IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…
I’ve tried this challenge of writing a novel in one month a few times before. Each of those times, I have been unsuccessful. But hey, nothing says “hopeless optimist” like dusting yourself off and trying again, right? All jokes aside, I know that successfully completing this challenge is possible and it is really going to be about applying the growth mindset.

I’ve got this.

I feel good about this time.

This time is already off to a different and promising start. I’ve tried NaNoWriMo before during November, not during the summer. So this is actually my first time as a CampNaNoWriMo camper.

Like any good camper, I am getting ready. I’ve completed my registration…and I’m looking forward to meeting my cabin-mates soon! Having a support group of other writers will be something new this time around. I have already thought about the project that I want to work on. It’s one that I’ve been thinking about for a while, but haven’t started writing yet; it’s perfect for this challenge. I’ve even gone ahead and set up the donation page to help raise funds for the organization.

And like a true camper, I will be writing letters home about my stay. I’ll share these letters about my novel progress here on the blog. It will help keep me accountable for finishing.

THE REVISED GAME PLAN 
Okay. I know what you might be thinking. You don’t have to scroll far through old posts on this blog to see previous attempts at finishing this challenge and keeping myself accountable, but I won’t let those experiences deter me. It’s okay. Not succeeding at the challenge before just means that I’ve already learned a few strategies to help me win it this time. (There’s that growth mindset again.) Those previous attempts have simply helped me to understand the challenge better and better understand what I need to do to complete it.

This time around:

1) I will write first thing in the morning – When I’ve tried this challenge before, I waited until later in the day, after work, after all my other responsibilities were finished to sit down and write. Not this time. This time the writing comes first.

2) I won’t be picky about my writing tools – Sometimes the best ideas come to us when we aren’t planning to write. When these ideas come, I’m not going to wait until I am seated at the computer to work on them. I will write them down in my notebook, on a back of an envelope, a napkin, or my own hand if I have to. I’m not going to let any ideas escape this time.

3) I will leave the editing for later – It’s hard for me not to go back and revise my work as I go. I know this really slowed me down a lot in the past. This time, I am not going to let myself even look back at what I’ve written until the whole thing is finished. (See point #4 for more explanation.)

4) I will use my outline – To write a full novel in one month’s time, it takes a lot of discipline. I’ve tried it before without an outline and it was just not a good idea. The outline will keep me on track and make sure that there is always something to write about. Most importantly, I will have the outline to refer back to instead of  needing to look through sections of previous writing — and won’t be tempted to revise until it is time.

Wish me luck!

And don’t forget to write!

~Melissa