ALYSSA LOST IN SPACE

April has arrived, and that marks the first 2020 session of NaNoWriMo!

I could wax on about my love for this event, but I hold a very particular fondness for the Camp sessions. I love how relaxed they are, and I love that I can set my own goal. Of course, the traditional NaNoWriMo event has also taken a cue from it’s more chill, Camp cousin, but I think the biggest thing that Camp NaNo has going for it is the timing.

November can be stressful because it’s a hectic time of year – exams, holidays, and the like. The weather is colder, and I just want to relax when I can, rather than spend all my free time trying to write 1667 words. But when it happens in April and July? That’s a completely different story.

I’ve participated in almost every April Camp event, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence – when the sun starts shining and Spring is on the way, I just naturally feel more rejuvenated and creative. When Camp hits in April I’m ready to get writing!

Alas, as much as it pains me to do so, I won’t be participating this year. I guess that makes the title of this post a bit misleading then, doesn’t it?

I don’t make the choice lightly. Of both Camp sessions, April is by far my favourite, and if you’re on the fence about joining I would say jump in. Especially with everyone being stuck inside. A little creative output can do wonders for your mental health.

Unfortunately, I mentioned in my last post that I have a lot on my plate at the moment, and though I’ll be doing a lot of writing (and participating in spirit!), I don’t want the added pressure of a word count goal.

Will I change my mind in the last week and attempt some crazy writing experiment? It’s entirely possible, but at this current moment, I just want to give my undivided attention to my writing and platform and not stress about meeting a daily goal on top of that.

I’ll also be experimenting a little more with my writing routine this month, as I mentioned in a previous post. My morning routine was met with some success when I could actually keep to it. I think I’m going to change it up over the next week and focus my writing in the afternoons. It’ll give me a chance to get all of my indecisive energy out of the way. I tend to jump from task to task when I get up because I don’t know what I should be working on. With sessions of Animal Crossing New Horizons sprinkled in between.

The idea is that if I get those impulses out of the way first thing, I can dedicate myself to some creative time in the afternoons.

I will be cheering you on if you do decide to participate! And if you’re stuck or not sure what to write, I compiled a list of plot generators that should hopefully help! Good luck, Wrimos!

Let’s Chat!

So, I will not be joining in the April shenanigans (at least not officially), but I’d love to hear if you are participating in Camp NaNoWriMo! What will you be working on? What goal have you set for yourself? How have you been keeping yourself busy while in quarantine? Let’s chat in the comments!