writing

5 Reasons Camp NaNoWriMo is Worth It // aka shameless self-advertising for my cabin

by Sarah Baran

Camp NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’re staring blankly at your computer screen and wondering how on earth you’ll scrape together the time (let alone the CREATIVE ENERGY) to participate.

I feel you, friends.

School is a monster.

No, skip that – LIFE is a monster. A monster that will eat you whole if given the chance. And, let’s face it: Camp Nano isn’t worth getting eaten over. (At least, not to me. You professional writing psychos might feel differently. I don’t know.)

But at the same time, the Camp Nano months have become an incredibly important staple of my writing life. (Read: The only time I ever get anything done.) Sure, they’re not the real NaNoWriMo (which, by definition, is a 30-day period where writers are robbed of sanity and willfully try to kill themselves), and for some people, that’s reason to skip it.

For me, that’s the reason to embrace it.

Behold: My thesis.

 

#1. no one dies

I mean, it’s true…

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#2. all the ambition, none of the stress

Unlike the official NaNoWriMo in November, where you’re required to write 50,000 words or else face the doom of your own shame and other’s judgement, Camp Nano is self-paced — in other words, YOU make a goal, and YOU decide if you want to keep it or not.

Only have three days left and a monstrous amount of words yet to be written?

Pffffft, please.

You can change your goal. Those 35,000 words can become 30,000. Or 20,000. Or 15,000.

AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO JUDGE YOU.

#3. a slap in the face of the Life Ogre

Look, I get it. School is tough and life has no mercy.  These last few months, I’ve been juggling online college courses, art commissions, blogging, familiarizing myself with a new town and church, collaborations, deadlines, job applications, blizzards, baking, and more. Lots of lovely creative things, and yet, in the midst of them all, I’m either 1.) too busy, 2.) too tired, or 3.) too distracted to work on my book.

And sure, April is no exception. The world doesn’t stop just because we want to write more. But at the same time, Camp Nano forces us to make time for our writing amidst the craziness, to hold our stories tighter and say, “No. This is important, too.”

#4. motivation

Eh, yeah, who needs that…

Certainly not me, who would rather lay in the middle of the floor and whine instead of doing something useful.

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#5. cabins, accountability, and camaraderie

Ah yes, Camp Nano cabins. Little internet spaces where writers hunch over their keyboard and bemoan their writing woes together. It’s like a writing forum, only smaller — a tightly-knit personal cheerleading squad, complete with banter, encouragement, motivation, accountability, and — you guessed it — more banter.

Which leads me to an announcement. (Hopefully a nice one, but hey, I’ll let you decide.) In my latest newsletter, I asked how many of you would be interested in a Sarcastic Elf cabin. Well, the responses are in, and the general consensus?

Guys, I started a cabin.

I know it’s still relatively early to be making plans for Camp Nano, but hey, if you’re planning to participate, come write with me. It’ll be fun. There will be lots of snark and explosions in my cabin.

Everyone needs snark and explosions, right?

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Sign-up form for the Sarcastic Scriptorium is below. (I considered naming it “Sarah’s Sarcastic Slaves,” but figured that might be pushing things…) Don’t be shy, people! If you follow my blog, you’re more than welcome to join in.

 

***Cabin sign-up is now closed.***

Yes, I’m done self-advertising. You can go now, if you want. The important part is over.

So tell me, folks! Who’s doing Camp Nano? Am I the only one thinking about it this early? Are you excited? Terrified? Exhausted? World-weary? Thinking about cheese?

Talk to me, people.

~Sarah

24 thoughts on “5 Reasons Camp NaNoWriMo is Worth It // aka shameless self-advertising for my cabin”

  2. Well, at first I was pretty sure I was not doing Camp NaNo because “I’m not a writer”.

    Now that I’ve read this. . . I’m suddenly considering otherwise. I CAN write, after all. . .

    *retreats into TARDIS to contemplate life choices*

    Liked by 3 people

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  5. THIS LOOKS AMAZING
    Unfortunately, I don’t think I can do it this time. *wails despondently*
    I need to go over my projects. Maybe I’ll make a 2,500-word goal or something just so I can get something done and enjoy the sarcasm. XD

    Like

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  6. “Life is a monster.” YES. YES. Just yes. Life is a monster, a big scary poor wittle snarky masters of sarcasm eating monster. Which is why April is pretty cool. XD All these reasons are great AND THE GIFS *cackles* *stares despondently at own WIP*

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Well, I have been known to quite often get up in the morning and say “You know what? I need more pain in my life.”

    School isn’t enough. I need overly ambitious NaNo goals nagging me too. What sealed the deal for me is that I can change my goals anytime. With that in mind, I have unexpected confidence I’m going to succeed this time. I’m joining up.

    😀

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. YOU ARE DESPICABLE.

    I’ll have you know, I was going along my happy life, not even interested in Camp NaNo IN THE LEAST. Because I’m OUTLINING LIKE A GOOD LITTLE WRITER (la la la, I Can’t HEAR YOU PANTSING MONSTER – My used-to-be friend). But then I read this.
    Despicable I tell you, just despicable.
    Because I want to do Camp now. So did I make a profile for Camp NaNo? – Yes. Did I define my novel? – Yes, yes I did.
    Am I going to join a camp? — I would love to, except that my “goal” for April is to write out an in depth outline. So I’m not technically doing a word count or anything..So…..
    The point here is, if you have decided not to do something, do not – I repeat DO NOT read a post by Sarah.
    She will change your mind.

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. Pingback: The Call of Camp NaNo // cabin sign-up – The Sarcastic Elf

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