Camp Nanowrimo

Yes campers, it is that time again: Camp Nanowrimo time. 

I'd seen the emails and was geared up to go when some wonderful people I'm friends with on Facebook asked if anyone wanted to join a cabin. It was a nice surprise as I expected to go it alone or let the website assign me a cabin. It is always nice to be with others striving to do what you do and want to support each other and get support themselves.

Some of you may not know what Camp Nanowrimo or even what Nanowrimo (which occurs every year in November) is. This non-profit website is set up to do just what my cabin mates are trying to do: encourage writers to do what they do while providing support from others who are fighting the same good fight. You create a project title -- either something that is already a WIP (Work in Progress) or a new project. Enter the starting word count and then update as you go. 

Camp Nanowrimo and Nanowrimo have you set a word count goal for the month and then it tells you what your daily goal is for reaching that goal. It's kind of like deciding that you want to run a 5k by a certain date and breaking down the time in between to certain lengths so that you can eventually make that run.

Not a runner? Okay how about this: you know your house needs to be cleaned by the time your in-laws visit, so you decide that the best way to do that is by cleaning a room a day until they day they arrive. Better? No problem.

This is a really great program for all level of writers because it provides support from other writers and the Nanowrimo community through daily messages and challenges as well as pushing the writer to set and strive toward a goal. Anyone can join; it is completely free. When you reach your goal, they even give you some special deals on different products and you can purchase a t-shirt proudly telling the world that you participated in the program and reached your goal.

In it's essence, the program does what we all sometimes struggle to do independently. Writers don't always have deadlines or a reason to push themselves. This gives a writer a (much needed) kick in the ass.

And there are always lots of comments about s'mores. Who doesn't love s'mores? Screw the 5K if there aren't s'mores at the end...