Heading back into it... kind of

Photo by Alex Robert

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I didn't realize how many things changed til I came back to it. For example, whenever I read YA literature, I can't help but see the teenagers as kids because that's exactly what they are. Kids who suffer and must overcome their suffering in some way or learn to deal with it like any other character in literature. After all, that's what makes stories, stories.
As mentioned before in a previous post, I'm starting to get back into my old hobbies, writing creatively being one of them. However, throughout the years, the only way I could write creatively is either through being really inspired, it depends on my grade, or if there's a challenge. Since it's summer that challenge happens to be Camp Nanowrimo. It's like the regular National Novel Writing Month challenge in November. However, I didn't realize until this year that you can set your own word count goal or that it was in July. The last time I've done the summer challenge was back when I was in high school, so approximately fours ago.
So in the middle of the night, I've decided to get back into it. I don't have much of a plan, which makes it all the more fun. All I know so far is that it's going to be a bunch of short stories based on a bunch of writing prompts that I've collected throughout the years on tumblr and that it's going to be in this fantasy world that I've created way back when I was a weird/random jr. high schooler. And just saying that makes me feel old.
However, it will be a good way to start writing again. Hopefully, this will help me build more dedication and a motivation to start writing again on my own once the month is over, without any challenges or grades looming over my shoulder.

And now the weather:
Get Your Life by Caught a Ghost

~ Stacy N.

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Camp Nanowrimo: A fourth time around?

It is now day two of Camp Nanowrimo. A writing event that is taking place during April and July of this year. It is where you attempt to write 10,000 or more words (depending on what you have set as your word count) on your novel, fanfiction, poetry, script, etc for a full month. And then if you want, you can try writing another 10,000+ words during July. More info, about it can be found here.

This is my fourth attempt at Camp Nanowrimo. The first year it started, I've done it informally, afraid to try my hand at writing fifty thousand words during the summer. Instead what I ended up doing was write about 25 K or so during July. That was surprisingly easy. I tried again during August, only to fail due to the fact that school was starting again.

The next year in August of 2012, I've tried Camp Nanowrimo again. Only this time getting about 35 K written. Again, school was starting and it was distracting me, with all its homework and coursework and such. Which was a pity because I actually liked writing Shh, Silence is Golden. Though, I might continue working on it sometime this year.

Last year in April, I tried Camp Nanowrimo for the third time. This time only attempting 30,000 words. However, there was school and the fact that Eliza didn't particularly interest me. So I only managed to write about seven thousand words. Which seems like a lot, but in truth it isn’t.

As you can see a pattern is starting to show. Whenever, I attempt to write during months which starts with the letter A, I would fail. Just kidding, however, whenever I do attempt to do Camp Nanowrimo, I would most often than not fail on my word count. Simply because school would distract me and I would get bored with whatever it was that I was writing about. Which is bad because you often need passion for whatever it is you’re doing. Whether it’s starting a business to cooking for loved ones.

But back to what I’m talking about. Camp Nanowrimo is not as motivational as Nanowrimo. There are no pep talks, not many interesting special offers, and it's just not the same if it isn’t held in November.

However, there's something about Camp Nanowrimo that keeps me coming back to it over and over again. Maybe it's because it encourages me to continue on writing during the middle-ish of the year. Maybe it's because there's some part of me who misses writing on a deadline. Maybe I just miss Nanowrimo and want to do it again. Maybe it's because I like doing Camp Nanowrimo, despite the fact that I never really finish my word count goals.

Oh well, whatever the reason, I'm back to doing Camp Nanowrimo again this year. This time I'm only writing 10,000 words. Which is the lowest word count goal that I have ever set for myself. And I don’t know if I can accomplish it. To make this even more of a challenge, I’m writing poetry. No, it isn’t going to be like an Ellen Hopkins novel, where it’s a novel written in poetry. Almost all the poems that I am writing will be completely disconnected from each other. In fact, the only thing that will connect them together is the fact that it’s written by me. However, I can’t just make up completely random poems at the top of my head. So I’m using past poem a day prompts from Writer’s Digest to help me. Which are surprisingly fun to do.

And now the weather:

                Broken Record by Tessa Violet 

- Stacy N.

