Thank You Lisa Lickel for 12 Amazing Bookcamps
Instructor… Assistant Director… Book Coach… Lisa Lickel has been with Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat from the very beginning, and after the 2025 Bookcamp, she’s retiring. We celebrate Lisa this month. She will be sorely missed at Bookcamp!
Dave Rank— I've known Lisa Lickel for more decades than we both want to remember. When I first came up with the idea for the Novel Bookcamp, Lisa was the first person I thought of to help me. She became one of our first three instructors and has been a key advisor and problem solver for me ever since. Despite my foibles and mistakes over the years, Lisa stayed with Bookcamp. I will forever be indebted to her for that. Thank you, Lisa, for putting up with me all these years.
SJ Rozan— Lisa was the first face of Bookcamp for me, the person who greeted me as I walked through the door to that first ever Bookcamp. I believed in her midwestern sweetness for about half a day, until the slyness and humor penetrated. Lisa is the best and I can't imagine Bookcamp without her. I guess we'll all just have to get on a bus and go across the state for coffee.
Jack Kruse— I wish I could itemize all the ways Lisa Lickel has helped me on my journey. It certainly started when I joined the Kettle Moraine Writers' Guild. I can't remember where we met when I joined, but it soon moved to Lisa's house on a country road near Kewaskum. She reviewed many chapters of my various books and even edited Crucible, one of the books I finally self-published. (It's also my best seller). I want to thank her for all of the suggestions she made an all the support she provided me on my literary journey, such as it is.
Jennifer Rupp— I will say this...Lisa has been a big influence on me and my writing. Only I can see them, but her fingerprints are all over my novels.
And now a word from Lisa Lickel…
It has been such a joy to be part of Novel in Progress Bookcamp. I recall sitting down with Phil and Dave and wrestling out the official name and filling out the non-profit status paperwork; deciding whether we could hold the camp with seven, then with five; the coziness of Cedar Valley and meeting some of you at a one-day workshop we put on. What a delight realizing the program had grown so much we added a retreat side and debated how to hold that. The steady growth. All of the wonderful people I've met. I am grateful to have been part of the organization and very pleased to see it continue. Even though I am "retiring" I'm not fully leaving the field of writing and publishing, so most of you will still see me around. Your kindness over the years, and the recognition with delightful cards and gifts and the very special cake is precious to me. A very good memory indeed Thank you, Thank you! —Lisa
Watch This Space for the 2026 Bookcamp Details…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Bookcamp Experience Story Contest
One of the fun things that happen at Bookcamp on Thursday evenings is the Bookcamp Experience Story Contest. Bookcampers get a chance to submit a 500-word story telling of their thoughts and adventures. The winner, chosen by applause, received a selection of thrillers about murders at a writing retreat! Over the next few newsletters, we’ll share a few of the stories. Please enjoy the winning entry by Bookcamper Ekta Garg!
Five Reasons NOT to Attend Novel Bookcamp
By Staff
The Fictional News OutletRacine, Wisconsin, June 27, 2025—Sources at the latest Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp have come away declaring writers need to beware this week-long event.
“If you have any writing anxieties, this is definitely not the place for you,” one attendee said, requesting anonymity because of their position on the board of directors. “The toxic environment where people are smiling and encouraging one another all the time is too much.”
The event, known as “Bookcamp” to those who keep coming back for what one longtime camper called “torture week,” has happened every June for 12 years. Again, on the condition of anonymity, several campers from this year’s Bookcamp compiled five reasons not to attend:
1. There’s too much support. “I keep hoping someone will tell me just how bad my writing is, but no one’s done that yet. When will these people just tell me to give it up already?”
2. They deliver what’s promised. “Clearly the staff hasn’t heard about all the events lately where writers are getting scammed. Bookcamp advertises writing instruction and socializing for a week—and they actually give you that. How are they going to go viral if they follow through on stuff?”
3. The teaching actually improves the work. “I thought they’d tell me what merch to order from Etsy to brand myself. Instead we’re sitting in actual workshops and talking actual craft! That could actually make my stories better! If I wanted to learn about writing, I would have asked ChatGPT.”
4. Workshop instructors offer personal attention. “Where are the huge sessions with a hundred people where I can nap in the back? These instructors ask you questions about your book like they think you wrote stuff. Like you’re still writing stuff!”
5. The venue contributes to productivity. “Quiet rooms and a place to take walks? Outside? There’s only one word for a place where you can get stuff done: crazy.”
The Fictional News Outlet has not substantiated these claims. All opinions are solely of those interviewed. Comments edited for length and clarity.
Watch This Space for the 2026 Bookcamp Details…June 21st—27th, 2026!
NEXT ISSUE: Book Reviews and How to Find Them
Please share your NIP camp stories and photos! Click here to fill out the form.
Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, Inc. Supportive Friends
Members of each Supportive Friend organization can enroll in a Novel Bookcamp Workshop or Writing Retreat at a discounted rate. Discount is not available for the Book Coach program.
Chicago Writers Association (CWA)
HerStry, LLC
Off Campus Writers’ Workshop (OCWW)
Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA)
Chippewa Valley Writers Guild
Watch This Space for the 2026 Bookcamp Details…June 21st—27th, 2026!
I had a wonderful time at Bookcamp in 2022. I met Lisa Lickel there and today she's my editor for my first novel that will be published in 2026. She's as marvelous as everyone above stated!