6 Ways to Win NaNoWriMo This Year
Many people within and outside of the literary field are aware of National Novel Writing Month. National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, doubles as a nonprofit organization and annual event. Every November, NaNoWriMo challenges writers globally to write a novel in a month. They do this through their website, which sets a goal of the average length of a novel (about 50,000 words), holds writers accountable for jotting down how many words they got in a day, and offers advice and encouragement for writers to keep going.
If you’re interested in participating in NaNoWriMo this year — and I definitely recommend that you do — here are at least six tips I’ve found that helped me not only succeed at the event, but also make the most of it.
1. Write Every Day
Writing every day is easier said than done. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself two chapters one day, but the next you can barely get in a sentence. You may experience writer’s block, worry that your story isn’t “good” enough, or straight up fatigue. But, if you can turn writing into a routine, if you just sit down and write, you’ll be at the finish line.
2. Plan Ahead
This is something I wished I had spent more time on the first time I did NaNoWriMo, but the time I did spend on it was worth it. You may not be the kind of person who’s into planning, but doing some planning can definitely help in the long run. It doesn’t have to be egregiously long; I mainly wrote an outline for mine and worked on fleshing characters. Finding a theme for your story is important, too, because it drives you in the direction your story will be going in. Trust me, it makes things so much easier.
3. Read
This advice has been here for so long, but it’s because it’s true. So many of my story ideas come from my favorite novels, blog posts, magazine articles, and anything written by someone else. It also helps improve your writing style and introduces you to new topics to write about. So the next time you see an interesting news story, try to set aside some time to sit down and read it.
4. Time Yourself
Setting a time limit will not only ensure you don’t procrastinate but also that you don’t sit at the computer all day frustrated and trying to write. Like exercise, giving yourself a time limit can help when you don’t feel like doing it but want t get it in during the day. Write 20 minutes a day, 30 minutes, more on the weekends, less, whatever works for you. Consistency is the key here.
5. Ask For Help
When you find yourself stuck on a plot idea or character, it’s always a great idea to ask for help. Having an outsider’s perspective on where to move next with your writing is an invaluable resource. There are even some wonderful forums on the website with people exchanging advice and constructive criticism.
6. Take A Break
We can only work for so long before we just need to step away from the computer or notebook and do something other than writing. Give yourself a break. Talk to friends, watch a TV show, or just eat some ice cream. Do whatever you need to de-stress and energize yourself.
NaNoWriMo was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my writing career; that’s why I haven’t done it in several years since. But knowing that I succeeded one year, knowing that I finished a manuscript, was beyond rewarding. And it’s that sense of accomplishment that ultimately makes NaNoWriMo worth it even if you only do it for one year. With commitment, dedication, and motivation, you can do NaNoWriMo this year and in the years to come.
