Go on a Writing Retreat for Your Creativity

Creative writing is an activity you can begin, for free, with supplies you have already. You can write as much or as little as you want. Start a new story or continue a previous one. Experiment with personal essays, diaries, short stories or fan fiction.

I have long encouraged writing a frantic first draft of a novel each November during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). We host several NaNoWriMo library programs and write-ins. This April, I'm grateful for the responsiveness of the folks who bring us NaNoWriMo. They're adapting their existing initiatives to make them easier to participate in.

Adding a little more routine to my daily life this April will help me remember to put down my phone. I'll prioritize time to sit quietly to write. I don't anticipate the frantic writing pace I usually attempt in November. (I've written 50,000 words novels EVERY November since 2003!) However, I do plan to get pen to paper and fingers on keyboards.

This is a great time to journal, imagine a different reality, write letters, or observe the world around you. If you do want to try writing some fiction, we have wonderful digital books to encourage you. I especially recommend Grant Faulkner's Pep Talks for Writers available on Hoopla as both an ebook and audiobook. You can also browse this excellent selection of books about writing to inspire and entertain you.

Camp NaNoWriMo

Use this badge to declare your intentions and share this idea with friends!

Camp NaNoWriMo is your next, great writing adventure. Set your own creative goal, work on any writing project and do it with friends at a safe distance.

To participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, just announce a project, then make sure to check “Associate with a NaNoWriMo event,” and select the current Camp NaNoWriMo event. Your project goal can be any number of words. It could be only 30 words (1 word a day, for 30 days). Or perhaps 50,000 words (1,667 words a day for 30 days) or higher. You can also adapt the program to include number of letters written, number of pages edited/revised or any writing-related project.

Now you're ready to start tracking your project! When you reach your writing goal, the site will automatically confirm your win. You’ll receive a certificate celebrating your achievement along with a bunch of other winner goodies!

Looking for more community? Check out the Camp NaNoWriMo forums. Start or join a writing group! Check out the “Assemble Your Writing Group” forum for open groups.

#StayHomeWriMo

#Stayhomewrimo Day 1 Self-Care Checklist for writers from NaNoWriMo.org

#StayHomeWriMo is an initiative with prompts, support and encouragement for writers, shared out through the NaNoWriMo Facebook and Instagram feeds. Each day focuses on four elements:

Physical Well-Being
Mental Well-Being
Creative Well-Being
Social Well-Being

I'm enjoying the reminders to take time for my own well-being. The gentle encouragement to keep doing something I usually love to do (write!) is also helpful.

If you decide not to write this month, Camp NaNoWrimo launches again in July. Every November you have the option to join us for NaNoWriMo's 50,000 words in 30 days. Watch for plenty of library programs and events to encourage you this fall.

Lissa Staley

Librarian

Lissa Staley is a familiar face around the library and throughout Topeka. As Community Connections librarian, she comes alongside people and organizations while they work to learn, experiment and improve their own lives and the community around them. From Library Trivia and NaNoWrimo to voter education and non-profit support, she enjoys helping people make connections to the community and each other. She reads a combination of speculative and science fiction novels, self-help and social justice, and local news, while trying to make sense of them all together.

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