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One, Two, Three, Four, and Five

1. I’m not dead, but I haven’t really been posting much. The main reason for this was because I didn’t really have anything to say.  Homework or tumblr or reading or some other thing would distract me. And when I did find myself having the words to say something on my blog, I usually don’t post it, because it might not appeal to you guys or it’s too private (and probably a bit embarrassing) to say.
2. Pride and Prejudice (both the book and the movie), The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and Doctor Who are the main things that I’m fangirling over right now.  And, I’ve just saw the new episode of Doctor Who yesterday on my older sister’s TV (with my brother distracting me here and there) and I’m still a bit confused as to who Clara is. And why she doesn’t have a clue about the last time she and the Doctor met, when they met again on the new episode.
3. Tomorrow is the first day of Camp Nanowrimo and I have an idea for what I want to do. It will involve writing a web diary from the view of a fifteen about to be sixteen year old girl. She’ll write about her life and her kind-of-weird dreams. If you’re interested in following her, go to her blog at everybodytalksbutme.blogspot.com, where she’ll try to post at least once a week (or if I remember).
4. I’m participating in the 2013 PAD (poem-a-day) challenge by Writer’s Digest, and I might occasionally post a poem on my writing blog (or here). I’m going to hope that I can survive doing two writing challenges in the same month and still finish both of them.
5. It’s also currently spring break for me, and so far it involved going to Costco, eating an omelet at the Original Pancake House, and seeing an improv show that deals with stool. 

P.S. Have a great Easter to those of you who do celebrate it. However, if you don't celebrate it, than have a good Sunday or Monday (depending on where you are in the world).

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Camp Nanowrimo update #1

13439/50000

Status: On track.
Chapter: Five
Character's POV that I'm writing about right now: Echo, Lana, Ethan aka Etho.
Bits and pieces from the story: (They're slightly edited)

While, sweet little Ethan just held me tighter, quietly listening through it all. ~ Echo.

I tilt my head a little bit more, confused. "Gallery? Why would I be going to the gallery?" ~ Lana

Darn, I’m screwed, I think to myself, while I stand up taller awaiting orders. ~ Ethan

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Words they seem to just flow through my fingers these days. Only they come at a slow pace because the internet keeps on distracting me like this picture.

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Eventually I freak out because a bit too much time (an hour or two?) passes by, and I've only written a hundred or so words. But as they say during Nanowrimo time, just keep on writing, just keep writing, just keep writing (in tune to the just keep swimming song on Finding Nemo.)

So if you're freaking out about having no words written for Camp Nanowrimo...

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Also...

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So it's a good thing that my notebook for my Camp Nanowrimo novel is sitting next to me. Despite my kind of messy handwriting, it has proven itself useful so far. 

Also words are nice, don't you think? You can say anything you want to say, make whatever you want that disregards the rules of reality, and well do anything you want, and it's yours because you're the one that is writing it. 

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And if you continue writing it, ignoring the negative parts about it, and finish your first draft. Then you're well on your way towards the middle, which is the editing/rewriting part of it. And then eventually you get through the middle and you are done with it. However, that's not the end because there are certainly more editing to come if you are thinking about publishing it. 

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And as for me, well I should stop being uncertain about my novel and just write it. I should just let my novel lead me to wherever it should go. After all, the fun novels are best written when you don't have a clue about where it goes. 

However, for the moment I would like to finish season two of Doctor Who with my new penguin friend, David. Who is named after the actor that plays the tenth doctor, David Tennant. 

I would also like to sleep but I doubt I'll get that soon. So I'll settle for a picture form for the moment. 

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Have an amazing day/night. 

Love, 

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*Isn't sure what to say really*

Camp Nanowrimo is going really well for me. ^. ^ I'm 14% into novel with a total of about 7115 words. I'm slightly paranoid when it comes to saving my novel though; as well as my laptop, I save my novel to seven other places (skydrive, google docs, my flash drive, and I email it to my four email accounts.) That’s a lot, I know, but as they say better safe than sorry.

I’m also pleased with my main characters; though I’m surprised I have three. Their names are Lana (female), Ethan aka Etho (male), and Echo (female). Normally, I have two but one just popped up I guess. They’re really fun to write with, especially the unexpected one. Though I guess, I should stop talking about my novel or else I might spoil the ending.

So here are songs I’ve been liking lately ~

I like this song because it's not a love song but a song about friendship, and the music video is funny. 

