Author Nicole Glover 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) Think of your first draft as an outline: 

I like to view writing a first draft as a robust outline. It’s the space where I commit all my ideas to paper, and figure out what works and doesn’t. It’s the place to experiment and nurture that seed of an idea in a full-fledged story.

Writing Dare: Feeling stuck? Try writing your next scene like an outline, rather than obsessing over getting all the details just right. Lists can be your friends!

2) Try experimenting: 

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different POVs, tenses, and viewpoint characters with your start when you start out. It’s the only way you’ll find out what works for your story.

Writing Dare: Try switching to a new POV or viewpoint character for your next scene. See if you discover anything new about your story!

3) End in the middle:

Sometimes it’s good to end a writing session in the middle of scene or chapter. It’s gives you a place to start the next time you sit down to write. Not sure I can recommend stopping in middle of sentence though.

Writing Dare: Stop your writing session today in the middle of a scene, at a point where you're excited to write what comes next. 

What's up at Camp?

• Join our next Virtual Write-In on Wednesday, April 7, 1:30 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!
  
  
• Struggling to get to "The End" of a draft? Check out our National Novel Finishing Month (AKA NaNoFinMo) resources, new for 2021!