How I Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo + Snippets!

Firstly, let me say that I had a long list of posts planned out that I was going to write…and then I got sick. Only a cold, but still horribly annoying, and I don’t feel all that great, either. I mean, it’s JUNE, I shouldn’t have a cold! Colds are for January.

But, anyways, there’s about two and a half weeks left until Camp NaNoWriMo, which means about two and a half weeks left to plot. And, if you’re either super desperate or want to go about plotting for Camp NaNoWriMo in basically the least easy way possible…my way is the way to go.

FIRST, I GO TO MY NIFTY NOVELING NOTEBOOK.

Actually, it’s a binder, but Nifty Noveling Notebook sounds better than Nifty Noveling Binder. First, I fill out one and a half character sheets. I get bored filling out character sheets. So instead I draw the MC’s family tree. I add cool little swirly designs or possibly the family crest to the family tree. Possibly draw a cool doodle-y little cover.

NEXT, I CREATE A WORD DOC. LABLED: CAMP NANOWRIMO, JULY 2016 (NOVEL’S NAME HERE) OUTLINE.

I outline the first three chapters. Then I get bored, because I hate outlining almost as much as I hate editing.

I CREATE A PINTEREST BOARD

I use the Pinterest board as a distraction so I “forget” I’m supposed to be outlining. I pin 100+ pins in a day. I remember that I was supposed to be outlining right before I’m about to leave/do something else/go to bed. I tell myself I’ll do it later.

I DO NOT DO IT LATER.

I let it sit for weeks.

I REMEMBER THAT CAMP NANOWRIMO IS IN A WEEK

I panic. I outline like mad. I fill out all the character sheets. I basically plot myself into the ground.

I REALIZE THE CAMP NANOWRIMO IS THE NEXT DAY

I do not feel like writing. I just finished all the plotting.

I DO CAMP NANOWRIMO

I write up a storm! I let my characters run away!

I FINISH CAMP NANOWRIMO

I sleep for two days.

I GET AN IDEA FOR ANOTHER NOVEL.

And the cycle resumes, this time with me vowing I will finish a novel before school starts.

Now, you can easily replace this with how I plot for actual NaNoWriMo, but that involves a lot more stress and some tears. But, really? It’s all worth it because finishing a first draft is one of the best feelings in the world.

Also! Remember the novel I was telling you about? The one with the werewolf? Well, Millie & Moon, as I’m calling it, is slowly chugging along, and I’m at about 25k words, and am aiming for around 60k. And I give you…snippets!

We all turn to look at the shivering girl wrapped in Alec’s coat. Her lips are blue.

“So, what do you we do?” Alec finally asks, running his hand through his hair. “She’s refusing to go to the hospital, and I kind of don’t want her flinging herself out of a moving car if she realizes we’re taking her to the hospital anyways.”

“We could shoot her bull tranquilizers and wait for her to pass out,” Margery says, and at our horrified looks, she sighs. “I was making a reference, guys. Y’know, like that one episode where Dwight shoots Stanley to get him on a business call?” She looks around at us, apparently waiting for a reaction, before sighing again. “You guys are hopeless.”

–

There is a wolf standing in my living room. I feel as if I do the appropriate thing. I scream at the top of my lungs, and hurl the mug of hot chocolate at its head. Apparently I have worse aim than I thought, because all that happened was the mug shattered against the floor and coated my carpet in whipped cream and a few stray mini marshmallows.

–

Werewolf girl wraps my blanket tighter around her. “I can’t tell you my name.”

We stare at each other for a couple long moments.

“Well, I can’t call you girl. I’m going to call you Luna,” I say, and then I start cackling.

I think the craziness of the day was getting to me.

Happy Sunday,