Jennifer's 5 Tips for NaNoWriMo

Greetings, brave writers! With one week left until the start of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), now seems like a perfect time to go over some last-minute tips. Whether it's your first or tenth time participating in NaNo, it never hurts to be prepared.

Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month

First, some background: The idea of having a month dedicated to writing a novel started back in 1999 among a small group of friends, but it caught on so quickly that within just a few years, hundreds of thousands of people were participating. The goal of NaNo is to write 50,000 words in the month of November, and the mass appeal stems largely from the positive community surrounding NaNo, as well as the mindset of "you don't have to write something good, you just have to write something."

That takes off some pressure, but writing 50,000 words in the span of 30 days can still be daunting. If you're in the US and celebrate Thanksgiving during November, that can make it seem even more unlikely that you'll have the time to knock out so many words.

But it can be done, and it can be a really positive, fulfilling experience if you keep a few things in mind.

Break it down

Sitting down and thinking I have to write 50,000 words might overwhelm you. Instead, think of it this way: you only need to write 1,667 words each day to meet that 50,000-word quota. That's really not so bad! NaNo offers some widgets to help with keeping track of your word count so you don't need to waste valuable writing time on that, and they also hold daily "competitions," if that's a good motivator for you.

Go easy on yourself

It's okay if you don't hit 50,000 words on November 30^th. Really. Plenty of people continue on into December, and no matter how many (or how few) words you write, it's better than zero.

Don't fret writer's block

If you're feeling stuck on a scene, don't panic. Remember that you can always skip that scene and come back to it later. If you're set on writing it, try looking around for inspiration: take a walk, talk to a friend, or use a writing prompt generator.

And when in doubt, check out the NaNo forums. You'll find nothing but encouragement and sympathy there, plus plenty of ideas to get your creative energy flowing!

Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month

Take breaks

No, really. Make sure you're well rested (or at least try to be). Go out with your friends, watch a movie, read a book. If you let NaNo consume you for the entire month, you'll feel miserable and will dread sitting down to write every day. Balance is important; set aside time to write, but don't neglect yourself to do so.

Socialize

I already mentioned the NaNo forums, but if that's not your thing, give Twitter a try. Some of the most popular hashtags to check out are #nanowrimo, #nanowrimo2016, #amwriting, and #writing. For advice and encouragement, follow the #nanocoach hashtag. In October, #nanoprep is a big one, and in December and January, #amediting skyrockets.

There are also local write-ins you can join, if you're craving some in-person interaction. You can find likeminded writers in the NaNo Regions Directory, or you can utilize meetup.com and find local writers groups in your area—I can pretty much guarantee that they'll be having some NaNo-related meetups. Some people spend the entire time writing during these events, and others value them for the chance to socialize; it's a great way to make new friends! Remember, there are no bad experiences. There are good experiences and then there are experiences that make good writing fodder. ;)

However you cope with the challenge of writing 50,000 words in a month, we're rooting for you! At the end of the month you'll have the start to a shiny new novel down on paper—or maybe even most of it!—and when you're ready to take it beyond the roughness of a first draft, we'll be here to help.