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Camp Care Package: What should you do if you're stuck?

Author Helen Hoang is your Camp Counselor for the second week in April, and brings you this week's Camp Care Packages:

How can you keep writing if you're feeling stuck? For me, sometimes it’s as simple as switching POVs. If that doesn’t work, I question why this scene is important. Is it moving the plot and the character arcs forward? Is there any conflict? If not, how can I add conflict? Key point: Does this scene elicit (bring out) emotion in ME? What does it need to get a reaction from ME? 


What's up at Camp?

  • Get to know your characters with this fun, 51-item questionnaire

  • Catch today's Virtual Write-In (1PM Pacific time). Or watch the other write-ins in our archive

  • Participate in an Insta Live chat Mondays in the morning, Wednesdays in the afternoon, or Fridays during lunch (all times USA Pacific). Follow @nanowrimo on Instagram for more details!


Today's Writing Dare

If you feel like you're in a writing rut, try switching something up to get the juices flowing again! Use Helen's advice and think about conflict: Write a scene where one character is angry at another, but never comes out and says it. Or write a scene where one character is trying to convince another character do something, but in a roundabout, sneaky kind of way.


author photo

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired The Kiss Quotient, which releases in June 2018. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish.

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