Top Ten Tips for NaNo Newbies

Are you trying National Novel Writing Month for the first time? 

With November just days away, I wanted to share some tips I've learned as an eight-time participant. While I'm not an expert, I can relate to the journey you are about to embark on. I hope these ten suggestions help you find success during the upcoming 30 days.

1. Set your writing goal. 

The challenge set by NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words in 30 days, but you need to know what YOUR writing goal is. How are you going to use this general goal to best suit you? Ultimately, why are you doing this challenge?

Do you want to...

• Motivate yourself to write every day?
• Challenge yourself by writing more than you have in a given time?
• Push yourself in a genre you’ve never written before?
• Complete your current work in progress?
• See if you actually want to be a writer?
• Start something new?
• Try writing from a different point of view you’ve never tried?
• Get back to writing after a long absence?
• Create a daily routine of writing?
• Have a little fun in the midst of a difficult time?

Whatever your reason, make sure you know your ‘why’. Write it down. Stick it somewhere you will see frequently every day. When the going gets tough in the challenge - and it will - you will ask yourself why you are doing this. The good news is that you will already have the answer staring you in the face.

2. Have access to your story at all times.

I’ll discuss your writing schedule a little later, but it’s important to always have access to your NaNo work in progress. 

One thing you’ll discover as a part of this process is you’ll run into random pockets of time where you aren’t doing anything and you will wish you had your story with you so you can write, even if it’s just for five minutes. You’ll be in a long line at the grocery store, stuck in traffic, on public transportation, waiting for your dinner to cook, in a waiting room at the doctor’s office, on a break at work, and so on. 

But if you have your story with you at all times, you can pull that out and get some words in. Whether it’s a physical notebook, tablet, your phone, or a recording device, make sure there is always a way you can pick up where you left off in your last writing session.

Remember this is all about quantity of words over quality. You can make everything look better in December. 

3. Plan to write more each day.

50,000 words can seem daunting as a beginner. Believe me, I’ve been there. As my mom always said, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Now, I don’t know why I’m eating an elephant, but the analogy makes sense. It is possible to complete the NaNo challenge. It is an ambitious goal, but not an unrealistic one when you break it down. 

In order to complete the set challenge goal of 50,000 words in 30 days, you need to average 1,667 words a day or 12,500 a week. 

However, you should take into account that life will get in the way. Something unexpected might happen. What if you or a loved one falls ill (very possible this year)? What if a work project is assigned to you that requires more hours? And what about the holidays?

I like to create a safety net for life interference in my daily word count and shoot for at least 2,000 words a day. This provides a bit of a buffer for those days when I’m short on time or hit a bit of a wall in my writing session.

Another part of this is don’t stop when you reach your daily word count. If you hit that daily goal and still have the time, ideas, and energy to keep going, go for it! Take advantage of the extra mileage while you can, especially in the early days when the story idea is fresh and exciting. There will be times in the journey of 30 days when you’ll fall short. Having that cushion gives you some leniency if you need it.

4. Take a break.

While it’s important to know when to keep pushing through your writing session, it’s just as important to know when to walk away. It doesn’t have to be a long break - just enough time to gain a little perspective, breathe, and come back with fresh eyes.

Here are a few things you can do to find natural breaks:

• Only have the drink you are currently drinking or the snack you are currently eating in the same space as your writing. It means if you need more, you’ll have to get up to get it. Also, if you consume a lot of fluids as frequently as I do, your body will give you another need for a natural break. (TMI?)
• Do your laundry and get up to change it when the buzzer sounds. Put away the laundry as it comes out of the dryer.
• On the hour, stand up and stretch or do ten jumping jacks.
• When you take a break for a meal, don’t eat with your writing in front of you. Eat in another room, if possible.
• Try the Pomodoro method. (I mentioned this in a previous post and will be utilizing it during my NaNo writing this year.) 
• If it’s getting late and you’re tired, go to bed.

The important thing about however you take your break is you come back to your writing afterward.

5. Make a 'Post NaNo List' as you're writing.

The important task for the next 30 days is to write everything down. However, no matter how much you have planned in advance or experienced you are as a writer, there will always be things that come up as you’re drafting. It could be wanting a better name for a character, needing to do some research, or not liking your word choice. Instead of stopping and solving the problem now, make a note and keep going.

One way I’ve done this for years while drafting is having a physical notebook next to me. Anything that needs additional work, I write a number next to the spot in my draft in a bracket (i.e. [13]) and then add the number in my notebook with the note of what I need to do (i.e. [13] Need to research sword-fighting). You can also do this by utilizing comments in Word documents, which I’m going to try this year.

Creating this running list is helpful to remind you of what work needs to be done without breaking stride. Keep drafting! Again, this is about quantity, not quality.

6. Understand that ‘mid-challenge burnout’ is a thing.

In the first few days (and weeks), the challenge and love of this new idea is exciting. It can seem easy to fly through your word count and come back to your writing sessions day after day. 

But there will come a time when you will hit a wall. Whether it’s writers block, stuck on an idea, or out of energy, have a contingency plan. Create a list of ideas you can jump to that you’re excited about. Ask someone to be your accountability partner to keep you going back to your goal, even if you’re not feeling it. 

And if you need to, take a day off and come back tomorrow. Make sure you’re taking care of your physical and mental health as well. Without that, you don’t have the juice you need to keep working. This is not an easy task, but it’s possible. 

7. Give yourself permission to say 'no'.

It’s okay for writing to be one of your top priorities. You might have to say ‘no’ to additional social gatherings (which may not be as much of a problem this year as in the past) or tasks that you would otherwise take on. Scheduling the time to write may require sacrifice, but if it’s worth it, do it. Focusing on your writing is a good thing.

8. Celebrate and reward your mini successes.

This tip can also be helpful to keep you motivated. The big task is 50,000 words so set the biggest reward for December 1, whatever that means to you. Then break it up into smaller goals with an equal sized reward to the task: set a goal and reward for hitting your word count goal on Day 1; reward yourself after a five day writing streak; celebrate completing 10,000 words. 

I heard a writer once say that they motivated themselves to write daily by only having their favorite kind of orange juice if they were writing. This was something that they normally wouldn’t splurge on, but it worked as a reward to keep the writing going.

Whatever works or motivates you, reward yourself for all your successes.

9. Create a schedule that works for you.

In an ideal world, it’s helpful for writers to work on their craft daily, especially during this challenge. However, writing every single day isn't always an option. Whether it's long work shifts, busy family life, holiday celebrations, etc., life can dominate your schedule. 

It is possible to do NaNo in the midst of normal life. Sit down with your schedule and chart out when you have pre-scheduled tasks. Find the gaps when you can work in writing sessions. If you can only schedule long writing sessions one to three times a week, that's okay. Book the session. 

This is where always having your writing with you can be helpful. During this experience, you may find creative times and ways to fit in a writing session. So schedule the time, but then find the extra time and word count as you go.

10. Remember to have fun.

I know this is the most cliche end to a Top Ten list, but I've found that it's an important part of this journey.   This is the time to find the joy in writing and in a new (or renewed) story. Use this challenge as a way to escape from the craziness of the world and enter one of your own making. And as cliche as this saying is, it’s also true - enjoy the ride!

To the new NaNo writers, what are you most worried about and excited for this month?

To the returning NaNo writers, what advice do you wish you had when you started your first challenge attempt?