I took part in the NaNoWriMo event in 2012, and completing that crazy, epic sprint to the end taught me more than I expected about the job of writing. First and foremost is the daily word quota. The more you fall behind, the less chance you have of catching up, and writing just under 1 700 words a day seems daunting. The thing is, that most of us write more words than that every day without thinking about it. We blog, we interview, we write bits of our works in process. It’s absolutely doable though.
The beauty of the NaNo is that you get to leave chunks out. You just pop over anything you’re not sure of and write on, because editing during NaNo is death. The urge to go back and at least read over what I’d written so far nearly took me out, but I knew that if I did I’d get to editing, and that would mean I’d never make it. NO editing. That month taught me that ongoing over-editing can cause more grammar problems than not editing your first draft at all. I only decided to join at the last minute, so I had absolutely no idea what I was going to write apart from the fact that I was going to write in a genre that I didn’t think I could. I had no idea from one minute to the next where the story would go, or if it would be absolute garbage in the end.
At the end of that November I had completed just over 50 000 words of a book I loved. I found that I loved writing in a genre I believed that I would be hopeless at, and had the beginning of a series that is now well on its way to book four being published in early 2015. To any of you thinking of having a first try at the NaNoWriMo this year, I say a hearty Go For It! You’ll learn to write every day to meet your personal goals. You’ll be way too busy to angst over all the writing things we usually angst over. You’ll feel the warm camaraderie of fellow scribblers from around the globe. And if you win – well then, you’ll have a novel to edit. A couple of tips I learned from my NaNo month….
• Tell your family what you’ll be doing, and ask for their support. Let them know that there probably won’t be any homemade pudding or cookies in November. Suggest that there might be days when you aren’t going to brush your hair, and expressions of repulsion aren’t conducive to a happy muse. Support will be key this month.
• Whatever you’re cooking now, cook more and freeze what you can. You’re going to be far too wrapped up in your story to chop and peel anything. I froze piles of fillings, and pancakes were so prevalent during my frantic scribbling month that they were banished for a long while afterwards.
• Don’t feel guilty – it’s only a month, and perhaps you’ll be better appreciated for all that you usually do after a month of eyeballs firmly on computer. Prepare for a month that’s all about you and your writing.
• I never did this, but it would have made my life a lot easier. Write an outline and a rough cast of characters now. Think of where your story will play out – think scenes and settings. Plan your ending so that you can work towards it as soon as you type your first word.
• Keep a notebook and jot down important scenes, names or anything you’ll need to remember later in the book, because you don’t want to be wasting time reading through what you’ve written to find anything during the process.
• Don’t edit. At all. Really.
• Make a rough cover now to inspire you. You can change it later.
• Plan to have fun with it. When you hit that word target you’re going to feel on top of the world, and NaNo rewards their winners with quite a lot of writerly swag, deals, and a gorgeous badge to share your impressive accomplishment with the world.
• Go for it. You have all to gain and nothing to lose.
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
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This is excellent advice. I stumbled onto NaNo quite accidentally about 4 or 5 years ago and I’ve tried to participate every year since. I don’t always finish and last year I failed miserably but I love the challenge!
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I think it’s the best thing to flex that self-discipline muscle too, and it’s amazing fun. 🙂
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My son and I both look forward to it every November! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Dandelion Fuzz and commented:
Are you familiar with National November Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo? 50,000 word novel in 30 days! It’s a very unique experience and one I encourage everyone to try!
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Thanks for sharing Kat!
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Reblogged this on ronovanwrites and commented:
NaNoWriMo
Yes I said it out loud and it sounds awesome. I signed up once but was to shy to actually do it. I hate myself for it to this day but it was write after my accident and I wasn’t really up for it I suppose.
JoRobinson, Author and Goddess of writing and self-publishing gives awesome advice. Go check her new article out on LitWorldInterviews.
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You’re awesome doing all that you do Ron – I bet you would hit that NaNo out of the park. 🙂
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I am so close to signing up but….
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Do it Ron! No matter what you do there can be no harm and no foul – just a lot of fun and writer muscle exercise.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
It is that time of year when writers around the world stop cooking for their families, put the phone on silent and thrash out nearly 2,000 words a day in this innovative writing challenge… Some great advice from Jo Robinson who took part in 2012.
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Thanks for sharing Sally! I should put a book together for NaNo pancake recipes so nobody actually has to live on biscuits and cheese. 😉
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A flask of g&t perhaps to go with those…. XX
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Even better! If Hemingway suggested it, who are we mere mortals to argue. 😀 XXX
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It is a great idea, for me at least, between books. An excellent way to liberate our creative flows. As you write, no edit. The goal is to put words down. I have done NanoWrimo three times and then stopped. I felt that the pressure was too much. But I have missed the feeling of having accomplished something by Thanksgiving. So this year, as my second novel has been just released, I will give it a try. Good luck to you and everyone willing to participate this coming month.
