April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. - T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land
April is the cruelest month.
These lines made famous by T. S. Eliot in his poem, The Waste Land, provide a bleak outlook of a post-World War I society. Even as spring brought about new growth in the surrounding landscape, Europe remained in the winter of war. Coupled with political and social changes in the first decades of the 1900s. Eliot’s poem painted a less than ideal picture.
While I could go on talking about literary criticism and Modernism, that’s not what this post is about. Let’s focus on a more hopeful view of what Eliot dubbed the cruelest month.
What Is Camp NaNo?
For most of us, April means springtime. It means growth and warming weather. And for writers, it means the first Camp NaNo event for the year.
So what is Camp NaNo?
You might be familiar with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) that takes place every November. The challenge is to write 50,000 words on a new, original novel. During the spring and summer Camp NaNo challenges, participants set their own goals and projects.
Just like attending summer camp, participants decide on which activities they want to take on during the month. Whether you’re working on drafting, editing, poems, short stories, non-fiction, or any other writing projects, Camp NaNo is the place to be. Unlike the 50,000 words of a novel for the November challenge, at Camp NaNo, you pick the project. You set your own goals.
Instead of 50,000 words, you might set a goal of 25,000. Or, if you’re editing, you can set a goal to edit 10 pages a day.
For April 2022 Camp NaNo, I’ll actually be working on two projects. However, each part will have a small target. Due to a potential visit from my parents, I’m not sure how many days I’ll have time to work on these goals. So even though I’ll have two projects, the overall targets for each is minimal to allow scheduling flexibility.
Camp NaNo Project 1 – Developmental Draft
I am in the editing stage of my Young Adult novel. This process involves reading through the entire manuscript for a big picture overview of the story. With each chapter, I take notes for things that need to be fixed.
Once I finish the complete read through and developmental notes, I will begin the third draft of the book. This draft adds another layer to the narrative. The third draft incorporates the developmental editing notes, including plot holes, timeline issues, character arcs, and other story elements.
For Camp NaNo, I’m committing to at least 50 hours working towards completing the developmental editing draft. I anticipate spending half of this time on the read through and notes. Then, the rest of the time will be devoted to completing the next draft.
Camp NaNo Project 2 – Poem A Day
In addition to Camp NaNo, April is also National Poetry Month. While I read and write poetry occasionally, I admit it’s not a creative form to which I devote a lot of time. dHowever, I would like to get better.
Since National Poetry Month coincides with this first round of Camp NaNo, it’s a perfect time for me to practice. Putting together a poetry collection to publish isn’t high on my priority list. But practicing writing poems provides an opportunity to get better with word choices and imagery. This will ultimately help me as a writer overall.
For Camp NaNo, I’m committed to writing one poem each day. These will not be long or polished pieces. Writing a poem a day is simply a chance to practice the craft of writing poetry.
While April might have made T. S. Eliot ponder the big questions of life in a modern war-torn world, Camp NaNo gives writers a chance to focus on new projects and creative growth. If you’ve been stuck on a project, Camp can be the kick start you need to get going again. And if you want to start a new project, April’s Camp NaNo is the perfect opportunity to jump into the pool.
**Are you taking part in Camp NaNo?
If so, what project(s) are you committing to work on the month?
Reignite your creativity!
Subscribe to get new content, monthly newsletter, and important updates. You'll also receive a free download - "30 Days of Creative Inspiration."
