THE WILD DRAFT
⋆˙⟡ A 6 month novel writing cohort for writers ready to conjure their wildest (or first) draft.⋆˙⟡
Details at a glance
January–June 2027: A six-month novel-writing program with two small-group cohorts to choose from. 12 live classes held every other week.
➤ Evening Cohort: Starts January 13
Meets every other Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:30 PM EST
➤ Daytime Moms Cohort: Starts January 15
Meets every other Friday, 12 - 1:30 PM EST
A baby-friendly space for writing moms.
Small-group experience. Limited seats in each cohort. Enrollment opens November 4, 2026.
Stop putting your story off for “someday.” Start here.
What is The Wild Draft?
You have a story you can’t stop thinking about. Maybe it’s just an idea, a voice, a fragment—or maybe you’ve started this novel before but never made it all the way through. You’re craving structure, creative momentum, and the kind of community that makes writing feel alive again.
The Wild Draft is a six-month small-group experience for writers ready to conjure their wildest (or first) draft. This is a high-touch experience designed to help you finish a draft of your novel—and believe in it. We meet biweekly from January through June, building your novel through craft lessons, feedback, accountability, and creative devotion.
Through thoughtful support, creative experimentation, and an emphasis on writerly joy (because we all need that!), you’ll write a complete draft—the one that’s been living inside you, waiting for space to emerge.
The draft you complete here is just one outcome of the journey. What you’re really building is a creative practice: a way of thinking, noticing, and returning to the page with intention. The pages are evidence, yes—but the real magic is what you’ll carry forward: deeper trust in your voice, a framework for finishing things, and a rhythm you can return to again and again.
“Kailey makes the unmanageable sound manageable, even fun! Lessons are well-paced and well-structured and her approach will make you want to embrace the wild of your draft. If you've been struggling to get started or to restart, this is the class for you.”
— Jen Parker, Wild Draft Alum
You’ll Thrive in This Cohort If You Are:
Ready to explore, commit, and finish a draft
Open to feedback, revision, and discovery
Curious about your own voice and process
Excited to be part of a creative community
Able to dedicate 4–6 hours per week to writing and reflection
Willing to hold things loosely and trust the journey (even the messy middle)
What’s Included
12 biweekly live Zoom calls combining traditional and unconventional craft lessons—featuring writing exercises, readings, and creative assignments—with time for open discussion and community connection. Part workshop, part creative circle.
Weekly check-ins via email with extra prompts, fun and generative homework assignments, and encouragement to keep you going.
6 virtual writing sessions (held monthly) to create space for focused writing and shared momentum.
One 1:1 session with Kailey (1 hour) to dive into your project, answer questions, or focus on any area where you need extra support.
A book-length PDF of all course materials at the end of the cohort, so you can revisit the lessons anytime you need a spark.
Optional Add-On: $397
Want feedback on your first 50 pages?
Get in-depth feedback on your first 50 pages: You'll receive an editorial letter highlighting your strengths, areas for development, and craft-focused suggestions that double as a personalized revision roadmap.
Limited availability: You can book this add-on at checkout or ask at the end of the cohort to see if additional spots open up.
Your Six Month Journey
January — Orientation, project mapping, embracing messiness
February — Act 1: stakes, setup, characters
March — Act 2, Part 1: escalation and discovery
April — Act 2, Part 2: deepening tension and pivots
May — Act 3: endings and prepping for final push
June — Act 3: the finale, wrap-up, and what’s next
Six Months From Now, You'll Have...
A completed (or near-complete) draft
A concrete plan to revise and move forward
A clearer sense of your voice, story, and writing process
The tools to support a writing practice that feels grounded, consistent, and uniquely yours
A community of writers who’ve seen your project grow
“For so long, I've had stories swirling inside me that had nowhere to go. So many big ideas that I would sit down to write, but somewhere between my head and the words on the page, they were pulled away by life's chaos. I'd finally decided to commit to writing a whole story, but I was intimidated by how daunting the task seemed after the ideas had been growing for so long.
Beyond the lessons Kailey crafted, the community with other writers was invaluable. I would not have made it through my first draft without the support and camaraderie of the other writers.
I finished the workshop with a wild draft (and an ability to appreciate the beauty and freedom in the wildness), some writing partners, and a much deeper appreciation for the craft of storytelling.”
— Nora, Wild Draft Alum
Why work with me
Since 2018, I’ve been immersed in the writing and publishing world as the founder of Write or Die, I've built a thriving community of writers, interviewed hundreds of authors about their process, and helped countless creatives shape, submit, and share their work. Through my collaboration with Chill Subs, I've guided writers through the often-intimidating world of querying and finding the right agent.
