Camp NaNoWriMo: write a novel in 30 crazy days. This year, Camp NaNo comes at a good time for writers who are self-isolating and staying at home during the COVID-19 crisis. It’s an opportunity to take your mind off the outside world and create your own fictional one to live in for a few hours a day.
I’ve attempted National Novel Writing Month and the accompanying April and July Camp NaNo “practice sessions” for seven years. Lately, my motivation has tended to peter out after only a few days. This time, as I go into my 4th week of self-isolating, I’m going to be super optimistic and create 2 writing projects.
First, I’ll be writing the standard 50,000 words of a middle grade urban fantasy draft I’ve kept close to my heart for years and want to stop procrastinating on.
Second, and perhaps more significant, is my “StayHomeRhymeMo” project. Every day I’ll write and post a poem about COVID-19 and its effects on our daily lives. I know I can’t speak for everyone and our experiences are all so different, but maybe you can relate. Humor and hope are especially important now.
I’m realizing how grateful I am for technology and its ability to connect us when we’re apart. People say the best thing you can do to help is to stay home, but what can I do within these four walls? This is a way for us to spread compassion and grow closer. Yes, my daily posts will help me stay accountable in my own writing goals, but my hope is that they’ll spread some smiles too.
Lauren Hallstrom 