Camp NaNo and Goals

So today, as in just now (midnight) marks the start of Camp NaNoWriMo.  I’m excited for it, mainly because I’ve decided to make this blog and my two sims stories the priority for this month.  I might be able to sneak some work in on the Wyverns as well, but figured I need to ease my way back in.  Being unable to focus lately has been really difficult.  It’s even affecting being able to read which is agony!  So, here’s to hoping!

Now, Camp NaNo.  The one thing I love about it is that it allows you to set your own goal.  And you can choose any project you wish.  Which is why I’m focusing on the blogs this time around.  My goal for this months is 25k.  I think it’s doable. But if for some reason, I run into any snags, I won’t have to push myself to make that goal.  In the same vein, I can blow that goal out of the water.  In fact, I might up that goal if I meet it first.  Here’s to hoping that’s what I can do!

Now, I’ve talked about goals before.  It’s important to have them.  But it’s also important to realize that even if you don’t meet that goal, it isn’t the end of the world.  One of the things I’ve learned from NaNo is that it’s better to get any words down at all.  Will they be the best?  Most likely not.  But the real challenge is getting those first words down.  Whether it’s the first words of that rough draft, beginning a chapter, or a blog post.  The beginning seems to be the hard part.  Oh, sometimes the middle can be tough too, so that’s why just getting words down can be very helpful.  Now, normally, I’m a pretty linear person, linear writer.  I like going in order.  But sometimes, it’s just not possible.  Being flexible is important.  All it might take to get that ‘spark’ that everyone seems to think is how writing happens, is to move onto a different part, or maybe to work on an alternate scene.  Sometimes doing that is enough to make you realize that alternate scene is exactly what you were looking for, or it’s enough to get things going for the actual scene.

It can take a bit to get used to it.  It took me a while, I know that.  Finding stuff like the Snowflake Method helped, as did doing something called Word Sprints.  Word Sprints are the things that have saved me!  Pick an amount of time (I prefer half hour increments because it always takes me a bit of time to get started), pick a starting time, and then just write for that amount of time.  Look at your word count during that time.  Trying to up it each time, or having others to compare word counts with can be a big help.  Here’s a big shoutout to the PA Elsewhere group!  Without them, I don’t think I’d ever have been able to get through Nano!

Actually, I’m writing this for a sprint!  I’m sure it’s pretty rambling, so apologies for that, but I think you can see my point.  I think for my next post here, going to finally get that post up about the various writing tools I use and others that I’ve tried as well.  If anyone wants information on either NaNoWriMo or Camp NaNo, leave it in the comments, or just check out my General Writing Sites Page.

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