This song reminds me of Ethan's love for Echo, which is sweet the more I write the book. 

♥

 Have an amazing day~ 

Love,

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Camp Nanowrimo 2012~

Starts today! ^.^
For those of you who don't know what Camp Nanowrimo [National Novel Writing Month] is, it's a writing event where you try to write 50,000 words in a single month. It came from the original NaNoWriMo event that starts in three months aka November.

It's a very nice event that can help shut up your inner editor and let your crazy juices out. In other words, while writing your novel during any kind of Nanowrimo, it's going to be really messy because you've added events that shouldn't be there, all in hopes to raise your word count. However, it's nice because that novel that you've been wanting to write since you were a little kid is already out on paper. Though, the editing process will not be a pleasant job.

So  far, I've written... 60 words for my Camp Nanowrimo novel. And for some odd reason, I'm laughing about that. My biggest distraction so far is the internet especially here and the Nanowrimo sites. Also, I've decided to go with...

Cover made by featherdancer from the YWP nanowrimo forums. 

So, thank you everyone for helping me decide my plot. Now, I should get off and complete my goal of 50 K. (though 35 K is just as good as well).

Have an amazing day and if you're particpating in Camp Nanowrimo...

WRITE. 

Love, 

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Help!

The August version of Camp NaNoWrimo starts in...


And I don't know what to choose for my plot. So far, I have two ideas, and both are a continuation of short story that I wrote a little while ago.

Idea one: What is being human again like for Prince Adam aka the Beast, from Beauty and the Beast. 
You can read the short story on figment, it's titled  Human Again.

Idea two: Is a futuristic story, where people get paid to not talk. It's based off of the quote, silence is golden.
You can read the short story on figment, it's titled  Shh, Silence is Golden. 

You can go vote for your favorite here by answering this poll or by comment. Either one is fine. 

Well, I guess that's it. Have a wonderful day and good luck on your writing adventures if you're a writer. Or good luck in whatever you're doing in life if you're not a writer. 

Love, 

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Camp Nanowrimo

     I'm sure you may have heard by now, about Camp Nanowrimo. If not, then I shall tell you, it's practically much like Nanowrimo, just write a novel of about 50K words in either the summer months, which is July or August. If you want you can do both. You can check more here.

     I already have an account there (1018mockingjay), so if you want to send me a message. I'll most likely respond back. Though I'm not actually participating in the official thing, even though I'm old enough to join. I'm doing the unofficial camp one on ywp.nanowrimo.org. For more info you can go here, but I'm warning you it'll work if you have an account there. 

     If you don't, then I'll shall tell you all about it. It's like the official one on nano, only they didn't have enough money to do it for the ywp one. So a genourus person that's the moderator on both the nano, and ywp one, decided to make a forum for it for the people that aren't 13 and up. Because you have to be about 13 and up to have an account on the main site(s).
     And so now, it's unofficial, since it's on the forums, not an actual site on its own. They'll have the official ywp, camp nano open next year, as its own site. It's pretty fun too at the unofficial camp, you're allowed to not work on a new novel, and instead continue working on your own. As cited here.

Well, here are the official rules from Camp NaNoWriMo:

• What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month's time.
• Who: You! We can't do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let's write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.
• Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.
• When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster. Writing begins 12:00:01 AM on July 1, and again on August 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by 11:59:59 PM on the last day of the month. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.

However, this is an unofficial version, so it's entirely up to you. The rules are basically the same as regular NaNoWriMo, so ideally from scratch, but this a self challenge... do whatever you like! 

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Heather Dudley
Forums Moderator

     Which is good, because I'm not really willing to work on a new novel. If you go to my summertime goals post, there will be a goal of mine to finish the first draft of my book. Well enough of my rambling, if you're wondering how much I really want to write instead of 50K, it will be 25K in both July and August. Which will result in 50K by the end of the summer. So far on day one, I did well writing 849 words today, well another 24,151 words to go. Also if you're curious about what I'm writing about, just be patient, because I'm going to tell you guys soon, but not now. Here's the link to it, that I posted from one of my earlier posts, http://sweetsgalore.blogspot.com/2011/01/excerpt-from-my-book-one-im-writing.html. 

P.S. Don't forget to enter my contest, if you hadn't, for more info please go here. Also please answer my poll, on what I should have more of, it's not going to end in while.

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