4 Tips for Emerging Victorious from NaNoWriMo

Every writer is a tragic hero, and their fatal flaw- or hamartia is always procrastination. How many times have you pumped yourself up to write the amazing story that you had brewing in your head, only to betray your characters by abandoning the manuscript a few days later?

Considering these commitment issues, it’s no wonder than thousands of writers log in to Nanowrimo.org each November to participate in the international speed-writing novel competition. It’s the only thing that that motivate them to crash through the first drafts of their 50,000 word novels in 30 days.

As someone who had participated in both Nanowrimo and the summer warm-up events known as Camp Nanowrimo and has tasted victory more than once, allow me o list some helpful tips for anyone who may be considering giving it a shot.

1: Set a Fixed Time to Write Every day

If you’re going to write 50,000 words in 30 days, you need discipline. It’s not an impossible task, as 50,000 words is not really that long. It’s about the same length as those novels we pick up in the morning on our commute to work and have finished by the end of the day, like The Catcher in the Rye. Of course, it helps a lot to sit in front of your computer for a scheduled hour every day to write. Waking up early in the morning is a good idea, as is having a playlist of classical music and a cup of herbal tea on the side. To avoid carpal tunnel syndrome or too much screen time, try carrying around a pocket notepad and pen to write in your spare moments.

2: Cabin Mates and other types of Support Squads

Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. A great way to motivate yourself is by adding some friends on the NaNoWriMo site. You’ll be able to read the synopsis of their novel and track their progress. I’ve made some great pen pals this way. The Camp NaNoWriMo site also has a feature called ‘cabin mates’. You can discuss your plot within your virtual cabin of writers who are into the same genre. There are also plenty of word sprints, conventions and write-ins that you can attend in person.

3: The Adoption Centre

The forums of NaNoWriMo are the place to go if you’re ever stuck. There is a ‘plot doctoring’ board where you can get advice on how to resolve your terrible deus ex machina ending. Another hidden gem is the Adoption Centre board, where you can go to ‘adopt’ characters, plot elements and deleted scenes that other writers left behind. Do you need a catchy prophecy as a major part of your plot? Well you’re in luck. The forums also boast an appellation station for all your titling and character naming needs.

4: Learn some Cheap Tricks to Boost your Word Count

I’m talking about avoiding contractions like that plague, giving your characters several long middle names, and making your chapter titles super long as well. No successful NaNoWriMo writer has ever used contractions before, so don’t feel bad about forgetting what they are for a month. If you’ve pre-written any poetry, consider dropping some in as intros for chapters. It’s a creative way to allure the reader.

Remember that NaNoWriMo is to get you through the hardest stage of your writing process, the first draft. Once you’ve written it, it is advisable to spend a few more months on editing and refining your draft before showing it off to the world. There is a lot of support on the forum for writing resources that can help you with your editing stage. I hope I’ve inspired you to give this amazing writing competition a shot.