Do you have a writing friend you want to go to camp with? Share this post with them!
Camp NaNoWriMo – Even Writers Like Camping… When It’s Online!
by Casey Rusinowski, SinnersTongue.com
Most of you are probably aware of–and probably fans of–National Novel Writing Month (aka – NaNoWriMo). Oh yeah, of course. It’s in November. But did you know the same folks host an additional month of support and writerly fun in July.
Camp NaNoWriMo functions as an online camp a la summer camps of old. Think Bill Murray in Meatballs but with more productivity.
Before you ship off to Camp, here are the basics
Camp runs July 1 through July 31 but cabins will be assigned June 25 (yes, you heard right, they are actually assigning “cabins” to maintain the feel of being at camp!). If you aren’t interested in being assigned to a new group of writers, have no fear, private cabins became available yesterday. So if you already have a ragtag group of ne’er-do-well writers you trust with your work, you can make that happen. The private cabins hold up to 11 people.
Camp NaNoWriMo is not just for novelists
Another difference between traditional NaNoWriMo and camp is the broader range of writing projects. If you don’t have a novel you are attempting to complete, but still want to enjoy some camaraderie with your fellow writers, there are a few more options:
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
- Revision
- Script
- Short Stories
Whether you want to write something new, something short, or revise what you’ve already got, there is a place for you at Camp. The sign-up process is free and easy, and once you are in there is an option to invite your friends via email, or send them messages if they’ve already registered. You will need their camp nickname in order to message within the camp website.
How to set up a Private Cabin
In order to set up a private cabin, go to Cabin Settings under Community at the top of the page. Once there, choose “I want to create a private cabin.” Click Submit and it will take you to a page where you can invite other campers and send messages to the group.
From the Cabin Settings page, you can also choose not to be included in a cabin, to be surprised with random cabin mates, or you can narrow down what type of cabin mates you are matched with by word count goals, age range, or genre.
Personally, I am super excited to go to camp this summer and I hope to see some of you there as well! It is going to be an awesome experience.
Let us know in the comments what you’re doing at Camp NaNoWriMo and how we can connect with you there!
