My Camp NaNoWriMo Goal

This July, I'm participating in Camp NaNoWriMo. But unlike most, I didn't set a word count goal.

If you're not familiar with Camp NaNoWriMo, it's just like November's National Novel Writing Month, except instead of setting their sights on 50,000 words over the course of the month, participants set their own goals. They may want to write 20k words—or 80k. It's all up to the writer.

This July, my novel is not my main focus, for a few reasons. I'm spending a lot of time building my business. I'm in the early stages of house hunting. I'm spending more time in the woods, hiking and backpacking (which has been a huge contribution toward my continued sanity). I'm also querying a previous work. And I'm taking care of a new puppy and spending as much time as possible with him.

Oh, you haven't seen pictures? You must not follow me on Twitter.

​All of this is to say that setting a specific word count goal would not have been productive for me right now. It would have created unnecessary stress and wouldn't have actually resulted in any more wordage. But amidst all this, I knew I needed to put in the extra effort to make writing a priority. I'm not in a hurry with this manuscript. I'm really taking my time and enjoying the process. But I don't want it to fall by the wayside.

My Camp NaNoWriMo Goal
​

I decided that instead of choosing a number as my goal for the month, I would challenge myself to simply write every day. That could be one word. But to write that one word, I have to physically open my manuscript file, consider where I was in the story, and punch those little keys to put letters together. Once I get that far, I'm in the headspace, and chances are good that I'll wind up writing more than I expected. Half the battle is convincing myself that yes, I do have time to write. Yes, I need to open up the project and give it my attention.

Sprinting Toward the Finish Line
​

With my attention being pulled in ten million different directions, I've been having a hard time focusing on writing lately. Whenever I sit down to write, I'm either thinking about something else or feel like I should be thinking about something else—which is even worse. Plus, I've got that cute little fur ball staring at me. Really, how could I be expected to get anything done?

I decided to employ a method that's worked for me in the past, but that I've never used as my exclusive writing method: word sprints.

​If you haven't done word sprints, you're missing out.

The idea is simple. Set a timer for five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes—whatever you want. I usually go with ten. Then start writing. If you're writing by hand, your pen cannot stop moving. If you're typing, your fingers must be clicking on those keys. No backspacing, no self-editing, no analyzing. You simply write.

When you reach the end of your time, stop and give yourself a rest. Then you can go again or not. Having that defined time limit makes it much easier to let go and write without holding yourself back.

Why Word Sprints Work for Me​

I am always more productive when a few things are happening:

1. I have a defined goal.
2. I'm competing against myself.
3. I'm reporting to others.

When I have a defined goal, I find myself trying to break it. I'll meet my daily goal and then write an extra 200 words to beat what I did the day before. That plays into the competing against myself factor. And when I have to hold myself accountable to others, that makes me work even harder.

This version of NaNo works because it meets those same criteria, without the unrealistic expectation of reaching a certain word count.

​So far, I've written more during this month than I did all of last month. I'm giving myself goals and expectations without making myself feel like it's all or nothing. And the word sprints help me focus wholly on writing.

Don't Be Afraid to Adapt!
​

My life has changed a lot recently. My time commitments, priorities, and schedule are all different. And that means the way I approach writing needs to be different, too. What worked for me last year—or last month—doesn't necessarily work for me now, and that's okay!

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to writing. What works for one writer won't work for everyone. And what worked for you yesterday won't necessarily work for you tomorrow. We have to adapt and find what works today. [Click to Tweet]

Word Sprints & a Free Editing Course!
​

Whether you're going all word sprints or mixing them into your writing routine, they're worth trying out. For those participating in Camp NaNoWriMo or just trying to get some writing done, let's do this together! One of the great things about writing sprints is that they let you get a little competitive—against yourself or others. And telling others you're sprinting at a specific time helps you hold yourself accountable.

In that spirit, let's have a word sprint party! Sunday, July 16, I'll be on Twitter at hashtags #CampNaNoWriMo #wordsprint from 4pm to 6pm Eastern. I'll be doing ten-minute word sprints and inviting you all to write along with me and call out your word counts!

It'll be a lot of fun and a great way to boost that word count. And everyone who participates will be entered to win their choice of my self-editing course, Edit Like a Pro, or The Query Course, my guide to writing a killer query letter.

And I'll give you a half off coupon you can give to a friend—or to yourself, whichever.

That's happening Sunday, July 16, from 4pm to 6pm Eastern. Make sure you don't miss it:
​

1. Join the Community of Readers & Writers to be notified.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Join the Facebook event.

​See you there! Happy writing, everyone.