How I Wrote a Novel in 30 Days: A NaNoWriMo Diary
2019 was my first attempt at NaNoWriMo — and also my first successful one.
But I have something to confess. Until then, I was skeptical about the buzz around NaNoWriMo. I had my doubts about people claiming to write an entire novel within a month. I didn’t see the point of it, aside from vanity and presumption.
I changed my mind, however.
By writing over 50.000 words last November, I realized the true nature — at least for me — of NaNoWriMo:
It is about commitment. NaNoWriMo is an arduous test on how consistent your writing habits can be. It is not meant for sprinters — people who write like crazy one day and then let their manuscript to rot for weeks. It is meant for long-distance runners.
So I gave it a shot.
From November 1 to November 30, I never felt like turning my life upside-down. I kept my daily job (42 hours a week), kept reading, kept playing Resident Evil 2 on my PS4, and kept going out to the Irish Pub across the street now and then. I didn’t turn into a hermit to beat NaNoWriMo — and I believe no one needs to.
The result of it all?
I wrote two out of five chapters of my interactive horror novel, titled Ghost Simulator — which is still under development. By the end of the month, I had around 54 thousand words written.
It is about commitment. NaNoWriMo is an arduous test on how consistent your writing habits can be. It is not meant for sprinters — people who write like crazy one day and then let their manuscript to rot for weeks. It is meant for long-distance runners.
Analyzing my progress
Now, let’s examine my writing routine in November 2019. What insights can we draw from my writing habits? More than anything, I want to analyze it because I want these habits to last. If I did it once, I could keep doing it over and over again.
The same rationale applies to you and your writing habits, of course.
This graph compares my actual progress with “ideal” milestones — 1667 words a day, 50.000 words at the end of the month. I kept myself “above the curve” most of the time, but around November 15, I noticed my writing rate was dropping underneath the ideal threshold.
And this was okay.
Bad days are okay. It is fine if you wake up one day lacking the will to write, or if you get home late, too tired to sit and put the ball to roll.
The thing is: when you are a long-distance runner (or writer) rather than a sprinter, these temporary drops in your efficiency don’t affect your long-term goal. If you stick to your commitment, your good days make up for your bad ones. This was true for me: a few days after my writing rate dropped, I got hold of it again.
If you intend to write a novel, it is the long run that counts. Don’t let bad days set you back.
This second graph represents my daily word count.
The first point we notice is that my daily productivity fluctuated a lot. Sometimes, I wrote over three thousand words a day. My daily productivity peaked at 4234 words on November 23. And there were days when I could barely write. I didn’t write at all on November 26, and sometimes I wrote fewer than 1000 words per day.
It is important to mention, however, that to reach 50.000 words a month, you should maintain an average daily word count of 1667 words or more. And as you can see from this graph, I did it.
We aren’t machines. We can’t just wake up and tell ourselves: All right, I will put down 1667 words today. It doesn’t work like this. Although we can set daily goals and monthly goals, we have to understand that our productivity varies from time to time — and on some occasions, there is barely something we can do about it.
It is essential to perceive, too, that one’s daily word count varies over the weeks. If you aren’t a full-time writer, the odds are that you have to juggle your regular job, your writing aspirations, and possibly other activities. This means that the time you have to write is not the same each day of the week. Your writing schedule should acknowledge this.
If you intend to write a novel, it is the long run that counts. Don’t let bad days set you back.
Which writing aids did I use?
Theoretically, you only need a notepad and a pencil to beat NaNoWriMo — or a computer with a program like Microsoft Word. Or a typewriter. Or whatever.
In reality, however, some apps and programs can help you out. These are the ones I used:
- NaNoWriMo website. This is the “official” website for this literary challenge. It has many functionalities. First, it helps you keep track of your daily and monthly goals. Also, it lets you stay in touch with other people pursuing their writing objectives. You can access it around the year — not only in November. If you don’t have an “overall” writing planner already, consider it. Oh, and it has cool badges, too.
- Evernote. My virtual planner. There, I keep my notes, and I come up with checklists and deadlines. Sometimes I manage to meet my deadlines. Sometimes.
- Microsoft Word. It needs no introductions, I hope.
As you can see, there is no mystery involved: I just (1) wrote, and (2) kept track of how much I wrote. There is an infinitude of apps and programs around — you just need to check them out and see what fits your style best.
What I learned from this experience
Again, NaNoWriMo meant for me, above anything else, an exercise in commitment. I knew my goal was challenging, but I adapted my routine and reached the 50.000-word landmark. And I sincerely believe anyone motivated enough to write a novel can do it too. I believe you can do it too.
So here are my takeaway messages for you if you want to beat NaNoWriMo 2020:
1. Plan ahead
Know what you will write about.
This doesn’t mean devising an immutable plot set in stone, but — when writing fiction — to understand your characters and your setting. If you aim to write a non-fiction piece, however, then research enough material beforehand. This way, you won’t wonder what to write next.
2. Build a routine and stick to it
NaNoWriMo is all about consistency. You don’t need frenzied writing sprints. You don’t need to isolate yourself from the world, even though this idea might sound romantic and poetic.
Instead, you need to achieve your optimal daily productivity and make it last. You need to find what works for you and what doesn’t.
Some people prefer to write as soon as they wake up. Other people write throughout the day, while others are night owls. To write your novel in a month, you need to create your writing routine and be consistent about it.
NaNoWriMo is all about consistency. You don’t need frenzied writing sprints. You don’t need to isolate yourself from the world, even though this idea might sound romantic and poetic.
3. Track your progress
What gets measured gets improved.
This is a mantra for me. If you keep track of how much you write a day, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses. You end up having insights. Do you write more on weekends? Then adapt your routine to it. Is there a day of the week in which you have free time to sit down and write? Then do something about it. You start the week writing a lot and then your word count decreases as the week comes to an end? Why is that happening?
Get your metrics.
What gets measured gets improved.
4. Keep in touch with fellow writers
I can’t stress enough how important this is.
I have friends who, like me, struggled to beat NaNoWriMo. We all have our downsides, fragilities, insecurities, and talking about them helps a lot. You are not alone — in fact, the writing community only grows. Here on Medium, for instance, you can keep in touch with writers around the globe, from aspiring artists to seasoned storytellers.
It is fundamental to have fellow writers who can cheer you up and with whom you can share your successes — and defeats.
5. Have fun
This should go without saying, but I remind you:
You are not a martyr for undergoing NaNoWriMo. And you are not a loser if you don’t reach that 50,000-word mark.
People shouldn’t pity you for taking this challenge. Also, you shouldn’t let go of things that make you happy to complete this job.
If you joined this intellectual marathon, it is because you love writing. The odds are that you have a story inside you, and you need to work out a routine to bring it to the light.
It doesn’t have to be a pain. It shouldn’t be a pain.
It should be fun.
You just read another exciting post from the Book Mechanic: the writer’s source for creating books that work and selling those books once they’re written.
If you’d like to read more stories just like this one tap here to visit
