BRAVE THE PAGE

A NaNoWriMo primer for young writers.

This instructional guide begins with an introduction from Jason Reynolds and an inspirational chapter assuring kids that their stories matter and are needed by the world. The following chapters provide step-by-step instruction to get a writer at any level ready to tackle the blank page. The chapter “Determine What Type of Writer You Are” provides a quick tutorial that affirms a diversity of writing habits that can be tamed to fit each individual’s writing practice. Once the writer is primed to begin, the next set of chapters helps lay the groundwork to write the novel: crafting the story plan and fleshing out characters as well as deconstructing the mechanics of plot and worldbuilding. Many chapters offer a “Dare Machine,” a series of writing exercises so varied that a young writer at any stage can easily engage with confidence and excitement. Once the writer is ready to tackle NaNoWriMo—to write a novel in four weeks—to fend off discouragement, each week’s guidance is prompted by a “PepTalk” written by different bestselling authors, including Daniel José Older, Celia C. Pérez, and Jennifer Niven.

Though specifically targeting young writers, this upbeat handbook is a wonderful instruction guide for writers of any age as well as a perfect text for any creative-writing classroom.