Camp NaNo? More like, Nah, no... (How Not to Feel Like a Failure for Not Writing a Novel)

  Okay, forgive me for that play on words, I am a bad person. And I definitely don't have anything against Camp NaNo at all! In fact I would love to be able to do it. The trouble is that the put the camps right in two of the busiest months of the year (April and July) and this is a problem when you're me.*

  *Forgive me also for literally ALWAYS making posts about NaNo that are along the lines of me saying "I want to do it but I'm a lazy butt who can't this year haha maybe next year hahahahaha" 

  However, this does not mean that I can't be writing through these months (even though I certainly won't be finishing any novels), and I'm excited to be working on what I hope will be my next indie publishing venture!

  The Snow Dragon is kind of a weird George MacDonald meets Stranger Things meets Vikings mixture of fantasy and fairy-tale, and quite a bit different than anything in I've done in the fantasy genre before. I'm still ironing out the bugs and kinks and sorting out just how everything is going to go, but I'm really excited for how it's shaping up. I think it'll be a really neat piece of fiction when completed!

  So that's kind of what I'll be working on over the next few (hyper busy) months. I love my characters and the world I'm crafting and I'm really excited to see how everything goes.

  But aside from all that, today I want to discuss Camp NaNo and How Not to Feel Like A Failure for Not Writing a Novel. Because sometimes seeing everyone else pounding out stories in a month can make the rest of us feel like losers.

  I love that NaNo gives you the opportunity and motivation to write a whole story in a month, it's an awesome program that writers the world over enjoy - including me! It's an excellent way to interact with and be encouraged by the writing community and to participate in something that generally lights a fire under your pants.

  But sometimes it just doesn't work for us to write a novel in a month. Whether it be the busyness of schedules, the lack of a solid project, or the desire to focus on other things in that month, trying to add writing a whole book to your day-to-day can be more of a hassle than a benefit. There are times when even perseverance and hardwork can't quite make something happen.

  Does that mean things like Camp NaNo should be neglected entirely? Absolutely not! There are plenty of other, completely productive and worthwhile writing activities to pursue in the month of NaNo! What are those you ask? Well...

  Ideas for Participating in NaNo BESIDES Writing a Whole Book...

• Finishing a draft you're already working on

• Outlining a new novel 

• Editing a draft of a completed novel

• Beta-reading for someone (or multiple someones)

• Scheduling a couple 5k In A Day (or some other number) events to at least get a large chunk done, without filling up your whole month of free time

  Those are just some of the ways to make NaNo months equally productive, without resigning yourself to a fate of stress, too much caffeine, and not enough sleep, which often results in massive disappointment when you can't keep up the pace. Don't be hard on yourself! Don't take on more than you know you can manage! We writers really like to over-commit, but this NaNo month, let's not have a burnout, let's be accomplished and happy without sacrificing sanity, responsibilities, or health!

  Well, that's today's small post! What about you? What sorts of alternatives do you like to commit to for NaNo months when you're busy? Are you doing anything for NaNo this April? Let me know in the comments below!