What I Learned at Camp: 3 Things to Pack to Prevent Stalling Out

Every new writing project is a chance to tell a new story… and to learn something about yourself. We’ve asked writers to share what they learned about their writing during Camp NaNoWriMo. Today, participant Holly S. talks about what she learned from hitting snags in her novel draft:

Dear fellow Wrimos,

What lovely weather we had for Camp NaNoWriMo this past July! The sunshine was ideal for hiking, building awesome sand castles (beachside Hogwarts, anyone?), and writing outside, of course! There’s nothing like some fresh air to get those fingers typing or pencils flying, especially when embarking on such a challenging writing journey.

Even though I wrote from the solitary comfort of my back porch, I certainly was not alone. Chatting with cabin mates and participating in Twitter sprints helped me feel as connected to other Campers as I felt to the outdoors surrounding me. The realization that I had plenty of company on this long trek inspired me to give it my all and added a boost of fun into the mix. Whenever I needed a break from tapping away on my keyboard, I knew I could turn to you all, my fellow Wrimos, for support…

Unfortunately, I hit a snag along my writing trail in the middle of the second week. All of a sudden, I got this overwhelming feeling that I had lost my way. Where was my plot going? I looked at the story map I had created while preparing for Camp, but it no longer looked like a viable road upon which my characters could travel. I’m big on planning, so you can imagine the terror I felt while writing a novel without a concrete idea of where it was going. I was so frightened, friends! Who knew what lurked around the next corner? A bear? An evil alien? Something worse?

I’m not going to lie: I was paralyzed by fear. After that second week, I did manage to write a bit more, but I was not able to reach my overall word-count goal. In future NaNoWriMo events, I need to tell myself to go with the flow. Sometimes it’s better to seek an alternate route when an obstacle occurs rather than forcing yourself to try to overcome it. This is a rough draft we’re writing here—it doesn’t have to be perfect! The next time I write in an event like Camp NaNoWriMo, I’ll remember to pack three more things in my backpack: flexibility, an open mind, and my “go with the flow” mantra.

I believe  that there’s a lesson behind every failure, and my experience with Camp is no exception. But if failure creates opportunities to learn and grow… then is it really such a bad thing?

Thanks for embracing your outdoorsy sides with me this July, fellow Wrimos! See you all on our next great adventure!

With love,
Holly

Holly is a bookish, nut-allergic girl with a a passion for all things nerdy, wordy, and quirky. By day she is a library page, college student, and avid tea drinker. By night she’s a guacamole-fueled reader, blogger, and aspiring writer! Check out her blog, Nut Free Nerd, for more bookish and nerdy fun! You can also chat with her on Twitter and become her friend on Goodreads!

Top photo by Flickr user Leo Hidalgo.