NaNoInspo — Getting Started
It’s time to embark on the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. NaNoWriMo is a call to writers to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It’s a chance to create something that before today didn’t exist. It is an awesome challenge that may lead to a habit of writing every day. A jump-start or a way to re-energize your writing life.
Before you get started, I want to pass on a few tips to help you through this challenge. It is an exciting prospect that on this day, thousands of stories will emerge. But your story is unique and only you can tell it. Whether it’s a new idea, or one you’ve been sitting on for years, today is the start of giving your story life.
So how do you get through the challenge? Get ahead of the word count. There will be a looming number of words you want to hit each day, 1,667 words. Don’t let that number intimidate you and don’t let it stop you. If you surpass that word count, keep going. You’ll know when you’ve reached a stopping point for the day. If you get a lead on the word count, you’ll have a cushion to allow for days when you have other things to do. And if you don’t hit your word count for the day, tomorrow’s a new day. Just keep at it.
Next, while I’m big on grammar rules, they don’t have much of a space in a first draft, let alone during NaNoWriMo. Use the rules that come naturally and ignore the rest. That’s what editing is for, and you don’t need to lose time worrying about those things.
Throw pride and expectations out the window. These are both things that lead to fear and writer’s block. It’s a first draft. It’s supposed to be messy. Let me repeat that, so you know I’m serious. It’s a first draft and it’s supposed to be messy. Don’t worry about editing. Don’t agonize over whether you’ve captured your characters or the scene. Don’t have expectations for what this story will mean to your writing career. Right now, you’re creating a sketch of your story. Getting down the basic information. It will get smoothed and polished in another draft.
And finally, write. That is the best advice anyone can ever give you. Stop what you’re doing and write. All you need is the desire to write and a story idea. There are plenty of ways to improve your story, but again, that comes later. For now, make yourself comfortable, get yourself a nice beverage, and start your story.
To learn a little more about NaNoWriMo, or for a couple of extra tips, here’s a NaNoWriMo Tips and Tricks post.
Get a daily dose of inspiration throughout November by signing up to the NaNoInspo mailing list. A group of authors have joined together to create motivational posts to help you reach 50,000 words. On top of that, everyone who completes NaNoWriMo and is on the mailing list will be eligible for prizes. Random drawings will determine the winners.
Happy writing! Don’t worry, you’re capable of taking on this challenge, and the NaNoInspo team will be here to help along the way.
I’m going to do Nano this time around. It’s my first time. So, we’ll see how it goes.
I’m going to use a story idea that I’ve been wanting to work on for the past several months. It’s sort of like my Ambrose and Elsie story in that I’ve written a bunch of writing prompt stories with these characters. I’m going to use those previous stories as a sort of outline and fill in all of those lovely blanks in between them.
I’m so excited to be finally working on this story, I actually started writing it last night at 1:00 in the morning. 😆 I know. I’m a little nuts.
That is so exciting! I don’t know if there are many things that are more enjoyable than starting in on a new story. I love that feeling when you’re filled with an idea and can’t wait to get it on paper.
I’ve heard several writers talk lately about writing a story being the hardest part. They hate writing the first draft, and one of them even said if that was all there was to writing, she’d never write a novel.
I disagree. I love writing the first draft. It’s like reading my new favorite book or watching a really good movie for the first time. Granted, the writing is not as good as the picture in my head during the first draft, but I don’t edit while I’m writing. I just focus on getting the story out. Perhaps that’s what makes the difference.
I almost considered writing Raven’s whole backstory as my Nano, but I really wanted to work on this one.
And I agree. Writing the first draft is the fun part. Especially when my characters say or do things that take me by surprise.
I generally don’t write out a whole hard-core outline before writing. I just write with certain planned plot points always in mind. If anything, I’ll write down quick notes in my Cheat Sheet file about what I have planned for the ending or certain big events, but those details are always open to change in the writing process. The thought of finally writing those big moments keeps me motivated to keep pushing the story forward.
Wonderful intro and all the best with NaNo!
😃 Thank you!
You’re welcome, Mandie!