This year was the first time that I will participate in NaNoWriMo. Okay, so that was a lie. I participated like a gazillion years ago, but (like most things in my life), I forgot about it until after it was over.
Well, I’m more mature now. And by mature, I mean old.
For those who aren’t familiar with NaNoWriMo, tons of people get together to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Why November? I have no idea. Maybe it’s because we get a lot of holidays. Or we can use our writing as an excuse to avoid political discussions. You don’t win anything except perhaps bragging rights. “Winners,” aka the people who wrote 50,000 words, get to get some discounts by sponsoring companies. And bragging rights. Did I mention the bragging rights.
I’m at about 7,000 words into my book, Breaker of Dreams, a book about Annie Totter and Derrick Rickard (although, I might change his last name, as someone from my writing group pointed out to me that the name is funny … seriously, I suck at coming up with names … is there such as things as name suckage syndrome? More importantly, how did I manage to name my children something, like, not North West?).
I’ve discovered, though, that even if I don’t “win,” I can write lots and lots and lots of words. I can write. I am a writer. And, I haven’t “lost” if I don’t complete the 50,000 word goal. That’s because I tried.
And being successful at anything is trying until you win. Someone famous must have said that!
Happenings
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Holy macaroni, a man houses like 300 dogs during a hurricane. All I can say is … bow wow.
Every Reasonable Doubt by Pamela Samuels Young is available on the Kindle for free right now. And I finally managed to buy (and started to read) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. The book has been difficult to get into, mostly due to the large amount of exposition in the first half. The movie was much better. Hail Lisbeth, the avenging angel of women everywhere who had to take some man’s shit just because he’s a man. Btw, the t-shirt in that movie is awesome.
I started watching How To Get Away With Murder on Netflix. I love the premise of this show, and I love, love, love Viola Davis. Since I have several seasons to go through (and I don’t watch that much television), you’ll probably see this on my “watching” list for quite some time. Especially with NaNoWriMo!
I’m really liking the newest beta version of Scrivener, but seriously, these people from Literature & Lattes have taken so long for their Windows beta release. Talk about a case of perfectionism.
10 Essential Tips to Help You Conquer NaNoWriMo Like a Pro
November is just around the corner, and for many writers, that means one thing: NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is an annual event that challenges writers to complete a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days. That’s like climbing Mount Everest, in writing terms.
As a seasoned writer who has completed NaNoWriMo multiple times, I’m here to share my top 10 essential tips to help you conquer NaNoWriMo like a pro. From setting realistic goals to creating a solid writing routine, these tips will help you stay motivated, focused, and on track to achieve your writing goals. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time participant, buckle up and get ready to take on NaNoWriMo like a boss!
- Try outlining, plotting, or dream-writing before November
Nothing like being prepared. Everything else that goes with writing doesn’t count … so be as prepared as you want to be! - Setting realistic writing goals
50,000 words/30 days = 1,667 words per day. Or come up with any kind of measurable goal that works for you. - Creating a writing schedule
I like to get up and write first thing. Find your time, but make sure it’s time you spend every day. - Accountability
Post your progress on social media, for the world to see and help encourage you. It’s amazing what not happens when you don’t want to publicly fail! - Surrounding yourself with support
Whether it’s family, friends, or social media acquaintances, get the support you need. - Use the holidays wisely
November has a ton of time off, with 2 (sometimes 3) paid holidays. You can also take time off from work. I usually take an entire week off (on the weeks that are not the holidays). - Reward thyself
How about writing … on the calendar … a treat to reward yourself each day if you complete your writing word count. - Write with friends
Don’t think you can keep yourself on track? How about doing a daily zoom session with other writers? - Just keep swimmin’
Don’t go back and edit (unless you just can’t move forward). Keep writing. Remember, it doesn’t matter what you write. Only that you do. - Enjoy the sprint
Most of all … enjoy yourself! That’s the best way to hang in there to the finish line.