Okay, okay. The “official” National Novel Writing Month is November. BUT! The Office of Letters and Light is wonderful and set up a CAMP NANOWRIMO for those of us who are impatient for November every year. Aww man. It is my favorite time of the year! I hate it because I always fail, but I love it because I– I have no idea. Probably because it’s fun. (Yes, I know, you probably think I have a bogus idea of what “fun” is)
NaNoWriMo is a program which encourages you to write a fifty thousand word novel in thirty days. There are many branches of the program:
- NaNoWriMo (The mother of all NaNo events, which happens each year in November)
- NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program (where young NaNoers get to personalize their word count goal)
- Camp NaNoWriMo (an event similar to regular NaNo, but you have the option of being assigned to a cabin and an adjustable WCG. I love their ‘tagline’: An idyllic writer’s retreat, smack-dab in the middle of your crazy life. In past years, it’s happened in June and August, but this year they will be in April and July)
- Script Frenzy (which I have yet to participate in, but look forward to doing someday)
- Night of Writing Dangerously (an all night writing shindig in San Francisco)
These are just the events that I remember off the top of my head. NaNo is just… AHH!!! It’s awesome. I love my cabin this year. Everyone is so involved! I, being the social butterfly/group leader that I am *giggles toward people who know me* ask all sorts of questions (“Are you a pantser* or an outliner?” “How long have you been writing?” “What’s your opinion on fanny packs?”) and they answer! Crazy…
I started writing a story about a boy named Benedict McLove (odd name, but it plays a part in the story), and I realized that I don’t know enough about what I want to do with it to make it worth my while. I might continue it someday, but not this month. Instead, I’m continuing the sequel to the book I wrote last year. It’s about a boy named Liam. It’ll hopefully be available on Amazon as an e-book sometime this year, but… you can never be sure! I’ve still got some editing to do.
So this April, I’ll be busy. I am a Junior in high school, but I’m homeschooled! I can’t imagine a better predicament to be in as a NaNoer. Lots of high school students participate, but they all have a set amount of time they need to be in school. I can do all my work in, like, two or three hours and get straight to writing. I don’t have clubs to go to, or sports, or play practice, or whatever. This is one reason I’m glad I’m homeschooled; I can do fun things! 😉
PS: to the people of The Office of Letters and Light: I LOVE YOU.
PPS: If you’ve ever participated in NaNoWriMo in any way, shape, or form, let me know! It’s always great to hear from a fellow WriMo. 🙂
*A pantser is someone who writes by the seat of their pants. I am a pantser, usually, though I always have an idea of where I’d like to go… though that’s rarely the case. All my stinking characters are waaaay bossy!
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