11 NaNoWriMo tips
It’s almost here!
Well yes, Halloween too, but I meant National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo!
It’s the month when writers stop texting back or making appearances at social functions as they devote their time to working on their novels and writing 50,000 words in 30 days. At about 1,667 words per day, NaNoWriMo is no joke to writers.
If you’re thinking of joining the fun and committing to writing your WIP (Work in Progress), review some advice about NaNoWriMo to get motivated and ready for the busy month ahead.
Get the most out of NaNoWriMo with these 11 tips
1. Prepare your story
You’ve still got a few days before it kicks off on November 1, so take this time to work on your outline or creating a scene list. You don’t have to have a full treatment or know exactly where it’s going, but have an idea of where you want the story to go and your character’s motivations.
I love the outline that the Save the Cat method uses, where each story is comprised of 15 beats. This method has helped me pace my WIP better and make sure I’m hitting the right story elements today’s readers expect.
Check out the free outlining resources available in the treasure box on Nadine Avola’s website, including a Save the Cat beat map, a bird’s-eye view of your WIP, and character worksheets.
Reedsy also has a great online library of articles and writing advice and has an in-depth blog post on how to outline your book and different ways to do so. I’ve also tried emulating the example they use from JK Rowling that gives a rough idea of the story’s timeline, the main plot points, subplots, and groups of scenes for chapters.
You could also attempt NaNoWriMo as a pantser, but I think even a simple outline will keep your story focused and navigate you in the right direction.
2. Add it to your calendar
Like eating right and exercising, writing takes discipline. It requires your time and full attention. So give it the time it deserves by adding it to your calendar or daily schedule. Maybe you can get up an extra 45 minutes early in the morning and get some writing time done before work, or during your lunch break, or as soon as you get home from work.
Find what works best for you and fit it into your schedule. I’m a night owl, so I prefer to let my ideas percolate during the day and then around 8 p.m. start hammering away at my keyboard. But you must set aside some time to get your writing done. It may shift around during the month and based around other commitments, but stick to it each day.
3. Use your time wisely
Like I noted above, you have to make time for it but that doesn’t mean you can’t work on your WIP during other times of the day. I like to take a walk over my lunch break and I’ll use a voice recorder to talk through any plot problems I’m having or just let my mind wander and talk through different subplots, foreshadowing opportunities, or plot twists I can work into my story. That way, when it’s time to sit down and crank out some work, I’m not overcome with new ideas and wasting my precious typing time with more outlining.
4. Just write
Remember, it’s a first draft! This will not be your final product so focus on getting it written instead of making it perfect. There are times in my writing where I’ll literally put “PLACEHOLDER” and a quick description of what I think the scene should be if I’m not feeling up to writing that scene and then work on the bit I want to get to.
You do not have to go in order during your writing but you do have to get something down on paper. You will have time to edit later, but for now just write whatever comes to you.
5. Don’t edit, yet
Don’t look back!
I’ve had the problem of getting stuck in my first few chapters because I’m constantly rereading and editing them instead of moving on and getting to more meatier and action-packed chapters. Go back and add notes or keep a running list of ideas, but keep moving forward your in novel and save editing for December.
6. Create a writing environment
Maybe you can use your in-home office or den, or maybe you have a favorite chair, or want to write from bed, but wherever you choose, make it a fun writing environment so you can focus at the task at hand when you’re there. I like to write from one of our overstuffed armchairs with a glass of wine in reach!
7. Cut out distractions
Need music to write? Grab an iPod or something that won’t grant you access to the World Wide Web. The point here is that you need to eliminate distractions like the rest of the Internet, the TV, or even being near the kitchen.
Stock up on snacks, water, coffee, tea, or wine, whatever your writing juice of choice is, and start writing. If you use Scrivener to write, use their fullscreen mode so you’re not tempted to check Facebook or your email.
8. Set a timer
On easy way to stay focused is to set time limits to your writing. Set a timer for 30 minutes and those 30 minutes are spent solely on getting words on the page.
9. Take breaks
After your 30-minute writing session, go for a walk, work out, refill a snack, talk to your family, dance around the room, do whatever you need to do to give yourself a mental break from writing and your story.
NaNoWriMo is meant to help you focus and dedicate time to writing your book, but you’ll still need breaks from your story’s world and your characters or you might get frustrated and start to resent your WIP if you feel it’s the only thing you can focus on.
10. Give yourself a buffer
The goal is 50,000 words in a month so just under 1,700 words per day, but we all know life will get in the way. Leave yourself a buffer for an after-work happy hour or date night and just plan to make up those words another night.
When it’s not NaNoWriMo, my writing time is Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. So during NaNoWriMo, I might schedule a higher word count on those days already set aside for writing and leave myself a Friday night free or have a smaller word count goal.
11. Stay motivated
Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or two but don’t let it turn into a habit. Find ways to stay motivated by joining the NaNoWriMo forums or in-person write-athons, or joining Twitter chats around #amwriting and #NaNoWriMo to find words of encouragement or help when you’re struggling.
You are definitely not alone in this and most writers I connect with online are more than happy to help out and guide other writers in the right direction.
What other tips do you have for writers diving into November with a NaNoWriMo project? Share them in the comments below or over on Twitter at @sjdonelson303.
