I’m a Cadette leader and troop cookie mom. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoy being a part of Girl Scouts!

Senior Novelist Badge

Girl Scout Seniors can earn their Novelist badge, virtually meet an author to hear about her writing process and publishing journey, and get a first chapter critique!

Experience the fun of a novelist’s career and learn the steps involved in writing a novel. Then, write your own work of fiction. Schedule a 30- to 45-minute zoom chat with Candice Marley Conner, children’s and teen author. She will discuss her author journey, and how she created the characters and plot in her YA Southern mystery, THE EXISTENCE OF BEA PEARL. Once the girls write and edit their 20 pages, they can submit their first chapters to Candice for a critique!

1. Deconstruct a novel Read Candice Marley Conner’s teen mystery, THE EXISTENCE OF BEA PEARL, about a sixteen-year-old girl who must navigate the swamps and secrets of her small town to uncover what happened to her mysteriously disappeared brother. You can request it from your local library or indie bookstore, and it’s available online wherever books are sold. For a signed, personalized copy, purchase from Candice’s local indie, The Haunted Book Shop Mobile (they ship!).
2. Create great characters
3. Develop a plot
4. Write at least 20 pages
5. Edit your pages Once you’ve edited your pages, e-mail the first chapter to Candice for a critique. Leaders and parents, please include the troop number in the e-mail’s subject.

When you’ve earned this badge, you’ll know what it takes to write a great novel and you’ll have written at least 20 pages of your own. Badges may be purchased from your local council.

Contact: Candice Marley Conner

Girl Scout Outcomes covered: 

Sense of Self – Girls have the confidence in themselves and their abilities, and form positive identities.

Challenge-Seeking – Girls take appropriate risks, try things even though they may fail, and learn from their mistakes.

Healthy Relationships – Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.

Community Problem Solving – Girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, create/plot “action plans” to solve them.

Cost: $6 per girl