Camp NaNoWriMo is your next, great writing adventure! This month-long writing challenge takes place every April and July, and offers you the flexibility to try something new with your writing. The key differences between Camp NaNoWriMo and our November writing challenge are that during Camp, you can set your own word-count goal (you’re not locked into 50,000 words!), and you can officially tackle any kind of writing project, novel or not. Epic poem based on a shopping list, anyone?

Plus:

If you’re newer to the NaNoWriMo community, Camp is a great place to get your feet wet and set a goal that feels good for you, but still participate in an official community writing challenge.
You’ll be writing alongside thousands of fellow writers! We’ll cheer each other on, host special events, and offer support.
If you complete the official Camp NaNoWriMo challenge, you’ll get exclusive digital badges, a printable certificate, discounts and goodies from our sponsors, and an extra leaf on your writing streak laurel.

Set a Goal

You have two options for an official Camp goal: set a goal for a brand new project, or add a new goal to a project you’ve already started. It just depends on what you want to work on!

The Camp NaNoWriMo challenge invitation banner will appear on your Dashboard one month before the challenge begins (March 1 or June 1). You can begin tracking your writing on April 1 or July 1, and have until 11:59 PM on the final day of the month to reach your word-count goal.

If you want to set an independent goal instead of an official Camp one (for example, if you know you only want to work on it for longer than a month), that’s great! Instead of accepting the official challenge from the Camp NaNoWriMo banner, just set an independent goal using the dragon box on your Dashboard. You can choose whatever word-count goal and timeline will work for you and write alongside the rest of the Camp NaNoWriMo community at your own pace. Note: you won’t get access to the winner page with the official certificate, flair, and winner offers if you participate like this.

⏱️ Can I make a goal that tracks something other than words?

Right now, the new site only supports word-count goals. If you want to track another kind of writing goal, such as time or pages, we can suggest a few workarounds:

Camp Tracks and Resources

One big difference between NaNoWriMo in November and Camp is that during Camp, you can work on any kind of writing project, not just a novel. So, drop your backpack in your cabin and come on over to the mess hall because it’s time to choose your Camp Track!

✍🏽 New Novelists — If you’re using Camp to start a brand new novel, check out our NaNo Prep 101 page for tons of interactive exercises to help you develop your story idea, organize your writing time, and more!

🦈 NaNoFinMo (National Novel Finishing Month) — This track is jam-packed with fin-tastic resources to help you finish your novel. While you can use Camp to work on any kind of writing project (novel or not), this track focuses on providing extra help for writers trying to finish that first draft.

🖊️ Revision-Ready — If you’ve finished a first draft and need support refining it, check out our ”Now What?” Revision Guide for advice and exercises, and explore the whole Revision Resources page for further support.

📷 Camp Memoir — Camp Memoir is a writing track for anyone who has ever wanted to tackle a strange, true story—your own! If that sounds like you, join the Camp Memoir track. You’ll get all support and encouragement from fellow memoirists, as well as a canoe-load of tips and tricks on writing a book about yourself and your life.

Connect with Camp Community

Check out the Camp NaNoWriMo forums.
Attend an NaNo HQ virtual event (we’ll be so excited to see you!).
Start or join a writing group! You can create a group of 3 – 20 writers to share progress, encouragement, and resources as you write. Start a writing group of your own, or find a writing group to join in the forums. (You can join as many groups as you’d like!)
Writing Groups Support — Check out the information and resources we’ve compiled about how to run a successful writing group.

Camp Counselors and YouTube Guides — July 2023

Every year, we get a fantastic team of authors to act as your guides, cheerleaders, and mentors during each Camp NaNoWriMo session. Our Camp Counselors will be sharing advice in Camp Care Packages as well as live events like Instagram takeovers, Zoom meetups, and more throughout the month! Check out previous Camp Care Packages on our blog.

Additionally, our YouTube Guides will be hosting live Virtual Write-Ins and sharing writerly advice videos on our YouTube channel.