How Campnanowrimo helps me write
Another virtual writing camp is done and dusted!
How many times have you said or heard someone say "I want to write a book"? Many times, I'm sure. But until you sit down and actually write something, it will only remain a pipe dream. That's where the National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) can help turn your dream into reality.
A writing buddy told me about this yearly Internet-based creative writing project that runs from 1-30 November. The aim is simple: write a novel of 50 000 words over a period of 30 days. Yikes! It sounds like a lot but when you break it down, it comes to 1667 words per day. I took up the challenge in 2014, to prove to myself that I could. And I did.
I made every effort to reach the daily goal of 1 667 words per day, in between my day job, caring for my family and other social responsibilities. I wrote mainly at night and put in extra effort on weekends. That's how I managed to write my debut sports romance novel Bowled Over.
Was that first draft perfect? No way! Far from it. I then signed up for Camp Nanowrimo (www.campnanowrimo.org) during the months of April and July) to revise, revise and revise again. These Internet-based virtual camps are more relaxed as you decide on a project and set your own goal for that month. I made new writing friends from around the globe and their encouragement saw me over the line time and time again, as I'm a procrastinator of note.
Now another camp has ended, my fourth in a row. I used this one to revise another novel that I finished writing during the July camp last year.
I'm eternally grateful for these times because they've helped me finish a story that lived only in my head for over a decade.
Who or what has helped you accomplish your writing goals?
How many times have you said or heard someone say "I want to write a book"? Many times, I'm sure. But until you sit down and actually write something, it will only remain a pipe dream. That's where the National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) can help turn your dream into reality.
A writing buddy told me about this yearly Internet-based creative writing project that runs from 1-30 November. The aim is simple: write a novel of 50 000 words over a period of 30 days. Yikes! It sounds like a lot but when you break it down, it comes to 1667 words per day. I took up the challenge in 2014, to prove to myself that I could. And I did.
I made every effort to reach the daily goal of 1 667 words per day, in between my day job, caring for my family and other social responsibilities. I wrote mainly at night and put in extra effort on weekends. That's how I managed to write my debut sports romance novel Bowled Over.
Was that first draft perfect? No way! Far from it. I then signed up for Camp Nanowrimo (www.campnanowrimo.org) during the months of April and July) to revise, revise and revise again. These Internet-based virtual camps are more relaxed as you decide on a project and set your own goal for that month. I made new writing friends from around the globe and their encouragement saw me over the line time and time again, as I'm a procrastinator of note.
Now another camp has ended, my fourth in a row. I used this one to revise another novel that I finished writing during the July camp last year.
I'm eternally grateful for these times because they've helped me finish a story that lived only in my head for over a decade.
Who or what has helped you accomplish your writing goals?
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