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GPS Global Academy sophomore writes first novel in 30 days
Writing a novel can be nerve-racking for an experienced author. Now imagine writing your first novel while in high school. Mina Pavi, a sophomore at GPS Global Academy, recently took on that challenge. She wrote her very first novel in 30 days.
“My teacher seemed really sure. She encouraged me. She motivated me, and helped me all the way through,” Pavi said.
After writing a short story for a class assignment, Pavi says her Honors Sophomore English teacher, Emily Chamberlain, recommended she take part in the National Novel Writing Month. Thousands of writers of all ages from around the world take part in the annual event in November. The purpose of the challenge is to help empower writers to find their voices and achieve their creative goals.
“This was my first experience actually writing a longer work that’s more than 10 pages. It was very different,” she said.
Despite her in-experience, Chamberlain believed Pavi’s natural gift for writing would help her succeed, so she committed to helping Pavi along the way. The two met weekly after class to talk through ideas.
“In terms of writing, she had a particular sophistication that is rare. It’s rare to see with students, and that is why I pushed her to move forward with this story,” Chamberlain said.
Inspired by well-known stories like “Harry Potter” and “Romeo & Juliet”, Pavi began the process of developing her own story from scratch. She decided to write a fantasy romance novel set in a different universe where the main character, a man in his late 20s, navigates new and old relationships.
“It’s about this guy who is kind of discovering himself. He has family troubles, and he kind of separated himself from his family. He’s trying to work his way through the world and find out who he is,” said Pavi.
She spent countless hours writing and organizing her work. Her family supported her through the process by offering feedback. They also were understanding when she needed to go into the zone.
“It was very intense at points. I was staying up really late, or I’d be getting up early in the mornings. I was spending the weekends and my free time trying to get the pages done,” she said.
Her hard work paid off. Pavi met the challenge deadline. She wrote 50,084 words. The 100-plus page novel for young and older adults is called “Always In Your Head.” While Pavi says it still needs some editing and refining, she is very proud of what she was able to accomplish.
“I remember my teacher was there with me in the Google document. I saw her there with me while I wrote the last few words,” she said, “It was just insane to get to that final word count.”
Chamberlain sent her a congratulatory email as soon as she finished the novel. The excitement and elation of this accomplishment was something that Chamberlain got to experience vicariously through Pavi.
“J.K. Rowling’s novel “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is about 75,000 words. J.K. Rowling certainly didn’t write “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in one month like Mina,” Chamberlain said.
Pavi describes the entire experience as “freeing.” She’s more confident than ever that she has the ability to accomplish whatever she puts her mind to.
“In a world of a lot of people that are always willing to do the bare minimum, it is refreshing to see someone who will see challenges and just jump on them. I wish we could encourage more people to be like this, because what she did was an awesome thing,” Chamberlain said.
The young novelist has plans to continue exploring creative writing. Pavi says she is open to writing more short stories and maybe even another book, but first she wants to finish putting the final touches on her first novel.