November is the word for N in the NATO alphabet, which is the theme I chose for the A to Z Challenge in 2014. This year I’m doing flashbacks to my seven A2Zs, in honour of the Challenge’s tenth anniversary.
Given I picked NaNoWriMo to talk about, I think I should give you an update on how my Camp NaNo is going this month. You’ll find that at the end, along with the reminder of my giveaway.
November – and NaNoWriMo (2014)
For many people, November (the phonetic word for N) is the National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo.
When I first started writing and blogging, I saw these references to NaNoWriMo and wondered what on earth it meant.
Three years on I’ve done two Camp NaNos – ‘lesser’ events that happen in the early and mid-summer (northern hemisphere) replicating the idea of summer camps.
In 2012 that was in August, and last year it was July, and I’ve finished a Princelings book on both occasions (although the second time it was really a rewrite of an unfinished one).
The November NaNo is the official one, the big one, but as it’s a really bad month for me to be thinking of writing a 50,000 word book, I’ll leave it to other people.
What I noticed last November was the increase of awareness worldwide of the process. It seemed to have moved from a literary project to a commercial organisation. I don’t know whether other people saw that. Is the rise in self-publishing is bringing more people onto the bandwagon, seeing people who want to write as being an opportunity for exploitation? I know I’m a cynic, but I think it’s a trend that might need watching.
Have you done NaNoWriMo? Camp NaNo? What do you think?
First posted 16 April 2014
Update
I’ve continued to do several Camp NaNoWriMos, mainly in July but once or twice in April. One year I did both. I’ve found it very easy to concentrate on getting one novel more or less done in a month, or alternatively to use Camp for major redrafting or editing. Talent Seekers, Bravo Victor, Willoughby, Princelings of the North, The Perihelix and Curved Space to Corsair have all been worked on there.
This year I’m at Camp doing the ninth and tenth books in the Princelings series – finishing the series, in fact. I had to write both together to make sure everything that needed to happen before the end was included in one or the other.
So how’s progress this April?
It’s halfway through the month, and as usual we’ve not seen half the people who signed up for our cabin. Some are making as good progress as me.
I didn’t do a lot while I was on holiday, because I didn’t think I could really type on the iPad. I had one session, where I did about 900 words, finishing the thought that had been in progress before I left. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, although several times I noticed I’d deleted some words by mistake by brushing against the iPad in the wrong place. I’ve deliberately not edited it, although I hope it makes sense when I do!
I’ve caught up, mostly, since I’ve been back.
I’ve already had some surprises at things that have happened in the Realms that I wasn’t expecting. My characters will insist on making their own decisions!
Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway to win ebooks and cash, plus other goodies! Click the Badge to go to the entry page, or just fill in the form top left.
(Arggh. I typed my whole comment in IE, which won’t post to your blog. Have to re-do it in Chrome).
Congrats on the progress with the novels. I look forward to reading them 🙂
As for the iPad—I’ve been able to use mine comfortably these last months only because we bought a keyboard for it (the kind that doubles as a cover). That makes all the difference.
I routinely copy comments before posting these days. Funnily enough I could usually post on blogger blogs while I was away, but because I couldn’t get WP ones accepted – even though it showed me logged in – I kinda gave up visiting. But then, there’s still lots of time let for that.
I think I may get one of those keyboards if I end up moving and needing a month in transit. Although a friend has a house unlet at present, who is happy for the guineapigs to stay too. All I need now is an offer on my house….
Now, back to my WIP 🙂
Congrats on your progress!
There’s a local wrietrs’ group which organises a retreat for the NaNoWriMo in Novemeber, and I join it though I don’t participate in the novel writing. 🙂 Solid eight hours writing time away from every other distraction. And endless coffee, what’s not to love?
That sounds like a good idea!
I did the NaNoWriMo once. It was s crazy month of writing but I did finish.
I like doing Camp Nano, I’m glad you had a go – and finished!
I’ve been doing NaNoWriMo every November since I lived in Kent (UK) in 2011. Great for intensive writing if not stressful. I’ve done seven first drafts and even revised one over two years and a Camp NaNoWriMo. My current WIP is the natural progression of my main series/focus.
Well done, Roland!
Did you ever discover NaNoEdMo? Someone in my cabin just mentioned it, and I discovered National Novel Editing Month had been taking place each March from 2010 on! Why had nobody mentioned it before?
Not consciously, but I am aware that they do have editing events in non-NaNo times. For me, editing is every month – except April and November.