It’s that time again! Tomorrow is the first day of National Novel Writing Month 2023, a crazy-hectic 30 days of churning out words and connecting with writers around the world. This will be my fourth NaNoWriMo, and it is a highlight of the year every year. The sense of community that has developed around the somewhat irrational goal of writing 50,000 words in a single month is something special.
I have “won” NaNoWriMo each of the past three years, reaching that illustrious target of 50,000 words, and I’m here to share some tips on how you can, too.
1. Silence Your Inner Editor
During NaNoWriMo, focus on getting words on the page without worrying about perfection. The goal is to write, not edit. Save revisions for after the challenge is over. That means that the backspace and delete keys are off-limits!
2. Have a Plan
Being a Planner, I start the month with a fairly detailed outline of the plot of my novel. However, if you identify as a Pantser, someone who prefers to discover the story as you go, you can still benefit from a scaled-back version of a plan. Each day, at the end of your last writing session, jot down a couple of sentences about what you will start writing the next day. Alternatively, at the start of each new scene or chapter, write a few sentences on what will happen in the chapter. Knowing where you’re going next will help keep the story moving and the words flowing.
3. Make Voice Notes of Story Sparks
When you’re away from your computer, use a voice recording app to capture story sparks, dialogue ideas, or character quirks. You can transcribe these ideas later and incorporate them into your novel.
4. Writing Sprints!
Sprints are absolutely key to winning NaNoWriMo for me. Whether done on Discord with a writing group or just on my own with a timer, letting my fingers fly for a set amount of time, just trying to get as many words down as possible before the time is up is how I manage to get my daily word count. These short, focused chunks will get you across the finish line.
5. Take Breaks
That said, breaks between sprints are also important. Stretch a little. Hydrate. Go for a walk. Talk to your plants. Have a little snacky snack. Scritch your cat’s belly. And then set the timer again and get those words out! Alternating sprints and breaks will boost productivity and prevent fatigue.
6. Get Into the Hype
Let the excitement surrounding NaNo motivate you. Get into the spirit of it. Join in with events like the Global Write-In Crawl, One Hundred Hours of Writing, any write-ins organized for your local area, etc. Another local favourite of mine is the 12-hour writing intensive hosted by Chicken House Press.
7. Find a Support System
I highly recommend connecting with your region through the NaNoWriMo site or joining a local writing group if you can find one. Join an online forum, Discord server, or social media community of fellow NaNoWriMo participants. Having a support system can keep you motivated, provide accountability, and offer encouragement during the tough moments.
8. Write and Inscribe Copiously Abundant Amounts of Words Descriptively
Now is not the time to mince words. Be generous with your descriptions. Play with flowery prose and run-on sentences. It can all be fixed in the edit. Letting your creativity flow freely with reckless abandon can lead to some delightful hidden gems. Have fun with it.
9. Write What You Want
Don’t let the dreaded writer’s block win. If you hit a rough patch, stick in an insert like [BRILLIANT LINE OF DIALOGUE] or [VITAL CLUE HERE] or [SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENS] and move on. If you’re not really feeling a scene, jump ahead and write something you’re excited about. There’s no law that says you have to write in order.
10. Track and Reward Your Progress
Part of the fun of NaNoWriMo is the element of competing against yourself, sort of the gamification of novel writing. Use a word tracker to keep track of your progress. I use both the one on the NaNoWriMo website and a paper one. I also usually do a NaNo bingo card to motivate myself with little challenges throughout the month. You can download a free PDF word tracker calendar and bingo card at the bottom of this post.
As I reach each 10K words, I’ll reward myself with pre-planned “treat yo’self” style rewards. This year:
- 10,000 words – Bubble tea
- 20,000 words – Movie night – don’t forget the snacks
- 30,000 words – Order a book off my Amazon Wishlist
- 40,000 words – Spa night at home – face masks, candles, wine, eucalyptus in the diffuser, the whole shebang
- 50,000 words – Celebratory Dinner Out
Aly Writes 