Meet the 2026 Novel Bookcamp Staff
Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, Inc. ~ Newsletter 17; October 2025
Greetings, Campers! WELCOME to the Mid-October issue of our monthly newsletter. Tell us what you think in the comments. This month we’re featuring More Writer Tips and Tricks, and more! The next newsletter issue comes out in Mid-November 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
Notes From the Director
2026 Speculative Fiction Staff
How to Do More Writing Stuff
Poll: When do you do your best writing?
Early-bird Discount
2025 Bookcamp Stories
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
Notes From the Director
by Dave Rank
Let’s Talk About Timing
Our 2026 Novel Bookcamp is nine months away, June 21-27, again at the lovely Siena Retreat Center. That may sound like a long time away, but believe me, it is not. Depending on the program you want to join, now is the time to register so you have plenty of time to prepare the materials you need to fully participate in June.
What am I talking about? Our Bookcamp Workshops require you to send us well in advance what we call your WIP Packet. It consists of the first three chapters of your WIP, a synopsis, a first-draft query letter, a description of your goals for the Bookcamp week, and a short bio. All that is needed so our Workshop Instructors can familiarize themselves with your work, the specific advice you are looking for, and you.
Our Book Coaches in particular need to see your WIP manuscript well in advance of June so they have time to read it in full, prepare a written analysis for you, and decide how best to schedule your eight hours of one-on-one time during the week to help you make your manuscript the best it can be.
While the Retreat Mentors ask for only a bio and a brief description of your WIP, you still need time to organize your goals for the week and plan to achieve them.
The Lucky 13th
Another point of timing: 2026 will be our 13th Novel Bookcamp. Now, I’m not a superstitious fellow, but if you believe in omens, portents, or incantations. I assure you June will not be unlucky. It may, instead, be one of the best investments in your writing you ever make. If you are still a little nervous about a 13th, keep this in mind: We actually scheduled our first Novel Bookcamp in 2013, but because of financial issues, we postponed our debut event to the following year. So, if it makes you feel better, think of the 2026 Novel Bookcamp as the 14th annual event. Now, don’t you feel better already?
Early Bird Registration
One more thing. We’re offering an Early Bird registration special until December 31. You’ll save $90 on each program. More on that later in this newsletter. Keep that in mind as you prepare to send in your registration.
It’s all about timing. Now is not a time to wait.
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
Meet the 2026 Speculative Fiction Staff
The Speculative Fiction track includes three program options at the annual Novel Bookcamp in 2026. The 15th Novel Bookcamp week, June 21-27, offers separate Speculative Fiction Writing Retreat and Book Coach options in addition to its traditional Speculative Fiction Workshop.
The Workshop provides morning classes, afternoon one-on-one sessions with each instructor, a group critique, daily presentations on craft and publishing, as well as access to visiting literary agents who specialize in Speculative Fiction genres. The 2026 Speculative Fiction instructors are novelist and writing instructor Cynthia Pelayo, and writing instructor and book coach Nicole Whisler.
The Writing Retreat is designed for writers looking for a week’s worth of personal writing or story development time under the mentorship of literary agent and writing instructor Kelly Van Sant, who will offer daily encouragement, advice, and brainstorming opportunities. Access to additional Novel Bookcamp activities is also available.
For a select number of writers, Speculative Fiction Book Coach Suzy Vadori will read their manuscripts, provide a written analysis, and offer one-on-one advice. A group session is also included. Access to additional activities is included as well.
The Novel Bookcamp also has a three-program track for reality-based genres such as Romance, Historical, Mystery, Family Saga, etc.
Registration is open. Go to the website www.novelbookcamp.org for more information or contact Director Dave Rank directly at director@novelbookcamp.org.
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
How to Do More Writing Stuff
Tips For Reading Your Work Aloud — part 2
by Jennifer Rupp
Turn Nervous Energy into Positive Energy: Your body. Your traitorous body. Dry mouth, trembling hands, and shaky knees - your body never fails to betray you by telegraphing your nervous energy. But there are things you can do to take back control and direct nervous energy into positive energy.
• Mind Control - Turn dread into desire by altering your mindset. Approach your reading with the joy of sharing yourself.
• Prepare - Rehearsing your piece adequately will circumvent most of your nerves. Double check that you have your reading glasses, bottled water and all your materials.
• Dry Mouth - If you take antidepressants, the tendency for dry mouth increases. There are products on the market that help combat dry mouth. I even know dancers who rub a little Vaseline on their teeth before going on stage. Sounds icky but their lips don’t stick to their teeth.
• The Shakes - Sometimes, for no particular reason, my knees shake. If this happens to you, you are carrying tension in your thighs. Take a moment to relax your thighs and grip the floor with your toes. Doing this will divert nervous energy downward and into the floor. If your hands shake, you are carrying tension in your shoulders. They’ve probably crept up to your ears. Take a moment to shake them out and transfer the tension to your lower abdomen by tightening your belly muscles.
• Stand Still - Oy! Some readers can’t stop shifting from one foot to the other or rocking up and down on their toes. The audience can get seasick. Try to stand still. If you do tend to dance about unconsciously, choosing to sit on a stool may help.
