Writing a novel is tedious work that few people finish in their lifetime. Sophomore Sullivan Kuper is the exception. He has taken a process that takes people many years and broke it down into less than one.  

Sullivan Kuper is just a normal high school student, who happens to have already written his first novel, and while waiting for it to be published is working on his second. His novel is a creative fantasy about a crab named Garb who has to go on a mission and hope to get home safely.

“I started in the summer of eighth grade, finished New Year’s the same year,” Sullivan Kuper said. “So it took me about six months. It was around 450 pages when I finished it. I’m currently trying to get it published, which is a terribly long process, but maybe in a year or two it can be in stores.”

The process of writing a novel means you need to get an editor, a publisher, and then hopefully see it being sold, but Sullivan Kuper is already halfway there. With his mom being an author herself, it seemed most fitting to have her do some edits for him. 

“I took a “hands-off” approach while Sully drafted his manuscript because I didn’t want to influence his writing in any way,” Sullivan’s mom Tonya Kuper said. “He needed to write his first novel on his own, just as anyone does. Once his manuscript was complete, I read his book for the first time and gave him editorial notes just as I have received from my agent and editors in traditional publishing. These notes addressed everything from grammar and sentence structure to character development and plot progression. Like an editor, I asked questions and gave suggestions but did not change his words, story, or voice. He is now working through the edits I gave him for his novel.”

Tonya Kuper, having already gone through this a couple times, is helping her son’s process the move very smoothly. From editing to just listening to his ideas she’s there to help him if and when he needs it. Though Sullivan Kuper didn’t just talk to his mom about this, he also got help from one of his close friends, sophomore Addie Gardner, who has been reading parts of his book and giving her opinions along the way. 

“I think the fact that he’s writing a book is awesome,” Gardner said. “I think it’s amazing to have someone to talk about my own work with as well, especially because we like to write in the same genres. We just get each other so we’re able to bounce ideas off each other and i love being able to help him with his work.”

As Sullivan Kuper continues to work through the edits provided by his mother and continues to talk about his story with close friends, he stands as an inspiring example to other young writers. He demonstrates that with passion, support, and hard work, even complex creative endeavors like writing a novel, can be achieved at a young age.