What I Learned from Camp NaNo

I've participated in NaNoWriMo for the last three years, and each year I've learned something. In 2011 I learned that I could write a novel. In 2012 I learned that I could write a longer novel and figured out some more things about plotting and characters. In 2013 I learned that writing scenes from the POV of side characters is really fun and useful. 

This April was my first time participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, and what I lacked in word count I made up for in lessons.

THINGS I LEARNED FROM CAMP NANO:

1. I am a plotter. I worry to the point of procrastination and anxiety if I don't have a basic road map for my story. Now, once in the story and when I have an idea of where it's going, I'll pants the details and go on random character development tangents, but I can't take the detour unless I have a map and know where to merge back onto the chaotic highway of the story.
2. I really, really need to worldbuild. I knew this already from writing Noxumbra, but Book 2 drove that home. My societies need personality. I need to know what year it is. And how the Ootwoxan Conquest went down. I need to figure out religions, governments, morals, social values, how the last four interact and how they differ from place to place, ecosystems, and fashion. So, a lot. Figuring all that out is my current writing project. 
3. Writing about characters who don't like anyone and are liked by no one in turn is hard. And not as fun as I thought. And hard. But that doesn't mean that making them cry isn't fun. It still is. (Yes, I know I'm sadistic when it comes to my characters and I think it's weird and creepy too.) 
4. I need to play more with ensemble casts. Book 2 will probably require one.

So while I didn't make my original goal and most of what I wrote will end up being altered or scrapped due to plot changes, it was still a productive month in its way.

If nothing else it was an excuse to redecorate the dining room by taping notes and reminders to the walls. That's the new style, you know. I call it "literary chic."  It'll be a trendsetter. *Nod nod.*

For those of you who participated in Camp this last month, how did it go for you?  Even if you didn't participate, have you learned anything about your process or the craft lately?

Letter to Vorsilla

To Vorsilla, protagonist of my Camp NaNo novel,

I know our time together has been short, but my dear, things must change. To be blunt, you are not sympathetic. Instead of hating Mr. Snyder and feeling sorry for you, I think he's being reasonable and you're letting your emotions control you. Did you really think that insulting him was going to do any good? You kind of deserved to get thrown out of the house.

This will not do. If I don't like to write you, no one will like to read you. I want to feel sorry for you, but I don't. I sympathize with your situation, not you. You are a frosty, unfriendly, rude, and so blinded by your rage and jealousy and hatred that you don't realize you're only making things worse for yourself. Instead of feeling your rage and jealousy and hatred right along with you, I'm shaking my head at your complete incompetence at dealing with people.

I know this is not entirely your fault. It's my fault, actually, as I am your author. And while starting out as a very flawed character means that you have a great deal of potential for a character arc (more than all of my previous MCs combined, actually), you are so flawed as to scare the reader away as you scare everyone around you away. My dear, you have no redeeming qualities. Your competence at running a household does not make up for the fact that you are unlikable.

This, however, is fixable. You may be a little rain cloud of anger and despair at the moment, but we will find your silver lining, and from there build a beautiful rainbow of a character arc. (Yes, this does mean that at some point you will have to experience positive emotions. and crawl out of your frostbitten shell.)

It will not be easy, and we may not make 50k by the end of Camp NaNo, but at the very least I will have learned a great deal more about working with a character like yourself. And I promise, you will have your happy ending. If any character of mine has deserved it... well, actually the person that deserves it the most is Viola, but you are also deserving, and I will deliver. (Though it won't be anything close to what you expected or think you want.)

I ask that you assist me in this matter. Perhaps together we can resolve this issue and see your happy ending come to pass.

Ever imaginatively,
Your author.