 
The goal is simple: become a stronger writer.
Base Camp is the second event of WdC Writing Season and takes place during the month of October.
After spending September building a writing habit, Base Camp is your opportunity to slow down, strengthen your skills, and prepare for the writing project you'll tackle in November.
Whether you're working on a novel, memoir, nonfiction book, family history, or another ambitious project, each day you'll choose a fiction or nonfiction task designed to help you grow as a writer and move your project forward.
Unlike Fun Run and Marathon, Base Camp isn't measured by word count. Instead, you'll complete 27 tasks designed to strengthen your skills, spark new ideas, and prepare you for the writing goals ahead.
Whether you're an experienced author or just beginning your writing journey, Base Camp is designed to help you grow.
Daily Tasks
Each day introduces a new Base Camp task.
Every task offers both a fiction and a nonfiction option, allowing you to choose the path that best supports the writing project you're preparing for November.
Tasks may ask you to brainstorm, revise, research, observe, reflect, write, or experiment with a new technique. You aren't required to submit writing for any Base Camp task; completing the task itself is what counts.
Base Camp includes 27 tasks along with four optional Rest Days built into your training calendar.
Completing Tasks
Each task can only be completed once.
Once you've finished a task, mark it complete to record your progress. If you choose to save writing or notes with the task, you can return to read or edit them later.
Your completion history lets you easily see how far you've come and what tasks remain.
Rest Days
During Base Camp, your progress calendar includes four built-in Rest Days.
Unlike the daily tasks, Rest Days aren't assigned to specific dates. Use them whenever they work best for your schedule.
Need a day off because of work, school, vacation, or life in general? Take a Rest Day and pick back up tomorrow.
Working toward the Perfect Pace Merit Badge? Remember to complete no more than one task on any calendar day. If you decide to catch up or work ahead by completing more than one task on the same day, you'll still be eligible to earn the Trained & Ready Merit Badge by completing all 27 tasks before the end of the month.
Perfect Pace & Trained & Ready
Base Camp offers two special Merit Badges.
Perfect Pace
Complete all 27 tasks during October without completing more than one task on the same calendar day. This is the training pace your Coaches recommend, so we reward writers who stick with it throughout the month.
Trained & Ready
Complete all 27 Base Camp tasks before the event ends. Life doesn't always go according to plan, and that's exactly why Base Camp includes Rest Days. Missing a day doesn't prevent you from earning Trained & Ready. You can always catch up later or work ahead depending on what life throws at you during Base Camp!
Writers who earn Perfect Pace also earn the Trained & Ready Merit Badge.
Your Event Writing
You aren't required to submit writing for Base Camp tasks, but you're welcome to save writing, notes, brainstorming, or anything else you'd like along the way.
Write using the editor on the event page or open the larger Writing Room whenever you'd like more room to think, write, or edit.
Throughout the month you can copy or download your writing whenever you'd like.
Once Base Camp has ended, you'll be able to turn your writing into a portfolio item with just a few clicks.
Not sure whether to create a Writing Item or a Book? Writing Items are perfect for shorter works like stories, poems, essays, and journal entries. If you've written a longer, chapter-based project during the event, Upgraded members can also choose to create a Book instead.
Merit Badges & Portfolio Awardicons
As you complete Base Camp, you'll earn special recognition for your accomplishments.
Your Merit Badges celebrate how you completed your training, while your Base Camp Portfolio Awardicon becomes a permanent part of your Writing.Com portfolio.
These achievements are yours to keep and proudly display throughout the site.
Completing this event also brings you one step closer to earning the Writing Season Triple Crown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join after Base Camp has already started?
Absolutely! Registration remains open throughout October.
Do I have to complete the tasks in order?
We recommend this, yes. Tasks are designed to build naturally throughout the month.
Do I have to choose the fiction or nonfiction task every day?
Choose the option that best supports your project. You're welcome to stay on one track throughout the month or switch whenever it makes sense for your writing goals.
What if I miss a day?
No problem. You have four rest days to use whenever you want during the month to earn the Perfect Pace badge. But no worries if you miss even more... you can catch up and still earn the Trained & Ready Merit Badge.
Can I work ahead?
You may complete additional tasks if you'd like, but completing more than one task on the same calendar day means you will no longer qualify for the Perfect Pace Merit Badge.
Can I skip a task?
We recommend completing the tasks in order, and we encourage you to give each one your best effort. Some will feel easy, while others may push you outside your comfort zone... that's all part of the Base Camp experience. Base Camp is about learning and growing, not perfection. If you do skip a task and do not mark it as complete, you will not earn the Trained & Ready merit badge.
Are the writing exercises difficult?
Not at all. Base Camp is designed for writers of every experience level. Feel free to adapt each task to match your own writing style and experience.
Do I have to submit writing for every task?
Base Camp is about completing the task, not submitting lots of writing. You can use the editor to save writing, notes, or brainstorming if you'd like, but the amount of writing in the editor is not counted when you mark that day complete.
A Special Thank You
Base Camp was developed with the help of Brandiwyn is Dean Winchester  , whose ideas, insight, and years of experience with writing challenges helped shape the training experience you see here. Her thoughtful contributions helped us build a Base Camp designed to keep writers moving, growing, and ready for whatever November brings.
Thank you, Brandiwyn is Dean Winchester , for helping us build the Camp!
Ready for Base Camp?
Base Camp is your opportunity to build new skills, try new ideas, and become a stronger writer one task at a time.
Have fun, and we'll see you around the Camp!
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