I post a lot about my journey with NaNo on my blog and decided some may be wondering Why NaNo? So here it is…
In a nutshell, NaNo and Camp NaNo represent an idea! A dream as it were. The belief in being able to create something in a month, to take the time to devote yourself to actually writing that novel you have always talked about, but never seem to have the time for. For me, there is a real joy in working to accomplish that idea of 50k in a month, and to do so with so many others believing and trying to manage the same thing!
Some would consider writing a solitary thing, but I do not. Writing is very much a group journey. Our writing is inspired by the things and people and places around us. It is shared with others almost every step of the way in some form. By having a friend read it, to sharing our word counts, to just sharing that we are writing. It is something to be excited and share, and who better to share that with than fellow writers, working towards the same goal?!?
You can not write without living, I read that somewhere and I fully believe it! We write our experiences, we write the things we see and hear, we write life! NaNo is just an extension of that! It is a challenge, an ideal, a journey, a dream! So, find your courage, take the leap and join me in this journey! Accept the challenge before you and see where it leads!
What about you? Do you participate in NaNo? Why? What got you started? Please share your journey with me!
Random Acts of Writing 
I started doing NaNo way back in 2004 when I was still in high school. I was on a completely non-related site, and a few people there were doing it. I told myself I was going to be a novelist from the age of seven, but I had never actually finished anything, so I saw NaNo as a chance to actually get a novel completed. I’ve been participating every years since!
I started back in 2011, and wished I would have learned of it sooner!!! Yeah, I have participated in most of their events since, missing camp a couple times, cause I did not know, but I have really loved every experience!
I came across NaNo in 2012 by accident. Unfortunately for me, I started on the day before Day 1. I had no idea how intense the experience would be. I ended up winning NaNo 2012 and then I went on to participate in the April Camp session.
NaNoWriMo is one of the greatest things I’ve ever been a part of. The friendships I’ve formed, the lessons I’ve learned, it’s all invaluable. 🙂
Years from now, if I emerge as a bestselling author, I think I’ll still try to do NaNo. That would be fun, right?
I really feel that way about it too!!! I have not created many friends from NaNo itself, but I have totally brought along several new people for the ride **grins**
I have learned sooo very much from my NaNo experiences… I really am always sad when I see someone “giving up” why give up?!?! Even if you can’t make your word count goals, every word is one word closer, teaches you another bit about your writing experience!!! There is never a need to quit!
I will always participate in NaNo, no matter if I was some bestselling author **grins** NaNo is what truly give me wings and showed me how to really write! For that, I will always participate!