• A note about drinking: I don’t recommend that you imbibe until after the reading when you can treat yourself to two martinis. Hot tea with lemon is a good beverage to have before you speak. Avoid milk and other dairy products because they tend to generate phlegm.
Give Your Punctuation Its Due: Your listeners can’t see your punctuation, so you must put punctuation into your reading. There are no hard and fast rules, but when I read aloud, I like to think of it this way:
• A comma is a breath, a period is the end of a thought, and an ellipse or ... is a hesitation, a search for the right word, a change in thought.
• Parentheticals are an additional, related, or different thought. They require a change in volume or energy to lift them out of the sentence.
• Dialogue tags also require a different volume or pitch, but they mustn’t be tossed away. They are still very important to the listener.
• Dialogue should be distinct from the narrative. Lifted. You don’t have to use special voices for each character. In fact, I recommend that you don’t. But the listener needs to hear the back and forth. A subtle change in the pitch of your voice will do it.
Keep the Music in Your Voice: I once had a conversation with a writer who expressed himself beautifully with an absolutely musical voice, but two minutes later, he read his work aloud to an audience using a monotone voice. The story was incomprehensible. Like punctuation, pitch communicates meaning. Remember to keep the music in your voice by varying your pitch.
Slow Down: You’ve heard those pharmaceutical commercials in which the announcer rattles off a list of cautions at the very end. The makers are counting on you not to understand or care about what’s being said. Likewise, if you read your piece too fast, you will achieve the same effect. When your story requires an increase in pace, try realizing it using tone, energy, and a sense of urgency in your voice rather than speed.
To be continued…
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
Novel Bookcamp Early-bird Discount
THE EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st!
For the Early Bird Discount ($90,) you must pay in full by December 31, 2025 (Registration materials can be submitted by May 15, 2026). Commuter pricing is not eligible for Early-Bird Discounts.
Whether you’re starting out on the journey to craft a book, nearly done with your first draft, or preparing that final edit, the Bookcamp, Writing Retreat, or Book Coach programs can help you meet your writing goals.
The cost for any Novel Bookcamp Program is less than you’d pay for a week-long, all-inclusive vacation. One registration fee includes room with private bathroom, meals, special events, instruction, and coaching. The camaraderie and friendship you’ll develop with fellow writers are, of course, free. Flexible payment timetables, early registration discounts, and a variety of program options make Novel Bookcamp an excellent investment in your writing career.
If you have questions, email Dave Rank director@novelbookcamp.org
If you would like to speak to an alum, email Jennifer Rupp at jrupp25@gmail.com
THE EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st!
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
2025 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. NOTE: This story was wrongly attributed to Lisa Lickel. Please accept our apologies. Please enjoy this entry!
SORE LOSER
Walking down the blazing hot asphalt toward the water, Lisa wondered if she was feeling heat rising from the path, or just from Susan.
Ach! I’m only a coach, not a blessed therapist for chrissake!
“Susan.” Tact honed from working with prima donnas rose to Lisa’s mind. “There might be another—”
“Duct Tape, my ass.” Susan twitched her toe and lined up the rock, then kicked. The rock shot like a bullet into Lake Michigan. “Duct tape always wins. Useless crap.”
Lisa pursed her lips. Not my first rodeo, chica. “That was the clue. He had to use it. How could you have improved that story? Imagine using duct tape in a diff—”
“Stop.” Susan wiped her palm over her face, looking out over the placid surface. “I know what you’re doing, Lisa. Happy talk won’t work this time. I’m tired of losing. I—”
“Oh! Would you look at the time! We need to get back for the pen-dart game.”
“Pen-dart?”
“Yes. Why, it’s ever so much fun! Throwing a pen at Dave’s picture to try to hit his fundament.”
“Fine. Too hot out here anyway.”
Breath came in reluctant pulls as Lisa’s bronchi constricted. Bad enough to be cursed by an asthma attack, but to add the stress of this immature, whiny—
“What-On-Earth-Is-That?”
Susan glanced at the silver blob, then casually looked away. “Oh, you know. Probably some Spec Fi writer pretending their car is a spaceship.”
Lisa stepped forward, then stuttered to a halt as implications collided in her head. “Susan, do you know anything about this? Someone’s completely duct taped a car! The glue melted in the heat. That won’t—that’s no practical jo—”
“I think it’s lovely, don’t you? Dude can use his prize money to clean—”
“Susan! I told you! There ISN’T ANY PRIZE MONEY!!”
“Hey!” A loud scream cut across the lawn. “That’s my car!!”
In the heat of the summer sun, a panicked contest winner ran toward the parking lot.
Lisa screamed, “Wait! Don’t!” as the shocked man’s palm hovered over the undulating blob.
Please share your 2025 camp stories & photos! Click here to fill out the form.
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW
NEXT ISSUE: Meet the 2026 Novel Bookcamp All-Genre Staff
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
CHECK OUT THE 2026 NOVEL BOOKCAMP!…June 21st—27th, 2026!
Ready to apply to the 2026 Novel Bookcamp? Complete this application form today. APPLY NOW