How to Keep Momentum Post-NOVELmber

We’re rapidly approaching the end of November (or at least we were when I wrote this), a month during which, for the past five years, I’ve been setting myself the ludicrous goal of writing 50,000 words of a novel in only 30 days. It’s a marathon of laughable proportions, and I am fully aware that much of what I write is unusable. But it inspires me to plant my butt in a chair and write every day for 30 days in a row, with abandon. It forces me to turn off my inner editor and let my story tell itself at speed, breaking free from strict plans and seeing where the characters take me.

This year, for example, a character who wasn’t even in the pre-planning I did materialized herself out of thin air, showed up at a beach cookout, sat down with my protagonist, and just became her friend. She insinuated herself into the story twice more before I capitulated and agreed to allow her to participate. The things that happen when you’re writing for the joy of writing.

But while the joyous competition against my lack of motivation and the clock results in unprecedented productivity, the month eventually ends. It’s a lovely way to bring some light and excitement into what is a very grey, dark, ugly month in Ontario, but alas, right after November 30th is December 1st. After the marathon of writing, it can be easy to take a much-needed break, get some rest . . . and then not ever get back at it. I have been guilty in the past of setting aside my WIP to give it some breathing space and then not picking it back up for six months or more.

Having created this delightful momentum, how can you keep it rolling, albeit at a more balanced pace than 1667 words per day? Here are a few suggestions that I plan to implement over the winter months:

1. Celebrate your achievement. I mean, you’ve just written 50,000 words in one month. That is an accomplishment! Take a moment and give it the credit it’s due. My celebration this year involves me, some tacos, and a favourite comfort movie. No, I won’t waste my celebration on a new movie that I may or may not enjoy. I’m rewatching a time-tested classic that I’ve seen over and over again that always brings me joy.
2. Take a short break to recharge yourself, but set a specific date to return to writing.
3. The every day part of NOVELmber works for me. I am a creature of routine. If I do something every day, I do it every day as if by rote eventually. Having spent 30 days building that habit, I’d like to keep it going by still trying to write every day, even if it is only for five minutes. Try dedicating writing time at the same time each day.
4. Set a new goal. Having something to work towards is part of motivating yourself. For me, what this looks like is setting an actual target date and determining what I hope to accomplish by that date, whether it’s a word count goal or a number of pages edited, etc. Try setting smaller weekly goals instead of a bigger goal for the month.
5. Start a new project or return to an older one to revise and edit. If you feel burned out on your November project, it can be refreshing and get the creative juices flowing again if you turn to something fresh.
6. Reward yourself. I always set up a bit of a rewards system for the month of November, planning ways I’ll celebrate each milestone. There’s no reason not to continue that. People joke about “little treat culture,” but I say baloney. If you achieve a goal, treat yoself.
7. Reflect on what worked for you during November. Was there a time, place, or writing ritual that helped you get those words on the page? Try to implement that into your regular routine.

The practice of writing is exactly that: a practice. The more you do of it, the better you will get. So if, like me, you’ve created some momentum through NOVELmber, hold onto that and let it propel you forward through the winter and toward your goals.