Last November I took part in the national Novel Writing Month Challenge, a challenge to try to write 50,000 words in a month. Much to my surprise and delight, not only did I manage it but I enjoyed it enormously,, and from my hard work came my latest novel, Radwinter.
November was only five months ago but I have signed up for another challenge, still under the NaNo auspices, this is Camp NaNoWriMo. I think it is a more flexible idea, where writers give themselves the opportunity to go on a virtual retreat to experiment with writing… not necessarily trying to work on a novel. In the spirit of a camp, participants can stay in a ‘cabin’ with twelve others as companions and buddies, offering support and writing friendship too, I guess. As the CampNaNo site explains: “We first imagined Camp simply as an off-season alternative to National Novel Writing Month, but it’s evolved into much more than that: writers choose their own projects—from novel sequels to scripts to pop-up books—and find cabin communities (and often new friends) to support them.”
I’ve no idea really what I am letting myself in for, especially as April is when our annual family holiday is, this time in Norfolk. In signing up you have to make a submission of what you propose to write about… a little tricky, but I’ve noted down a few thoughts… telling a story through the notes a family has left in their old cookery books… but I might try a rewrite of an old novel I wrote many, many years ago which need to much work to bring it up to par, so maybe a complete rewrite would be the best move!
As usual, I will keep you informed of my writing adventurers! I think I’ll be more surprised than anyone what I find at the end!
Lois Elsden 