National Novel Writing Month 2020—a.k.a. NaNoWriMo 2020—approaches! And I’m about to share my personal NaNoWriMo tips and tricks that have helped me win the challenge for five years.
For those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about, November is National Novel Writing Month. Every year thousands of writers all over the world write 50,000 words in 30 days (1,667 words per day). The idea is to write a complete novel in a month, but for those of us who write lengthy first drafts (cough guilty cough), it’s an opportunity to produce a HUGE amount of words fast.
After achieving this challenge five times, I’ve discovered eleven NaNoWriMo tips that can set you up to win:
Tip #1: Fully Commit!
Most people lose NaNoWriMo before they even start. Meaning they decide from the get-go that 50K is just too much, so why try? I DIE every time I hear this defeatist mindset because you absolutely can do this! And the best way to succeed is to go all in:
- Post on social media that you’re committing to NaNoWriMo 2020.
- Make an official profile on nanowrimo.org.
- Tell everyone you know about your goal—even if it scares you.
That last suggestion might be giving you anxiety. Maybe you feel guilty prioritizing your writing when life is so busy. Or maybe you’re scared of failing. But here’s the thing: even if you only write 20K by November 30, that’s 20,000 more words than you had before. Tune out those self-defeating thoughts and think positively!
Tip #2: Prepare Now for NaNoWriMo 2020
As I’ve tackled NaNoWriMo year after year, I’ve discovered three plan-ahead strategies that will make your November significantly easier:
1. Outline Like Crazy
NaNoWriMo is intense and fast. To raise your speed, I’d highly recommend thinking through your upcoming novel now and outlining it chapter by chapter. A basic outline of important scenes also works.
2. Clear Your Schedule
Let’s acknowledge that “clearing” is a relative term. Many of us are working full time, taking classes, raising young kids, caring for elderly parents, or all of the above. Whatever your schedule is like, turn down as many November obligations as you can and free up those precious weekends.
3. Ask for Help
If you’re like most writers, this challenge will take A LOT of hours. You’ll need help from friends and family to achieve that 50K. Could your spouse or roommate take responsibilities off your plate? Could your friends bring you takeout dinners or babysit your kids? Just ask.
Tip #3: Start Strong Week 1
Lots of writers fall behind the very first week and spend the rest of the month limping to catch up. If taking it easy the first half of the month and plowing at the end is your style? Great. Get ’er done. But personally, I’ve noticed a sharp drop in morale from friends who fall behind early.
I like to power during the first week to give myself breathing room later. It eases a lot of pressure to know you could take a couple nights off if needed. So I’d recommend hitting that first weekend HARD. Blaze ahead to give yourself a comfortable cushion. And if you have the energy to write ahead at any point in the month, do it.
Tip #4: Set Your Routine
Just 1,667 words each day and you’ll reach 50K. Not all writers need a routine, but if you’re new to the NaNoWriMo time crunch? A routine could be your saving grace. By the end of week one, you’ll have a pretty good idea how long it takes to write your daily word count.
Block out the time you need every day and choose a consistent time of day to write. Maybe it’s early in the morning before anything can interrupt. Or in the evening when you get home from work. Or during your child’s naptime. Whenever works best, make it happen.
Tip #5: Write in a Distraction-Free Zone
This pointer means very different things for different people. Is your distraction-free zone a secluded bedroom? Your ergonomically set up office? Outdoors with no Internet? The serenity of your local library? Wherever you choose to go, make it a place where you can escape.
Keep in mind that your distraction-free zone could be anywhere as long as your main distractors are eliminated. If your snuggly pet is in another room and your phone is off, maybe you can write anywhere. In any case, I highly recommend turning off all phones and Internet connections before descending into your writing.
Tip #6: Only Stop When You Know What Happens Next
This is the best writing advice I’ve ever gotten. Especially during NaNoWriMo, never ever stop writing in a place that feels comfortable and you’re not quite sure what comes next. That’s a recipe for staring at your screen for hours.
The absolute best place to stop is when it’s painful. When you know EXACTLY what’s about to happen, and you’re dying to write that scene. This is the perfect spot to take a break, go to work, play with your kids, or go to bed. And the next time you sit down, you’ll dive back in immediately.
Tip #7: Arm Yourself with Snacks and Water
If munching is one of your distractions from Tip #5, then maybe skip the snacks. But please, PLEASE stay hydrated during those long hours of writing to keep your mind clear.
If you do have munchies nearby—which would make you a writer after my own heart—try to keep more healthy snacks than indulgent ones within reach. The NaNoWriMo 10 is SO REAL, people. And I’d also steer clear of snacks that leave buttery grease and cheesy residue on your keyboard.
My Favorite NaNoWriMo 2020 Fuel
- Baby carrots
- Seedless grapes
- Sliced apples
- Raw nuts
- Ritz crackers
- Granola bars
- Chocolate (I’m not that disciplined)
- Delectable grilled cheese sandwiches supplied by my relentlessly supportive and dashingly attractive husband
Tip #8: Save Research and Edits for Later
Pausing to look up historical details will bring your writing to a screeching halt. If you run into something that needs further research, take a wild, creative stab and move on. If a new character stumbles on scene and he needs the perfect Scandinavian name? Call him Sven and move on.
And if you even think about editing during NaNoWriMo, say it with me: NaNoWriMo is for writing, not editing. Please don’t delete an entire sentence you just wrote. Writers can drive themselves batty by deleting half their word count during NaNoWriMo, which is just criminal. Keep your fingers off that backspace button.
Tip #9: Connect with Other Writers
Connecting with fellow NaNoWriMo 2020 challengers is easily the best part of this tradition. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the energy of fellow creators, identify people who want to form a writing group, and line up future critique of your work. Also writers are cool people in general.
The official NaNoWriMo organization has announced there will be no in-person writing events this year. But you can participate in their virtual events by finding your region on the website. Find out if any writers you know are also doing NaNoWriMo so you can have a friend to commiserate with and perhaps share your own virtual write-a-thon. Writing may be an individual event, but it sure helps to have a buddy.
Tip #10: Finish Before Thanksgiving
Okay, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: with November comes Thanksgiving. And all the work, bustle, and drama of any major holiday. But I’m here to attest you CAN have NaNoWriMo 2020 and Thanksgiving too.
That being said, I try as hard as I can every year to finish before the holiday weekend. It’s natural to experience some burnout as the month goes on, but I promise that scrambling to write your last 10K after a Thanksgiving food coma is torture. Try to get as far as you possibly can before the bird hits the table. You might even use your cushion from Tip #3 to take Thanksgiving and Black Friday completely off.
Tip #11: Do It Again Next Year
NaNoWriMo gets easier each time you do it. After a couple solid runs, the intimidation factor of “Good glory, it’s SO MANY WORDS!!” eventually wears off. And once you’ve tasted that first win, it’s pretty hard to go back. ❧
