issue 23// vol 46 life & style // no. 13

Get lost in another world at Camp NaNoWriMo

» Online writing challenge offers relief for isolated writers

Cheryl Minns
Senior Columnist

 

Ne that we're living in a world where
social distancing and self-isolation are
encouraged, it can be difficult for creative
individuals to display their art and connect
with their communities. Fortunately for
writers, there exists an online writing
challenge where writers can escape into
their little worlds for 30 days.

Camp NaNoWriMo runs from April
1 to 30 at nanowrimo.org. It’s a more
relaxed version of National Novel Writing
Month (NaNoWriMo), an online writing
competition that happens every November.
Unlike the November version where
participants attempt to write 50,000-word
novels, the April version allows writers to
set their own project goals and attempt
any kind of writing project, all with the
support of the international NaNoWriMo
community.

I've participated in Camp NaNoWriMo
several times over the past few years.
During that time, I’ve figured out a few
good ways to reach my goal and win the
writing challenge. Not that winning should
be the main focus, but it does come witha
few perks, including a Camp NaNoWriMo

 

David Douglas
Contributor

 

certificate and rewards from sponsors.
Since Camp NaNoWriMo allows
participants to set their own project goals,
it’s the perfect opportunity to develop
a writing routine that works with your
schedule. Try committing to writing one to
two hours a day, even if you have to break
that time up into smaller chunks. Give
yourself a weekly word goal—anywhere
from 500 to 5,000 words or more—and see
how many weeks you can meet it. Once
you get into a routine, you'll get used to
sitting down in front of your keyboard or
notebook and writing what comes to mind,
instead of choosing a random moment to
write and hoping for inspiration to strike.
At Camp NaNoWriMo, you can write
about anything you want. Your project isn’t
a class assignment, there aren't any specific
guidelines, and it won't be graded. It’s an
opportunity to write a story that matters to
you and to have fun with it. Coming from
a journalism background, I remember
feeling a bit lost without rules and formulas
to follow in my project. But once I got
used to the idea of writing my project
however I wanted, it was one of the most
freeing writing experiences I’ve ever had.
That’s why I continue taking part in Camp
NaNoWriMo every year.

 

Method:

Camp
NaNoWriMo is a great
way to find a supportive
community to connect
with other writers,
get feedback on your
writing and goals, and
get encouragement
to reach the finish
line. Participants
can connect with
writers all over the
world—including some
best-selling authors
who offer words of
advice in their online
pep talks. There are
also Vancouver-based
groups, suchas the
Other u Months,
that offer writers a
supportive online space
to share their ideas and
work on their goals.

To sign up for
Camp NaNoWriMo,
go to nanowrimo.org,

sign up for a free account, and then create
your camp project by entering your project
title and goal. This project is also good for

Peel and dice your potatoes before putting

 

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use up leftovers with too!

Ingredients:

* 40Fr 5 russet potatoes (cubed)
+ 1/4 cup table cream

+ 2 ths butter or margarine

 

+ 11b ground meat (beefis most common)

* 1/2 cup onions (diced)

* 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup

* 4.cups corn kernels
* 2 cups cheddar cheese (grated)
+ salt and pepper to taste

hepard’s pie is an essential hearty dish that

warms the belly and fills the pot. It’s a versatile
dish that can be made in many ways and is great
food for all occasions. It’s also the perfect dish to

them ina large pot to boil with a sprinkle of salt to
increase boiling temperature—and some cooking
oil to prevent bubbling over.

While your potatoes soften, heat a large skillet
and brown the ground beef. When nearly browned,

drain any excess fat then add diced onions (and
optional ingredients to make your desired ground
beef mixture). Once the mixture is to your desired
darkness (I like to overcook mine a little to give it
acrunch), add the cream of mushroom soup, salt,
pepper, as well as any additional flavours you may

want. Mix well.

Some good suggestions for “additional
flavours” would be Maggi sauce (for a sweet and
salty twist), BBQ sauce (for a smoky flavour), or
some chili paste (for a spicy kick). Remove from

heat and set aside.

 

These ingredient volumes can be modified to
suit your needs. I sometimes struggle with knowing
how much of each layer to make. Usually, I will add
things to the ground beef such as mushrooms, red
peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes to ensure that there
is decent volume to the meat layer.

Having more than enough corn for the
second layer, available in frozen or canned format,
is a good plan. Also, always make more mashed
potatoes then you think you'll need; I usually
still end up with just enough when I add an extra
potato to what I thought was sufficient.

 

By now, your potatoes are likely ready to be
mashed. Check by poking a cube of potato with
a fork. If it falls off or feels really soft, they are
probably ready; if it stays on the fork or you have to
use force, let them boil longer.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the
water from the potatoes and mash them with the
cream, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth and
creamy. If you wanted to add a little flavour boost
to your potatoes, consider using sour cream instead
of table cream.

In your casserole dish, start with your ground
beef mixture. You want to have a pressed layer

AO OTL

(3) 5

teachers and their classes!

in July.

Douglas’ Recipes for Douglas Students

» Classic Shepard’s pie with not-so-classic suggestions

approximately one-third of the dish thick. Next,
put down a layer of corn kernels. This layer can

be thinner if you have lots of mashed potatoes to
add or your beef layer is a little thick but try to be
consistent in your layering. On top, begin to spread
the potatoes until they are just under the lip of

the casserole dish. This can be a little tricky as the
potatoes will try to pick up the corn layer if you're
not careful—take your time.

Sprinkle the top with cheese and the dish is
ready to go in the oven (you can also make the top
more decorative with red pepper slices or banana
pepper rings). Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes
before turning the oven to broil for another 5 to
10 minutes—or until the cheese begins to form a
crust. Remove from the oven and allow time to cool
before serving.

 
 

Photo by David Douglas

 

Poster for NaNoWriMo 2020 via NaNoWriMo.org

Camp NaNoWriMo will also take place