by
Victoria M. Johnson
Dear
NaNoWriMo writers, as you prepare to dive in to write your novel I want you to
start with the right frame of mind and the right tools. This post contains a
boost of direction, a few tips, and that dose of inspiration to help you
succeed.
But
hold on for just a moment.
Dear
Non NaNoWriMo readers, you may be wondering what all the online banter is
about. National Novel Writing
Month, more affectionately known as NaNoWriMo,
kicked off on November 1st and runs through November 30th. During that time the 400,000 or so
people from around the world who signed-up (for free) commit to write a draft
of a 50,000 word novel. Now in
it's 20th year, the event has gained in popularity every year.
The
fun part is the online sharing through facebook, twitter, and instagram of the
participating writers and others, like me, who are supporting and rooting for
them. For example, on twitter:
advice and encouragement tweets are mixed in with tweets of word counts,
excuses, and lots of lamenting. I
felt bad for those who are already stuck--and it's only four days in--so I
gathered some help and wrote this post.
I
found great NaNoWriMo tips that are helpful for all writers whether you're
participating or not.
Reedsy
gathered up editors and agents to get these great pointers. For those of you who might need a dose of confidence:
"All
you need is two 15-minute bursts of writing each day," says editor Lindsay Schlegel. "Sit
down, do it, and move on. Don't worry if you don't write enough words the first
few days. The creative juices will start flowing, and you'll make up for it by
the end."
Jessica
Strawser provides this gem, "Always end a writing session only when you
know what’s next."
Preparing for NaNoWriMo: Your Guide to Outlining Success
K.M.
Weiland has ten parts to her very useful NaNoWriMo guide. The part containing key ingredients for
participants: Click Here
"Start
your outline by writing down everything you already know about
the story. Put it all on paper in
a short list, so you can evaluate what you already have."
 |
Joanna
Penn says, "When people ask for tips on getting their book written, my
number one tip is to schedule time for writing as you would schedule
any other appointment."
How a Month of NaNoWriMo Can Lead to a Lifetime of Better Writing
Grant Faulkner offers this wise observation, "To write 50,000 words in 30
days, you have to write 1,667 words a day. That means banishing your inner editor and showing up to
write on good days and bad days, on hard days at work, on lazy and uninspired
days, maybe even on sick days."
24 Books that Won NaNoWriMo
Marie
(no last name given) gives participants hope by citing books created during
NaNoWriMo that went on to publication.
Are
you participating, if so, let me know in the comments below. Good luck, I'm cheering for you.
