Writer's Camp

July 1st was the first day of Camp NaNoWriMo .   It's not too late if you want to go to camp with me this summer.  As a matter of fact, I just arrived today.

"Camp NaNoWriMo?  What's that?" I hear you ask inquisitively.

Camp NaNoWriMo is a camp-themed version of National Novel Writing Month.

"What's National Novel Writing Month?"  I hear you whine annoyingly.

According to the NaNoWriMo web site, "National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000 word, (approximately 175 page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30."   It started with only 21 writers in 1999, but last year grew to 200,500 participants from around the world.  Check out their What is NaNoWriMo page for more information.

Which brings us back to your first question: What is Camp NaNoWriMo?

Camp NaNoWriMo is a free online camp that provides "support, tracking tools, and hard deadline to help you write the rough draft of your novel in a month."  This is the first year of Camp NaNoWriMo so you could be a pathfinder if you attend this year.   (Pathfinder - that's a camp word.)

This camping experience is on-line so you don't need to worry about mosquitoes, labeling your underwear, or the quality of the 'bug juice" (another camp term).  And, yes, I said it's free.  They do ask you for donations and to participate in fundraisers, but neither are mandatory in any way.   However, you will, of course, want to buy a souvenir t-shirt. 

"Writer's Camp" "Writer's cramp"  That's a play on words.  Get it?