“I Want to Wake Up In the Morning at Dear Old Camp Echo…Where the Sun Comes a Peep’in into Where I’m Sleeping, and the Song Birds Say Hello.”

I could never forget my days at Camp Echo in Fremont, Michigan. It is the YMCA camp that leaves two weeks in August to the girls. How we laughed one summer when the boys Camp Director complained about how much much toilet paper was being used.  I was a camper in 4th and 5th grade, but in high school, I returned as a Counselor in Training, and thereafter, a Counselor. The summer after I married I was the Assistant Camp Director. (I missed being in the cabin with the campers.)  Camp was a place of friendship, song, and starry nights, memories that have lasted a life time.

Camp Na No Wri is about writing a novel in 30 days of at least 50,000 words. I tried it once before and didn’t make it. I guess it was homesickness! The camp started July 1; I posted my first word count of 554 words, a new introduction. Today, July 2, I posted 2,763 words. Of course, this was possible because I am reworking/editing an unfinished second novel with potential. Going to writing camp for a month is just the ticket to resurrect something I believe in, yet lacks the depth necessary to justify its existence. My intention is to send you camp letters every few days while getting back to this novel. Every camper appreciates letters. Hope you will write me this month by way of comments, sending assurance that writing camp is the best place to be the month of July. If you send cookies, please, be sure they are gluten free. Thanks!