As October comes to an end, a quarter of a million people are gearing up for something just as scary as ghosts and goblins. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or Nano). The challenge is simple: write a novel in 30 days. Your novel can be on any topic, genre, theme or format. The only rule is that you must submit a 50,000 word (or more) manuscript to the NaNoWriMo website by 23.59 on November 30th. My palms are sweating already.
There are no top prizes or literary awards for completing the challenge, although you will receive a certificate if you hit your mark. The benefits of NaNoWriMo are much more internal. It makes us write. It challenges us to sit down and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and motivates professional and dabbling writers alike, to produce. If you’ve ever had an inkling to write a novel, National Novel Writing Month is the perfect time to sit down, clear your mind, and actually do it. Here are some important tips to help guide you on your novel-writing journey.
5 Tips to NaNoWriMo Success
1. Know what you want: Everyone has different goals. Do you want to prove to yourself that you can finish a novel length work or just inspire yourself to write every day? Are you writing something you wish to be published or something completely personal? Every reason is valid but identifying your goals makes them much easier to achieve.
2. Plan it out: Writing 50,000 words in 30 days is not an easy task. Whether you’re the type of writer who creates step-by-step outlines, or someone who likes to see where the characters take you, a little legwork can help the writing process. Something as simple as setting daily or weekly writing goals can makes all the difference. That being said…
3. Get out of your head: Just get your ideas down on the page. As writers, we can become wrapped up in our own world. We think and over think. We write and rewrite. NaNoWriMo isn’t about writing the perfect novel, it’s about getting ideas down on paper. Let yourself create something. There will be time for editing and criticism later.
4. Use the Community: NaNoWriMo has created a community of writers who are all striving toward the same goal. We want to see each other succeed. Gain inspiration from other writers. Ask for help when you’re stuck. Writing can be a lonely process but with social media we can cheer each other on and help everyone reach the finish line. (Follow my NaNoWriMo attempt on twitter @J_Nagel_Writes).
5. Have fun: This is by far the most important tip. We write because we love it. We want to create something new and exciting. There’s no need to stress or beat yourself down about a missed word count or dangling plot thread. As long as you’re writing, you’re winning.
You can sign up for National Novel Writing Month at http://nanowrimo.org/. Good luck and happy writing!
