The official Camp NaNoWriMo challenge starts on April 1! Camp NaNoWriMo is a virtual writing retreat where you can set your own focused writing goal for the 30 days of April.
(Want to participate in the Camp NaNoWriMo challenge with a project you’re already tracking on the site? Check out our FAQ.)
Why join the official challenge?
1. It’s a great way to participate in the community spirit of an official challenge, while still getting to set your own writing goal. It’s solid practice for the 50K challenge in November!
2. You’ll receive a special badge on the website for participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, and another for achieving your official goal.
3. You’ll earn a winner’s certificate and other rewards (including discounts on writing software like Scrivener, etc.) for reaching an official Camp NaNoWriMo goal.
What else happens during Camp NaNoWriMo?
Published authors will act as your Camp Counselors, sending advice in Camp Care Packages throughout April. Plus, keep an eye on HQ’s virtual events for a packed schedule of Virtual Write-Ins, webcasts, and more.
The official Camp NaNoWriMo challenge starts on April 1! Camp NaNoWriMo is a virtual writing retreat where you can set your own focused writing goal for the 30 days of April.
(Want to participate in the Camp NaNoWriMo challenge with a project you’re already tracking on the site? Check out our FAQ.)
Why join the official challenge?
1. It’s a great way to participate in the community spirit of an official challenge, while still getting to set your own writing goal. It’s solid practice for the 50K challenge in November!
2. You’ll receive a special badge on the website for participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, and another for achieving your official goal.
3. You’ll earn a winner’s certificate and other rewards (including discounts on writing software like Scrivener, etc.) for reaching an official Camp NaNoWriMo goal.
What else happens during Camp NaNoWriMo?
Published authors will act as your Camp Counselors, sending advice in Camp Care Packages throughout April. Plus, keep an eye on HQ’s virtual events for a packed schedule of Virtual Write-Ins, webcasts, and more.
We feel super lucky here at NaNo HQ to meet and work with some incredibly talented people. Today, meet our first-ever NaNoWriMo Programs Fellow, Riya Cyriac! Riya is a long-time NaNoWriMo participant and the founder of The Young Writers Initiative. If you join our upcoming Virtual Write-Ins, you’ll be getting to know her better throughout our Camp NaNoWriMo sessions, but today she’s here to tell you a little bit about herself:
In elementary school, I was married to my little notebook, in which I would scribble down a string of words that slightly resembled a sentence. I refused to divorce my little notebook for the shinier, more logical computer until 8th grade. By making this transition, I found the glory of the online writing community. I also found out about NaNoWriMo.
I watched from the sidelines for years. 50,000 words seemed daunting, not because I was incapable, but because the fear of failure was overwhelming. Then finally, a young, 15-year-old version of myself sat nervously in front of her computer, creating her first NaNoWriMo account.
While I can’t say that I’ve actually written 50,000 words in the month of November, I can proudly say that I’ve tried. Sure, I may have bent some rules here and there, but I believe the essence of NaNoWriMo is to do the best you can and then some. To me, NaNoWriMo, and writing, are about consistency, discipline, and challenging yourself. But NaNo means something different to everyone, and that’s what makes it so beautiful and universal. There is no “failing” NaNoWriMo as long as you started. After all, every novel starts off as nothing but an empty page and an idea.
I’m excited to be NaNo’s first Programs Fellow, and through my work, I hope to help inspire fellow Wrimos (especially young Wrimos) to write their stories and challenge themselves. Outside of NaNo, I’m the Executive Director of The Young Writers Initiative, where we provide free resources, education, and services to young writers all over the world. I’m also a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin studying Business, Plan II Honors, and International Relations. This year, I’ll try NaNo again. I can’t promise that I won’t break any rules, but I do promise to push myself, and I hope you’ll join me!
Riya Cyriac is a student at The University of Texas at Austin who is joining NaNoWriMo as a Program fellow this spring and summer. She believes that anyone can write, and has a particular passion for encouraging and supporting young writers. She is the Executive Director of The Young Writers Initiative and is excited to continue empowering writers through her work with NaNoWriMo.
It’sProject for Awesome time! Project for Awesome, or P4A, is an annual fundraiser that raises money and awareness for all kinds of nonprofit organizations. We’re in the running for a grant of some of the money raised through P4A, and your vote can help us win.
Do you like NaNoWriMo? Do you like making videos? Here’s an easy way you can help support our non-profit!
Project for Awesome is an annual fundraiser run by the Vlog Brothers where people make videos supporting organizations they love and vote on their favorite videos. The organizations with the most votes get a significant grant to help them continue their programs!
Video submissions are open from now until 9 AM EST on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23. To submit, all you have to do is film a short (2-4 minute) video about why you love NaNoWriMo, upload it as a public video to your YouTube channel, and submit the URL here: https://www.projectforawesome.com/submit
