Monday, 28 July 2014

3 Things I Love Most about Camp NaNoWriMo





It’s nearly the end of July, and also the end of Camp NaNoWriMo for another year. As the end draws closer and closer, it’s the perfect time to look back at the month with all its ups and downs. For me, there are many things that make Camp NaNoWriMo special. While every Camp is a different experience, something things never change. Here are 3 things I love most about Camp NaNoWriMo.

The Cabins: A lot of people complain about the cabin system, and to be honest, it doesn’t always work that well. But the cabins are amazing, personal places to talk and to get to know new friends, as well as chat with old ones. With a cabin, I always have people ready to listen to me when I’m down in the dumps about my novel, or to celebrate a milestone with me.

The Challenge: Camp NaNoWriMo is all about challenging yourself. Unlike regular NaNoWriMo, where the goal is fixed, Camp lets you choose your own goal. It’s perfect for a personal challenge. I love the challenge of trying to write an entire novel in a month or of hitting a particular word goal. Camp NaNoWriMo helps me dedicate my time more fully to writing.

The Conclusion: While this may sound like I don’t like Camp NaNoWriMo, I think there are few feelings better than getting to the end of the month and having a rest after thirty days of non-stop writing. The beginning is all excitement, but the end is sheer relief, and a rest never feels so good unless you’ve had to work hard for it.

We’re in the last couple of days of Camp now. Some people have already won, while others are still working away, trying to reach their goal. If you’ve finished already, then congratulations! Eat plenty of celebratory chocolate or other treat, catch up on some sleep, rest those poor, tired hands, and feel proud of your achievement. If you’re still working, keep up the great work! You should be proud of yourself too. I’m cheering for you. I know you can make it.

What do you love most about Camp NaNoWriMo? Looking forward to a well-earned rest at the end? Have you finished writing, or are you still racing toward the finish line?

4 comments:

  1. I feel so very out-of-the-loop because I'm all gearing up to start writing NOW. Why can't I ever do these things in sync with NaNo?? I'm super curious about the whole cabin things! Being able to chat and make new writery friends sounds really really awesome, actually. I usually write at night and that's when my American friends are asleep, so, hehe, no one to talk to! (Although maybe that's a good thing? I don't wander off and get distracted so much??)

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    1. You probably write better quality books without the pressure of NaNo. I know for a fact I write a lot of rubbish, but that's what editing's for, right? That probably is a good thing. I generally chat to my cabin mates in the morning and write later in the day. You can definitely make some amazing friends through NaNo though.

      Good luck with your book! I'm sure it's going to be absolutely awesome.

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  2. I've got 14,000 words to go... So I'm not sure if I'll make it, but we'll see.

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    1. Whatever happens, you're amazing because you gave it a try. Keep up the great writing work!

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