How I’m Surviving Camp Nanowrimo

Remember the days when Nanowrimo was just a thing we did each November? When we put off our writing projects for months because we knew that, come November, we’d have to knock them out anyway? Well, thanks to the growing popularity of Camp Nanowrimo, that is no longer an option (read, excuse) for us Nanowrimo lovers. We’ve now got two other opportunities to subject ourselves to the madness that is committing to write everyday.

I tried Camp Nanowrimo earlier this year and failed because of a number of reasons. And honestly, I thought at that point I was done with the word count challenges. At least when it came to the novel I’m currently working on. But not long after Camp Nanowrimo, I decided to try writing by chapter instead of word count. And it worked out so well for me. Until life got crazy and I stopped writing the past few weeks that is…

But Camp Nanowrimo is back for the month. And for the third time in a row, I think I’ll give it another chance. The caveat for me is that I don’t want to make it all about word count, because that tends to backfire. Instead, I’m going to try a chapter by chapter approach. My goal for this month will be to write 15 chapters for my novel. Although frankly, I’d be satisfied with just 10.

I’ll keep you guys posted on how it goes! But for now, I wanted to share some of my writing essentials, aka the things that are helping me get through this crazy Camp Nanowrmo season.

The Notes App on my Phone

I’m pretty sure that the notes app is one of my most used apps, if not the number one. I use it everyday to write down reminders, arrange Instagram captions and of course, jot down notes about my novel. Because as any experienced writer knows, the best inspiration usually comes when we’re away from our computers, living life. I’ve so often had to pull out my phone to write down a new scene idea, or even a few lines for my story. And the fact that this app syncs to my laptop just makes life so, so much easier.

Cozy, Quiet Coffee Shops

After several years of exploring coffee shops around my city, I learned that I definitely have a type. While trendy coffee shops are nice to hang out with friends, I’m kind of over trying to write (or study) in them. I’ve realized that crowded, loud places are too distracting for me - they tend to make me too anxious to focus on what I’m doing. Barnes & Noble and Starbucks might be “generic," but they’re generally pretty calm and great for writing. I have a favorite Barnes & Noble and Starbucks that I frequent so often that I’m pretty sure the baristas think I have no life!

Pinterest

I joined Pinterest about three months ago, and my life was changed for the better. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little. But I really did come to love Pinterest and finally realized why so many people are obsessed with it. One of my favorite parts about the site is that it’s a great place to find articles about writing. I’ve found several great resources to help me with my novel on Pinterest (and I even started a board for story inspiration). Check out my Writing Tips board to get a peek at some of my favorites.

Other Books

After over a decade of writing fiction, I’ve become very well acquainted with writer’s block. And while I do know of some great tips to get rid of it, I also know that sometimes the best approach is to just close your laptop for a while and take a pause. One of the most productive (and relaxing) ways to do this is to read another book. This can be tricky of course, because you don’t want to fall into the trap of mimicking someone else’s writing or plot points. But as long as you keep that in mind, I think t’s a great idea. Reading a different story activates our imagination and helps us be more creative once we return to our writing.

Motivation

Let’s be honest - committing to write a whole novel is a pretty big goal. It can seem intimidating and impossible when you’re in the middle of it, which is why it helps to find motivation wherever you can. One of my favorite ways is to write at Barnes & Noble, where every now and then I can get up and walk through aisle after aisle of shiny, hardcover books. What’s more inspiring than knowing literally thousands of other people have successfully finished their books? Nothing like an if-they-did-it-so-can-I scenario to motivate you. I’ve also found some really great writing quotes lately. I loved this one so much that I made this graphic to hopefully inspire you too. :)

Happy writing, friends!

#2016 #writing