Author An Na is your Camp Counselor this week. Find all Camp Care Packages in Breaking News throughout the month of April, or learn more about Camp NaNoWriMo!

1) Give yourself permission to fail: 

Every time we sit down to write, we risk failure. So instead of being afraid, you might as well embrace it. Fail with style. Fail with humor. Fail spectacularly! Without risking failure, you will never know the flavor of courage that lives inside your belly. The only thing worse than failure is that hollow guilty feeling you get from not sitting your butt in the chair and doing the work.

Writing Dare: What's the wildest, wonkiest, boldest scene or story you've imagined but have been too nervous or afraid to write? Set a time for 10 minutes and write it! If it helps, post a quote about failure somewhere in your writing space to inspire you. Here's one I like by Robert F. Kennedy: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

2) Use music to create a mood:

When thinking about creating a certain mood or feeling for pivotal scenes or turning points in your story, consider listening to well chosen music or sounds in order to add texture and rhythm to your sentences and words. The musicality of your writing in those moments will unconsciously transfer to your reader’s inner ear creating an emotional resonance.

Writing Dare: Assign theme songs to important characters or scenes. Think of it as the music that would play when the camera zooms in on a character, or when the scene starts. When it's time to write about that character or moment, listen to the corresponding theme song!

What's up at Camp?

• Join our next Virtual Write-In on Wednesday, April 15, 1 PM PST (Your Time Zone) for real-time writing prompts and sprints with the NaNo community from around the world.
  
  
• Need more support with plot, characters, or world-building? Check out our Young Novelist Workbooks or NaNo Prep 101 Workbook!
  
  
• We're continuing our #StayHomeWriMo initiative to bring you even more opportunities for connecting with fellow writers as we socially distance through Camp this month. Share your self-care tips or writing prompts!
  
  
• Check out the Camp NaNoWriMo Calendar to stay up to date on what's happening, including Instagram Live Write-Ins every Thursday at 10 AM Pacific!