How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is celebrated each November during National Writer’s month. It is a creative writing contest where you compete against yourself. The goal is to write the first draft of a 50,000-word novel in thirty days or less – intimidating, but not impossible!

Authors take this challenge very seriously. Many prepare for weeks ahead of time to give themselves the best opportunity to win this challenge. Being prepared and in the proper mindset is crucial to success.

There are several strategies to prepare for NaNo, beginning with the novel itself. Knowing what you will write about greatly decreases the chance of writer’s block or wasting time staring off into empty space. Of course, there are some authors (called ‘pantsers’) who prefer to wing it, declaring any planning detrimental to their creative process. Others, aptly called ‘planners’ prefer to have their books outlined, at minimum. Having always being a planner, I cannot relate to the talent – and courage it takes to write ‘unscripted’.

Before writing a book, planners consider their audience, genre, setting, and plot – including twists, climax, and outcome. They also spend time developing, or ‘rounding out’ their characters. This includes knowing simple facts such as hair color, as well as details the reader may never be made aware of- favorite foods, pet peeves, and political affiliation. Careful character development creates connection, resulting in a better story.

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Once the book is outlined, attention should be turned towards the calendar. Each participant should evaluate their November schedule and create a plan of action. This means setting aside designated blocks of time for writing. The amount of time in each block will depend on the total number of days available to write. For instance, a person who writes for thirty days will need to set aside enough time to accomplish a goal of 1670 words per day. Less writing days will mean higher word counts and require devoting larger chunks of time for each writing session. For those able to write only two days per week, a daily word count of 6,250 is the goal. Tough for sure, but not unthinkable.

Word goals can be accomplished in one or more sessions, and adjusted as needed. When divided into three 2-hour time blocks (of 2,083 words each), the 6,250-word challenge becomes more manageable. Of course, taking advantage of any opportunity to write, not just planned sessions, is ideal and adds up. Maximize your time by utilizing writing apps on your phone, using voice to text, or keeping a notebook readily accessible when you cannot be at your computer.

Monitoring the daily or weekly word goal enables writers to remain on target. Word trackers are available online, or you can create your own. Here is a link to the one I’ve used. It has fifty squares, so color one square for each 1,000 words written.

An important thing to remember is NaNoWriMo’s purpose is creative writing.

Set your inner editor aside for this challenge, editing will come later. That being said, quality writing is better than quantity. If you are at an impasse, set your project aside for a little while and come back to it later with fresh eyes.

Some people sail through NaNoWriMo. Many of these winners routinely write 50,000 words or more per month. I am not that person! If you, like me, are a slow writer or have difficulty focusing, try word sprints. Sometimes called writing bursts, these are short (30-minute) sessions. These sprints consist of twenty minutes of focused writing followed by a 10-minute break. This technique was developed by past winners and has been proven to increase word counts.

Most of us do not live in a bubble, and though we set goals, life does get in the way. Parents and caregivers may find NaNoWriMo challenging, especially with young kids. Planning for meals, childcare, and other activities can be beneficial and decrease stress levels, making the NaNo challenge more enjoyable. Let those around you know about your goals. If possible, retreat to a space where you will not be distracted (or found!). Some writer-parents place a do not disturb sign on the door (I’ve seen a few funny ones), or wear noise-canceling headphones (only if their kids are being supervised by someone else, of course).

Now the fun part! Reward yourself for achieving pre-determined goals.

Set goals for, say every 10,000 words. Shop (or let someone else shop) for small gifts which you (or they) will wrap, then open once you have reached these goals. This is both motivating and encouraging.

Last, but certainly not least, stay motivated.

NaNoWriMo is a difficult undertaking. Get support from a fellow writer. Having a writing buddy or accountability partner is an asset. Since they understand the challenges you face, these friends can offer encouragement, a listening ear to bounce ideas off, or even give pep talks if needed. If you are unable to meet with others, hanging motivational words or signs around your workspace is helpful too. In addition, the official NaNoWriMo website offers an opportunity to join groups of like-minded authors by age, interest, location, or genre. If you are unable to connect with others, hanging motivational words or signs around your workspace is valid too.

Have fun with your NaNo project and let me know how you did!