Tips for NaNoWriMo

We’re back with National Novel Writing Month! As a result of the National Novel Writing Month, writers from around the world attempt to write 50,000 words in just 30 days during the month of November. It means writing 1,667 words per day. This may sound like a lot, and it is. But I’m here to give you some NaNoWriMo tips and tricks to get you through.

Take a look at these tips for how to survive NaNoWriMo and come out of it feeling like a champ, whether you’ve done it before or this is your first time.

Stay positive!

Sometimes it may feel impossible or stressful. You will feel very proud once you’re done with this, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re doing something pretty cool. You will thrive if you keep reminding yourself how much you can accomplish with your own creative skills. Your commitment and drive to keep going make you an admirable writer. 

Don’t worry about editing!

Turn off the editor is the mantra of NaNoWriMo. Don’t look back at what you’ve already written, just keep going forward. It’s the first draft, so remember that! You should worry about editing later, writing in a raw sense is best. You are at your purest and most ‘you’ moment in this edit. Once you’re close to the end, you’ll be able to invest yourself into going over it afterwards and reflecting on it.

Reward yourself!

Don’t forget to celebrate when you hit a word goal, whether it’s with a cupcake or some NaNoWriMo swag. Whatever the number, you have a lot to be proud of, whether it is 5k, 15,000, or the whole 50k! As a writer, this is an amazing project to invest your time into, but remember that you are still human. The appreciation you receive from everyone is well deserved, but even more so from yourself. It’s well deserved.

Don’t wait around for inspiration!

My biggest takeaway from NaNoWriMo is that it’s better to write something no matter how awful it is than to wait for the perfect words to come. Don’t think, just go, and see what you find along the way. You always say the most beautiful things in the purest form of your words. In other words, it proves your direction and what you wish to communicate. Don’t give up!

Build a writing support system

When you have a community, everything is better. There is no doubt that the support of others will help you continue on this crazy journey. Get involved with your local NaNoWriMo community and attend write-ins or organise a group of friends to participate together. There is also an app called Ohwrite that allows you to write alongside friends and fellow writers which can be a great motivator when writing. Check it out!

Have catch up days!

While #NaNoWriMo technically requires you to write 1,667 words every day, you should be realistic about what you can manage within your schedule and energy level. There will undoubtedly be a conflict between work, school, and family commitments (thanksgiving is this month) and be a day that you miss your writing time. Try to write every day, but allot some time to catch up.