7 tips to surviving NaNoWriMo

You’re told many things when you start a writing project (don’t think about word count, don’t rush yourself, take a break, write and rewrite, etc.), but remembering those things when you really need them can be difficult.

NaNoWriMo is an incredible commitment, and it’s not for the busy writer. It’s also not for one who struggles with time management unless you have the month freed up.

For some NaNoWriMo veterans, November is like an adventure you come prepared for to make it to the end. But, for those who are new and think this month is a gamble instead of a guarantee, let’s work on that enthusiasm and lack of confidence. Let’s get a routine going.

1. You’ve already started

You made the commitment. You wouldn’t put yourself through this if you didn’t know you could do it. The immediacy that comes with the first day of this fantastic month is its own case of doubt, and you can overcome it by proving to yourself that you can reach those weekly milestones and come out with a novel in the end. A rough draft novel, but it’s a novel.

If you didn’t make preparations, do it now

Yes, we all dive into things only to realize we should have brought marshmallows to the campfire. If you had no clue how to prep for NaNoWriMo, check out this blog post on ways to prepare before getting started.

Don’t let your nerves get the better of you. The month has begun, and any mistake made or day you think you wasted, always remind yourself that it’s perfectly okay. You’re not expected to come out of this with a polished novel. You’re expected to do your best. Remember that this is an exercise and not a job. And you’re still doing great. Why? Because you’re trying!

2. Don’t look back if you don’t need to

You’re going to want to fix your writing. You’ll want to refine it before you continue (some of you). That’s the kind of writer I am, anyway. But, I’m an editor, too, and even I’m going to tell you not to look back. Wait until the rush month is over and you take that second breath. If you made an outline, look at that instead.

Some of you might need to look back so you can move forward. Fine, but don’t try to rewrite your entire novel. That doesn’t increase your word count. If you want to add a chapter between chapters or add to a scene, however, do it. Do it, do it, do it. Remember, the goal is to write the thing.

Maybe a plot hole exists or you wrote your character wrong in the beginning. Write it as a note. Keep going unless your fix will truly help you. If you have time in the end, you can go back or you can just wait until the event is done. But, if you go back now, you’re only tightening that hold on yourself and you’ll really have to rush when you don’t meet your word count goals.

If you meet a daily goal, go ahead. Go back and fix stuff. But, do what you need to do first. Write!

3. Ask for encouragement

Post small excerpts on your page. Get a writing buddy and encourage each other to reach set goals each day. Join a NaNoWriMo group if you haven’t already. Have a word count countdown set aside so you can look at how far you’ve gone and how much farther you need to go. If that is discouraging, try counting down the days like you might have done with Christmas or another holiday by using paper circles.

Say a prayer, do a happy dance, take a run, or drink some coffee. Don’t threaten yourself. Encourage yourself. This sounds cheesy, but things are easier to do when you get something from it. They’re harder when a threat is involved. Pessimism is a psychological thing, and it will hinder you. Keep yourself positive.

4. Don’t procrastinate

If you think you’ll do double tomorrow, you might be right. But, what if work calls you in or your kids finally sleep in for once and you drowsily decide to take advantage? What if your significant other wants to take you on a date or if he/she gets called into work and you have to stay with the kids or just take care of something else? What if? What if?

Or, if your life is more like mine, what if the goats get out again and knock over planters that you have to spend half your day cleaning up?

There’s nothing like an inconvenient time for the unreasonable to happen. I started a huge editing project right before moving, and although I probably could have pushed it back, I had other things coming up. I needed to get it done. Good things don’t like to happen at convenient times, and procrastination becomes a nasty habit. Don’t start one when you only have one month to overcome it.

5. Beat your goals

Nothing feels quite as good as doing better than you thought you could. If you have the words inside you, go past whatever word count you have set for yourself. Write more than you thought you would. Don’t stop if you have the time. Keep writing until the writing muse turns away for the night (or day).

That way, if something does happen, you have a little buffer. Yay!

6. Take a day off

I know. Blaspheme, right? Some of you might have set crazy goals to write every day. Around 1,300 or 1,600 words a day, right? Well, what if you take one day off each week. Four days? Your word count goes up for each day, of course. Now your number is 1,923 or 1,924, right? Something like that? That’s only a few more paragraphs. That’s one more page, double-spaced.

That’s like, what, one scene? You’ve got this, and you get to relax, too.

So, why take a day off? Don’t you want days off from work? NaNoWriMo isn’t just fun and a great way to get writing. It’s work. It’s hard work. Recharge and do something with family or just relax and do nothing at all. Pick your day wisely, and use that day as your reward for not procrastinating those six other days.

7. Remember that this is more fun if you’re having fun

Don’t torture yourself. Don’t curse and swing at your computer and scream at your pet because you’ve been writing five days or ten days or whatever number you’re at when you read this. It’s not a death sentence unless you make it one. You’re doing beautifully, and your novel won’t be perfect. I promise. But, it will definitely be a novel. That’s the point.

Just keep writing. Keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t cry. You have thirty days. That’s four weeks. You have twelve hours in a day, and this might not be the last chance you get to do this crazy project. You’re crazy for doing it, but all the best writers are crazy in some way. Prove your kind of crazy is a writing kind. Your journey just started, and what a wonderful journey it is.

When you finish your book, what should you do with it?

Good luck!