I've been where you are. I spent four years writing, revising, and querying—and when I finally landed my agent, it happened in just three months, because I had done the groundwork. I know the emotional highs and lows of the process, and I bring real, lived experience to every step of the journey.
I specialize in the early stages of writing. The messy first drafts, the false starts, and the breakthroughs. I love helping writers tap into their creative rhythm, stay accountable, and build sustainable practices that last well beyond one project.
If you're craving honest support, clear guidance, and a mentor who shows up with both strategy and heart, I'm here to walk alongside you.
“I had tried to make progress on my novel previously, but felt that I lacked the structure and community to do so. When I came across The Wild Draft, I was drawn to Kailey's 6-month incubator and decided to sign up and see what would happen. I'm so glad I did!
Even on weeks when my writing goals fell short, Kailey and my other cohort members still made it a point to celebrate what I had done, and that encouragement kept me going. My dream of finishing this novel now feels within my reach, and that would simply not be possible without Kailey.
So, if you're unsure if this is the step for you, sign up. Show up. Gain a community of writers. Be celebrated for what you've accomplished. Receive tough love when you need it. And get that messy draft written.
Those six months will pass anyway!”
— Leslie Lopez, Wild Draft Alum
Ready to give your novel six months?
One Wild Draft. Two ways to join. Both cohorts follow the same curriculum, with the same lessons, accountability, community, and support. Just choose the schedule that works best for you.
Space is intentionally limited to keep each cohort small and personal. Enrollment closes when spots are filled.
$2,147
or 6 monthly payments of $375
⏾ Evening Cohort
January 13–June 16, 2027
Biweekly Wednesdays from 7-8:30 PM EST
For writers who prefer to meet in the evening.
𖤓Daytime Moms Cohort
January 15–June 18, 2027
Biweekly Fridays from 12 - 1:30 PM EST
A daytime writing community for moms. Babies and kids welcome!
✨ BONUS FOR PAYING IN FULL—Save $103 and receive a complimentary 1:1 Pre-Draft Strategy Call before the cohort begins.
FAQs
-
Not at all. If you have a seed— a story idea, a few pages, or even just a strong character voice you can’t stop thinking about, that will be enough. This cohort is built to support early-stage writers and help you generate material in a structured, encouraging way. You don’t need an outline, a synopsis, or a perfect plan—just the willingness to show up and explore. It is in that exploration that your story will start to unfold. There will be lots of unknowns, but that is completely normal in an early draft!
-
Both cohorts follow the exact same six-month curriculum, with the same lessons, writing sessions, accountability, and support. The only difference is the meeting schedule and atmosphere! Babies on laps, nursing during calls, cameras off, and the occasional interruption are all welcome!
Moms are welcome in either cohort! The daytime group is simply designed to be a little more accommodating to those juggling writing and caring for little ones.
-
Yes. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons people join. Abandoning a project doesn’t mean you’re not committed—it means you likely didn’t have the support, structure, or spaciousness to see it through. The Wild Draft helps you build momentum, get unstuck, and feel accountable to your vision (and to a small, supportive group of writers who want to see you finish). Bring that draft in whatever stage it is in!
-
Yes. You can either pay in full or in six monthly installments. The payment plan is there to make the experience more accessible and spread out the cost. If you have questions about timing or need to talk through other options, feel free to reach out directly.
-
Yes! There is an optional add-on for editorial feedback on your first 50 pages. You’ll receive an editorial letter and a personalized revision roadmap. Availability is limited, and you can add this during checkout or revisit the offer near the end of the cohort.
-
The Wild Draft is open to writers across all novel genres—whether you’re working on literary fiction, sci-fi, romance, fantasy, or something undefined. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re writing a sweeping epic or a quiet interior novel. The craft lessons are grounded in flexible storytelling principles (like the three-act structure) that can be adapted to fit your voice and vision. If you’re ever unsure how a lesson applies to your work, you’ll have space to ask questions, get feedback, and shape the tools to fit your story.
-
That’s completely fine. I understand that 6 months is a long-term commitment, and life things will happen. The biweekly group sessions will be recorded and sent out the next day, so you can watch when it works for you. You’ll also receive any resources you might have missed, so you’re never behind.
-
Writers typically spend 4–6 hours per week on writing, reflection, and cohort-related activities. This includes biweekly live sessions, writing prompts, optional homework, and any solo writing you do outside of group time. The goal isn’t hustle—it’s sustained creative rhythm that respects your life and energy. Some weeks you might write more than others, which is okay and normal!
Your novel is waiting for you.
You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to show up, get messy, and see what happens when you give your story the time and attention it deserves.
January–June 2027 · Two cohort options · Payment plans available