{"id":42089,"date":"2022-10-27T10:01:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T14:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/?p=42089"},"modified":"2022-10-27T10:01:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T14:01:26","slug":"camp-nanowrimo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/?p=42089","title":{"rendered":"Camp NaNoWriMo – Guide For Writers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve spent any amount of time in online writing circles, you\u2019ve probably already heard of NaNoWriMo<\/a>, an annual contest which challenges its participants to write fifty-thousand words during the month of November. The contest is designed specifically for novelists, but it attracts writers from all corners of the web looking to push their word count to its limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But NaNoWriMo isn\u2019t the only writing contest the organization runs. Have you heard of Camp NaNoWriMo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019re going to talk about what Camp NaNoWriMo is, why you might be interested, how to enter, and what you can do to make the most of your Camp NaNoWriMo experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Camp NaNoWriMo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Camp NaNoWriMo is a writing event which takes place during the months of April and July. Like NaNoWriMo, the event lasts for the entire month. Unlike NaNoWriMo, the event does not involve writing fifty-thousand words! Also, as the name implies, Camp NaNo is more of an event than a contest\u2014you can still win, but there isn\u2019t as much of a competitive edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s break down the rules for Camp NaNoWriMo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The event begins at the start of the month (either April or July) and ends at the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Participants can set their own word goal. This can be fifty-thousand words, but it could also be literally any other number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.  Participants are invited to write anything. Where NaNoWriMo asks its participants to put fifty-thousand words towards, specifically, a fiction novel<\/a>, Camp NaNo does not. Nonfiction, fan-fiction, memoir, poetry, grocery lists, and break-up texts are all fair game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s really all there is to it! This event is more lax compared to NaNoWriMo, and to me, that\u2019s what makes it feel less competitive. Of course, you can technically write whatever you want for NaNoWriMo itself, and there\u2019s no one forcing you to personally decide to write fifty-thousand words (NaNoWriMo is a self-challenge, which means you\u2019re holding yourself accountable for meeting the goal or not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the lowered expectations around Camp NaNoWriMo create a more relaxed atmosphere. It feels more like a camp, where everyone\u2019s taking a break from their regular stuff to hang out and talk about their projects, meet other writers, and hear from published authors. Camp NaNoWriMo also boasts a host of resources for writers to learn from as they work on their projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do Camp NaNoWriMo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you hated NaNoWriMo, and the thought of voluntarily subjecting yourself to another month of similar torture sounds asinine. First, that\u2019s a little dramatic, but second, I think Camp NaNo is worth a shot even if NaNoWriMo didn\u2019t work out for you. Here\u2019s a brief list of reasons why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. It\u2019s easy to participate\u2026 and to win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already talked about Camp NaNo\u2019s comparatively lax criteria to NaNoWriMo and how that lax criteria gives the whole event a calmer feel, but I\u2019d like to elaborate a little bit here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, even though participants technically can do whatever they want for NaNoWriMo, Camp NaNo means you can set your own goals<\/a> without feeling left out or anything like that. There\u2019s literally no ideal word count, and that means it\u2019s pretty hard to rib yourself for not getting fifty-thousand words, even if you told yourself you couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, participants get two different chances to participate in Camp NaNo\u2014April and July\u2014and that makes it more likely that you\u2019ll be able to do it. November is a busy time of year, especially for students and teachers, and especially <\/em>with the holiday season right around the corner, so it\u2019s not always possible to drop everything and commit to a project at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Camp NaNoWriMo\u2019s resources can be helpful<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Camp NaNo also boasts resources for writers to take advantage of while they\u2019re working on their projects. Let\u2019s go over two of the biggest features as listed on Camp NaNo\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, NaNoWriMo (the organization which hosts both National Novel Writing Month and Camp NaNo\u2014don\u2019t be confused!) hosts regular local writing events like write-ins, author q+a\u2019s, and workshops around specific topics. Check what they\u2019ve got going on in your area, not just during Camp NaNo, but year-round!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the Google Calendar for NaNoWriMo\u2019s events in July, for reference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s that same month in agenda form, so you can see the specific events a little more clearly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these local events, Camp NaNo also has Camp Counselors\u2014these are published authors who offer support, advice, and guidance throughout the month. This was the Camp Counselor lineup for July:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Camp NaNoWriMo offers community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The resources that Camp NaNo has to offer are great for keeping you grounded and supported throughout the process. It\u2019s great to feel like someone\u2019s rooting for you, and it\u2019s awesome to have professionals to turn to for mentorship!