3 Ways to Cure Your NaNoWriMo Hangover (yes, it’s a thing)
You’ve spent a month working hard on your novel — maybe you’ve even finished a 50,000 word draft. But instead of feeling pride and accomplishment, you feel oddly…bereft. You’re exhausted by the intense month of writing, no doubt, but you also kind of miss it. Now that the month is up and you can finally come up for air, you aren’t sure how to keep going.
The obvious answer would be: just keep going! But that’s a lot easier said than done. Here are 3 ways to help you get out of the post-NaNo writing funk:
1. Take a break
You just worked on this thing intensely for one month straight. It’s possible that you need to treat this time like a real hangover and sleep it off (aka rest). Give your brain time to recuperate and re-engage in activities that you know will inspire your creativity. Maybe that means rereading some of your favorite books, or spending time practicing some other creative art, or spending time with friends and loved ones, or taking long walks outside. Whatever it is that helps you get back to that rested and creative space — take time to do it.
2. Set a new goal or deadline
If you didn’t finish NaNoWriMo with the desired 50,000 words (but still want to), then set a new deadline for yourself. There are some who have decided to make the end of December their deadline for reaching the 50,000 words (see #NaNoReDo).
On the other hand, if you did finish NaNoWriMo with 50,000 words, try setting a new goal. What is the next thing you need to do for your novel? Continuing writing? Reread? Edit? Revisit a few troublesome scenes? Whatever it is, come up with (and write down) a specific writing goal with a hard deadline for yourself.
Tip: It’s easier to stick to goals that are bite-sized and realistic. For example, it’s hard (and intimidating) to commit to a general goal like, “finish editing my novel”. Instead try something small: maybe plan to look at 5 pages per week.
3. Find a community or mentor
This is possibly the best thing you could do when you’ve got a hangover — turn to a friend (or friends). The reality is, writers are often too hard on themselves. It’s taxing to do a difficult thing (like writing a novel) on your own. Having a community of people, or even just one other writer friend, to support you when you’re struggling, encourage you when you’re disheartened, or problem solve with you when you’re lost makes a world of difference.
If you find that checking in with a friend doesn’t quite hold enough weight to keep you accountable, try finding a mentor or a coach. The difference between a friend holding you accountable and a coach holding you accountable? A coach will check in with you, persistently, and offer guidance when you’ve fallen into a rut.
Check out OneRoom’s novel writing coaching program. We’re dedicated to providing perpetual motivation, accountability, and encouragement for your writing.
Kayla Quock graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English Lit. and a minor in Education. She worked for the UCB Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion before coming to work at OneRoom.