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Good luck Evelyne! It’s great just to participate, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t finish. The experience alone is so amazing – the no editing was a revelation to me. I was a OCD ongoing editing machine, but strangely enough, my NaNo book had a lot less typos at the end than my over-edited stories.
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Go for it!
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I signed up to do this next month, but I am no where near an idea. I cannot come up with one I think I can stick to!
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A woman from Buffalo now living in Virginia that finds humor in life? And you don’t have a story? You are from BUFFALO in VIRGINIA. 🙂 You know you could write a story about a woman transplanted south and does some mystery or some such and throw your humorous takes on the differences between the North and the South like the misunderstandings of certain things, like phrases and the like. (Ignore me, my head is all over the spectrum today.)
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Haha, I know right?! You would think! I am going to sit down and brainstorm, but I feel like if I sat down to write, I would have no direction without an outline, characters etc. I am going to try 🙂
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Just fly free with it Butterflylyny! Put fingers to keyboard and WriMo-mo-mo! 🙂
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Haha! I may just do that! Thanks!
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I am totally psyched for nano this year! I am not going to be able to make the night of writing dangerously this time, but I did a few years ago, and it was so cool. Great tips! Thank you.
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Awesome! Looking forward to your (seldom) November NaNo blogs – love them – usually about unwashed hair and sore bottoms. 😀
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This is my first year to really go at it! I am excited at the possibility of actually finishing and I really love the positive advice here! Thanks! And congrats on your series!
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A little bit of selfish is the way to go – wear earplugs and blinkers, ignore whinings about hunger and neglect, and you’ll get there for sure. 🙂
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I can definitely do this!
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I’m doing it for the first time this year although I’ve been fascinated by the idea since I hear about it. Now I need to investigate that’s the night of writing dangerously…Thanks Jo! And good luck to everybody!
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I can’t wait to see your entry Olga! Are you going to share your NaNo name? It would be great if everyone here buddied up for 2014.
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With no experience in this long version story writing, I signed up a couple of years ago. No outline. An idea and I finished over 50,000 words. And, NaNo almost finished me. I swore I’d never do it again, but I suggest trying it. What I learned about writing is invaluable. I’ve been playing with the idea again, but am not sure my brain is ready for that much drain. Do it. You’ll be happy you did but DO an outline at least so you can focus on the finish line. 😀 😀
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Oh come on Tess. I’m Riordain there (God knows why somebody always already has “Teagan…”) We’ll drain what’s left of our brains and have fun doing it. 🙂
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😀 :By mid-morning I need to recharge mine. 😮 My battery’s not holding the charge like it used to. 😀
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You’re so right – I was woman down for the first week of December after the NaNo, but it’s such a feeling of accomplishment it’s worth the whole crazy trip. I wish I had had an outline though – right again – totally pantsing it was a wild, wild ride. 😀
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~(*_~)~~ Deep breath…
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Thanks for sharing lovely Viv!
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Reblogged this on Author P.S. Bartlett and commented:
Awesome advice. This will be first year of Nano. I’m so thankful for this insight!
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If anyone can do it you can Peggy! I’m in awe of your staying power and strength no matter what. Good luck!
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Wow. What an amazing and thoughtful thing to say Jo. 🙂 thank you so much.
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Reblogged this on An Author in the Works and commented:
I didn’t know for sure until today that I would participate in NaNoWriMo (Nation Novel Writing Month). Well, this blog is encouraging. 🙂 Go have a look-see. 🙂
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It’s a blast Rachael! We’ll do NaNo catch ups with all of you brave and intrepid souls. Good luck! 🙂
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The best advice I’ve read about NaNo is: write without thinking. NaNo is a great excersise for one’s mind
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It is Dannie! Just let all those story guys do their own things. Enjoying your book at the moment by the way. 🙂
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These are all really great tips, thanks!
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Jo knows. 🙂 She is a real pro.
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NaNoProMo. 😀 X
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OH, I thought I was writing a poem….
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Thanks! Are you thinking of giving it a go this year? 🙂
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Yes! Hopefully I can win it this year.
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I first heard of it last year, and was going to try. I don’t think I’d have trouble writing that many words a day, as I do it lots of times anyway, but I found out you had to submit your words or something to be official, and I couldn’t figure out how to do that…still can’t …So I wish all who participate much good luck!!! 🙂
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It confused me a bit too at first, but all it is is copying and pasting your manuscript into a box you’ll find on your dashboard when the event goes live. It’s quite exciting watching it grow on your counter. 🙂
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