NaNoWriMo stands for “National Novel Writing Month” and for many authors in the making it’s a cherished milestone. We know writers who plan their year around November’s NaNoWriMo, organizing their strategy months in advance.
However, you don’t need to be a “serious” author to try NaNoWriMo; you just need to have the desire to write! Yes, the goal is to write 50,000 words by the end of the month, and while this is a feasible task, it is difficult. So, if by chance it takes you a few attempts, don’t beat yourself up. You get fist bumps from us for even getting on the wagon.
If this is your second or event third time around with NaNoWriMo, there were probably a few reasons why you didn’t accomplish your 50,000 words goal in the past. We have some ideas on how to change your outcome this time around.
1. You didn’t develop the right idea
Take time before November starts (you still have almost two weeks) and come up with ideas in advance if you don’t already have one. This way you won’t be blindsided when NaNoWriMo sneaks up on you and you realize that you don’t have a fully formed idea to build on.
If you don’t have a complete idea for a novel, start with a short story.
You might also have an idea and are able to get 10,000 words out when you realize that you hate the direction your manuscript is headed. This is common so don’t get too worked up about it!
Remember, it’s never too late to start over and you’d rather have 20,000 wonderful words written than 50,000 terrible ones by the end of NaNoWriMo.
Tip: Take a day or two off during Novel Writing Month to think about an idea that you are proud of and then get on with it.
2. You didn’t find the time to write
Make sure that you plan ahead. This is a biggie for NaNoWriMo. Set aside a time each day that is your time to write. Writing at the same time each day helps to create a routine. While it can be tough to carve out time from a busy schedule, working on your novel for even one hour per day can help your author-confidence.
Don’t let yourself skip writing time because you’re too busy. It’s just one month of writing and the pay off is worth it.
Make a checklist. In your game plan, figure out the things that you want to get done in one week; maybe that means developing a character more or writing a few, solid chapters.
Tip: Write down a short list and check off different tasks on the days that you’re feeling up to them. NaNoWriMo doesn’t really have a set objective; if you don’t finish, that doesn’t mean you have to be done working on your novel.
Remember, the point of NaNoWriMo is to have a good draft completed or nice portion of it developed. Don’t focus on word count. Go at your own pace and write as much as you feel comfortable with.
3. You got discouraged or lost interest
Last year, you were going strong in the beginning. You were all, “I’m working on my awesome novel and I can’t wait to meet my characters!” Then you locked yourself in a room every day for a week and then…
To make NaNoWriMo work, you have to get out there and mingle! That’s half the experience. A big part of NaNoWriMo is the social events, which you can find almost everywhere.
Tip: Go to their website (www.nanowrimo.org) and check out local writing meet-ups that you could attend. Here you’ll meet tons of people who are in the same boat as you are. There will be volunteers who will give you advice and pep talks.
We also love that NaNoWriMo events often offer a great place to go and write in quiet, if that’s something you have trouble finding at home. You can drop in at any time during the events to meet fellow authors or just keep to yourself and write. Also, meet-ups are a great resource if you’re feeling a bit of writer’s block.
Another tip: create an accountability network. A friend, Facebook updates, or a simple check-in with an online forum is precious camaraderie that will fuel your efforts beyond the initial honeymoon period.
Take these tips and try your hand at NaNoWriMo again. Remember that it’s supposed to be fun! While you want to write your novel and it is important, don’t set goals for yourself that are unreachable.
If you get a bit discouraged with your pace, take a step back from your novel and think about what you really want to accomplish with NaNoWriMo. If you don’t succeed in hitting the word count or completing your novel, don’t worry. There’s nothing to feel bad about. NaNoWriMo is about you and your work.
So good luck with NaNoWriMo 2.0 and Happy Writing!
Do you have any advice for those taking on the challenge of NaNoWriMo? How many of you are planning to trying it out next month?
Hi Laurie! Thanks for visiting the brand-new Starlighting blog! And thknas for spreading the word about the wisdom from the Writers’ Institute in Madison good nuggets. I agree an author should look for a dream agent who’s the right match, but finding people who meet the right criteria can do that. The process of finding an agent can be overwhelming as it is, without chasing an elusive best. Great to hear from you, and stop by again.