NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program

Author Kelsey Norris is your Camp Counselor for this week. Find all Camp Care Packages in Breaking News throughout the month of July, or learn more about Camp NaNoWriMo!

1) Keep Swimming

We writers love a good metaphor, and I’ve heard the challenge of a writing a novel described by more than one decorated author as similar to swimming through the ocean and finding yourself somewhere between the shore and your destination, unable to see land on either side. Sometimes, we’re swimming at night. If you find yourself treading water, take comfort in the fact that you are neither the first writer nor the last to feel this way. Keep swimming.

2) Write Your Weaknesses

We are not always the best judges of our own writerly weaknesses. When my writing feels stale or the style of it seems too familiar, writing into my own perceived craft weaknesses or avoidances has been a fruitful practice. I love writing lyrical descriptions, which means that my characters don’t always end up talking all that much. One of the stories in my forthcoming collection, then, was borne of a challenge I set for myself: Write a story made entirely of dialogue, the very element I tended to shy away from. Try it out with a story or novel chapter—the results may surprise you.

Writing Dare: Write a scene (or chapter!) where you only use dialogue.

author photo

Kelsey Norris is a writer and editor from Alabama. She earned an MFA from Vanderbilt University and has worked as a teacher in Namibia, a school librarian, and a bookseller. Her work has been published in The Kenyon Review, Black Warrior Review, and The Rumpus, among others. She is currently based in Washington, DC. Her debut story collection, House Gone Quiet, publishes October 17th, 2023, with Scribner Books, and is now available for pre-order at online retailers or your local bookstore. Check out Kelsey on Twitter

What's up at Camp?

LGBTQIA+ Writers Virtual Meet Up - Thursday, July 20, 2:00 PM PT (Your Time Zone) Come join NaNoWriMo for a virtual hangout for the LGBTQIA+ community! We'll get to know each other as writers, share what's inspiring us, and talk about the writing life.
Disabled Writers Meetup - Monday, July 24, 11 AM PT (Your Time Zone) Come join NaNoWriMo for a virtual meetup and meet other disabled writers! We'll get to know each other, share writing sprints, and talk about the writing life.
Virtual Write-In, with guest Prince Shakur - Tuesday, July 25, 1 PM PT (Your Time Zone) Join this livestream where we'll share writing prompts, sprints, and conversation. Featuring special author guest and Camp NaNoWriMo Counselor Prince Shakur!

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