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also great to have a community surrounding your writing and the writing of other authors in your area. You might not know any other writers in your day-to-day life\u2014this is pretty normal! It\u2019s an oft-isolating industry, usually done alone, and usually not involving a ton of connection to other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you don\u2019t love the idea of in-person events, guess what? Camp NaNo also has a ton of chances for online connection\u2014their forums allow you to get in touch with local writers online and support one another as you work. You might even make some lifelong friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make the Most of Camp NaNoWriMo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know what Camp NaNoWriMo is and why you should definitely try it out, let\u2019s talk about how to make the most of your experience. Even if you prefer not to connect with other writers and instead do Camp NaNo totally solo, some of these tips will help you out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pick a project you\u2019re excited about<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, you can choose to work on anything, but in my opinion, these kinds of events are best when you\u2019re working on something that excites you. If you\u2019ve got an idea for a book, but you just haven\u2019t found the time to get started, guess what? The time is now! If you\u2019ve got a weird idea for a poetry collection, bam\u2014Camp NaNo material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also use Camp NaNo to knock out a project that\u2019s been stewing on the back burner for a while. Maybe there\u2019s work to be done, maybe there are essays for college to be written\u2014if it\u2019s not something that you\u2019re super stoked about, at least pick something that you\u2019ll be glad you worked on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there anything you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>bring to Camp NaNo, you might ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is absolutely one-hundred-percent just my opinion, but I don\u2019t like to bring established, deep-in-the-works projects to events like this. Usually I\u2019ve already got a clear idea of where I want to go with the project, so I\u2019m not looking for a ton of feedback, and it\u2019s usually developed enough that there\u2019s not a lot of exciting new stuff happening with it. I\u2019m talking about novels that I\u2019ve already drafted a few times, short stories that just need polishing\u2014stuff like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp NaNo creates a ton of energy, and in that way, at least to me, it\u2019s like rocket fuel. Some of your projects or ideas might need rocket fuel to take off and get going\u2014some of your projects might not. You\u2019ll be the best judge of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use Camp NaNoWriMo to establish good writing habits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019re already writing for a living, you probably don\u2019t write super regularly. Events like Camp NaNo might be the only months out of the year that you\u2019re consistently returning to the keyboard for regular writing time. And that\u2019s completely fine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you want to be a pro, you\u2019re going to have to develop discipline. This doesn\u2019t mean drafting everyday (in fact, it definitely does not mean drafting every day), but it does mean coming to your keyboard as consistently as you can to keep your skills honed and your story fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try finding a consistent time to work on your Camp NaNo project. You might find that you work better in the evening, or that you prefer outlining<\/a> by hand, or that you prefer ten-minute writing sprints to twenty-minute writing sprints. Maybe you envisioned writing during your lunch break, but it turns out the break room at work is way <\/em>too distracting\u2014that\u2019s good to know! Take note of what works and what doesn\u2019t and bring that knowledge with you beyond Camp NaNo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Try getting involved with the community around Camp NaNoWriMo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the option to do Camp NaNo solo is available to you. It\u2019s a self-challenge, and as such, you\u2019re free to keep to yourself, work on your project, and pat yourself on the back at the end of the month when you\u2019ve completed your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, consider this: Camp NaNo is putting you in touch with other writers. Likely, some of these other writers are also readers who might be interested in reading your book when it\u2019s published. And to be clear, I am not <\/em>saying you should get close to people under the guise of friendship with the ultimate intent of selling them something\u2014in fact, don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I am saying is that if you are self-publishing<\/a>, you\u2019re going to want to build a platform. Platforms require readers, yes, but they also require connections to other authors. Who else is publishing in your genre? What kind of stuff are they writing? Connecting to these other authors means building up your platform<\/a> a little bit, and that\u2019s going to be absolutely vital when it comes time to publish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, working with other self-published authors is a great opportunity to compare resources. Someone might know a great editor<\/a> for your genre, and someone else might have already tried the cover designer<\/a> you have in mind. You can combine knowledge in this way to save yourself some time and make the best decisions possible for yourself and your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Have some fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the thing: ultimately, Camp NaNo is meant to be fun. Going in with some kind of plan will help you optimize your experience, but if you don\u2019t have one, I absolutely encourage you to log in on July or April 1st, set up an account, and announce a project, even if you literally just thought of it on the spot. In fact, that might be the most wholesome way to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However you choose to play, have fun out there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever done Camp NaNo? How did it compare to NaNoWriMo? Let us know in the comments! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"TWL.<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve spent any amount of time in online writing circles, you\u2019ve probably already heard of NaNoWriMo, an annual contest which challenges its participants to write fifty-thousand words during the month of November. The contest is designed specifically for novelists, but it attracts writers from all corners of the web looking to push their word […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":42315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1693,6],"tags":[910,382,13,441],"class_list":["post-42089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-challenges-contests-jobs","category-self-publishing","tag-blog","tag-nanowrimo","tag-writing-a-book","tag-writing-challenges"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}