Camp Nanowrimo Creates Romance & Happily Ever After
Once again I am participating in Camp Nanowrimo, April 1st through April 30th, 2017. It’s a little more unstructured than the November Nanowrimo, where you have to complete 50,000 words in thirty days. At camp you set the pace and how many words you want complete in the 30 day timeframe. Still, there are hundreds of writers worldwide participating so you cheer each other on. It’s a fun forum, when usually it’s only you, the computer and keyboard. Writing is a solitary endeavor for the most part. Check back here to see how I’m doing! This morning, April 7th, I’m at 8,990 words, so I have a bit to go to meet my daily word count. Wish me luck!
For me Camp Nanowrimo is still 50,000 words in thirty days, because I need a good start on my next book. But there are a few obstacles, Pikes Peak Library District’s Mountain of Authors is Saturday , April 8th. It’s a lost day of writing but so much fun hanging with local authors, selling and signing books for my readers. Then April 28th through the 30th I will be at the Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference, so I better have my 50,000 words done at that point. Whew! That means only twenty-seven days. Still I love a good challenge!
Something that has always mystified me is the rolling of eyes and a few derogatory comments when I say I write romance or paranormal romance with a little mystery and suspense thrown in. It’s the happily ever after that draws me to the genre. What could be more inviting than to be swept away to a world of magic, fantasy, feel good and romance for a few hours. No time in recent history has there been a greater need for a safe place to escape for a few hours. Or a reminder of the heart-warming and healing power of love. Especially when devastating destruction is all around us, whether it be natural disasters or man’s violent acts on mankind.
So to those who question my choice in writing — too bad. I will continue to create stories that stress the importance of seeing beyond ourselves to help others obtain their happily ever after! I’m not sure what can be done to fix this world, but for my part I will continue to create happily ever afters in my corner of the world to share with you.
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Camp Nanowrimo, Happily Ever After, Paranormal, PPLD Mountain of Authors, Romance, Tena Stetler, writing by Tena Stetler with 7 comments.
Nice post, Tena. I’ve never participated in a Nanowrimo event. Probably should. Nothing’s harder than staring at a blank page, knowing you have to fill it and hundreds more. Everyone loves romance, where they admit it or not. We just have to ignore the raised eyebrows and snickers. Good luck with your new writing project.
Yep, exactly, raised eyebrows and snickers never bother me. Have a good weekend.
There will always be the eye-rollers, but what they don’t realize is how much romance SELLS! 57% is the latest estimate I can find – 57% of books sold are romance! Take THAT, you eye-rollers!
And I find a lot of people read romance when they don’t think they are reading romance. It’s sneaky that way. Love is everywhere!
I have mentioned the stats before, but thanks for the reminder. Thanks for the comment Susabelle! Have a great weekend!
I’m doing Camp NaNo too – just to revise my current WIP more than starting a new story – although I’ve ‘won’ the November NaNo four times to date!
I write Science Fiction romance and I don’t worry about the eye rolling either – as you say, what can be better than to escape the worries of ‘this’ world to enter a fantasy world where love will always overcome hatred and evil! You can keep your ‘kitchen soap’ dramas, let’s have some fantasy and romance!
Camp is fund whether you start a new book or are working at edits on a draft. Escape is the idea. Have a great weekend!
Yep! I stand proud when I tell others I write romance. No shame here, Tena. Wishing you all the best with Camp NaNo!