It’s almost the end of May. Many changes are coming. For one, the weather is getting warmer. We will enter the peak summer month. My local Toastmasters will be holding a Speakathon May 11 and talking about electing new officers for positions such as President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant-At-Arms. It will be fun to speak more this year and to grow onstage. My goal is to win a blue ribbon at one of the meetings.
I’m also wrapping up Camp Nanowrimo, or the summer camp version of National Novel Writing Month. This year, I didn’t try for a long project because it is hard to focus. At this time last year, I was working on a very big project, the Powered Series. That took several months to finish, and it was a fun experience.
This year for the month of April, I was writing for several anthologies, including one of kids’ poetry for B Cubed Press’s call Alternative Bedtime Stories. You could submit poems, nursery rhymes, or short stories; I went with poems because I wasn’t sure what sort of poems that kids would like that adults would.
The prompt is great because I love bedtime stories. The concept, the memories, and knowing the sensation of someone reading to you while you’re tucked in between the sheets.
The Tales You Tell in the Dark
When you’re tucked in bed, preparing to wind down, it’s easy to forget that sometimes a good tale or nursery rhyme can calm down your head. It’s also nice to have an adult looking out for you. My dad, when I had nightmares, would make me a mug of hot chocolate, and talk about them. Those were the days of Nestle Quick; my tastes have since changed, but I have good memories of those nights.
I enjoyed bedtime stories as a kid. One of my siblings humored me when I asked her to read aloud a nonfiction book on how to make a movie. She was very patient. My older brother also sat me down so that I’d listen to Harry Potter. I have since treasured that moment.
Those days have since vanished. Harry Potter has certainly changed. As an adult, I keep library books by my bed, mainly nonfiction. I read to myself, and try to get some rest. It’s nice to try to write and recapture that sensation of a tale that means so much to you.
Why I do the Summer Camp
Camp Nanowrimo offers freedom and flexibility that the main Nanowrimo in November does not. You can set your word count, and adjust as you go. No one will hammer on how many words you’ve missed due to a bad day, or if you have no time due to obligations. it also means you aren’t worried about your writing stamina.
It also allows me to encourage my friends who are writing if they want to give it a go. Doing a regular Nanowrimo can intimidate, especially since November is also when most schools prepare for finals and workplaces wrap up before the holidays. The summer camp allows a person to start small, or take advantage of the free time they have. Accomplishing the goals can boost self-confidence, and create a positive cycle of completion.
I can’t wait to see what my friends finish. They have some really cool projects in the works.
