Completing Camp NaNoWriMo

5

CNW_Winner_1500-1.jpg

Camp NaNoWriMo technically isn’t over yet, but I set a low word count goal (as I was working on a novella) so I completed it with time to spare.

Unlike with NaNoWriMo and it’s pressure for a 50k goal, I don’t feel there were as many lessons learned. Probably because I had time to play and take breaks and fiddle around. The less pressure was nice, and I enjoyed keeping track of word counts. It helped keeps me motivated and I like seeing my progress; I think I want to find a program where I can input word counts year round. It seems like a helpful tool to keep me motivated/pay attention to much I’m writing every day.

Completing my first shorter-but-still-long writing task was pretty neat. I really like how the novella turned out, with a longer story that’s still simple (and completed within a month). It’s actually not going to fit into the original writing contest I had planned (because of the word count) so I’m going to try for another publication. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll take a hack-saw to the story and see if I can cut it down enough for the original publication idea.

Of course, I’ll be needing to let it sit for a while and do some editing. I sent it off to my sister after it was completed, who always has incredible responses along the lines of “OMG THAT WAS MAGICAL SEND ME MORE NOW NOW,” so that was encouraging. I’m going to get a few beta-readers for this thing as well to try to make it (more) perfect.

Otherwise… it was a fine April. I liked it overall and I’ll be doing it again next year (maybe with a bigger goal, depending on my needs at the time). Until then — novella completed, and it’s probably time to return to writing my series!

How has everyone else’s Camp NaNoWriMo been?

5 responses to “Completing Camp NaNoWriMo”

  1. Congrats on reaching your goals for this Camp NaNoWriMo! I finished mine too and it feels good to know that something’s been achieved!
    Good luck with editing!

  2. One: If you ever find a counter that is available year-round, let me know, because I really, really want that, too. Two: I like beta reading and I like you, so… 😉 🙂 Congrats on a solid accomplishment!

    • I will definitely let you know! I feel like there has to be one out there. I think I heard about it at the Willamette Writer’s Conference last year…

Latest Posts from AwakeDragon

  • Debut Novels: How My First Publication Came to Exist

    Debut Novels: How My First Publication Came to Exist

    My debut novel, Jagged Emerald City, has a particular story of how it came to be, why it came to be, and what I learned while doing so.

  • Nicole Evans on Her First Self-Publishing Experience

    Nicole Evans on Her First Self-Publishing Experience

    My dear friend Nicole Evans has just launched her debut novel: BLOOD PRICE. As someone who has had the privilege to read initial drafts and hear brainstorming sessions, I am so excited that this hauntingly beautiful and real book is coming out into the world.

  • My First Book Convention

    My First Book Convention

    I attended my first convention with my book this previous weekend! It’s called OryCon, and it’s the premier fantasy and sci-fi convention in Oregon (according to them, anyway). It’s been held since 1979, so it’s…