I first heard about NaNoWriMo about 10 years ago when I was on the Library Board when the Library was organizing activities for participants to stay motivated and have a community to write with. It intrigued me but working full time and everything else I had going on, I couldn’t imagine also writing almost 1,700 words a day, especially when my current daily writing word count was zero.
Every year, as November would approach, it would be on the back of my mind but could never figure out how I could do it.
With all of the life changes I decided in the summer that this would be the year. I even started some prep planning early in September. But, then, with the temporary job I took on, I didn’t do any writing or prep work so it was a bit intimidating earlier this week to realize that November started on Friday. It almost made me wonder if I could do it (and I can’t say that I’m not still wondering) but I know that having deadlines has been helping (still have my Deadlines for Writers streak).
So, earlier this week, I started my NaNoWriMo project on their website. The title is just a working title to start a project to work on. I had hoped that I would have an outline and more things sketched out but it looks like I’ll be pantsing it, at least at the start.
I also signed up for the November Writing Challenge through the Federation of BC Writers to help keep me on track throughout the month. That and some extra Shut up Write! sessions to have writing in my schedule.
The one tip I have seen across many different articles and videos is to front end load the writing. When you’re fresh and still feeling eager, try to get some extra words in so that if you have some days where you’re less motivated or life gets in the way, you have a buffer.
That said, they also suggest not pushing too hard so that it isn’t fun anymore and that you get burnt out before the first week is complete.
So, my current plan is to try to get at least 2,000 words each day for the first week. This would give me an extra 2,300 words to go into week two. With having very little plan other than that, the other idea is to not be fussy about writing in order. Rather than try to write from start to finish, I have identified some specific scenes and sections of the book that I can jump around in the beginning in order to build the word count with the “easier” parts and work to connect them once I have a good chunk of the word count tackled.
Is anyone else giving NaNoWriMo a try this year? Anyone whose done it before that has some tips?
I’ll try to keep you updated as I go along on my Facebook Page, LJ Writes.
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