NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is 30-day non-stop race to the 50,000 word finish line. Starting strong is a key advantage and increases your odds of completing in time, but most writers do not find starting their project to be the biggest hurdle they need to overcome. Instead, it is keeping up the efforts and being productive each day. Which begs the question: How do we stay productive through such a challenging month?

Make Use of Preptober

Preparation is key. Before we set off on the National Novel Writing Month of November, we should be paying attention to its preparation partner of October - Preptober. Consider October the month you get all your plans and outlines at the ready, and November is the month you use them. There are different ways to make Preptober count so do a little research on what other writers’ have up their sleeves to make the next 30 days a breeze.

And Prepare Some More!

Preptober is useful because it is practical, but outlines won’t be of much use if some good, old fashioned life distractions crop up. Use the time before NaNoWriMo to pin-point what is likely to distract you - secular or school deadlines, family responsibilities, These ‘distractions’ do not become less important during NaNoWriMo, so don’t push them off. Rather, be pro-active by getting a head start on what might need your attention. Plan meals that won’t require a lot cooking time, let others know you won’t be as available, and ensure you have all you need to avoid unnesessary jaunts away from your writing zone!

Track Your Progress

It’s easy to keep track of your word count in an Excel sheet or notebook, but you can also record your words through the NaNoWriMo website (my preferred option). Seeing how your efforts add up can be motivating in itself. It can also reveal patterns that could help you develop better writing practices. Maybe the days your write after eating breakfast are more productive than the days you skip a morning meal. Maybe the days you write at your desk yield more progress than writing from your couch. Or perhaps you find one particular day of the week you seem to write at a snail’s pace. Understanding yourself, your life, and your habits allows you to adapt what you can to make being productive more likely.

Find a Buddy

One of the cool aspects of NaNoWriMo is that you are not alone. There are thousands of other people around the world taking part, and you can connect with them through the NaNoWriMo website and local groups. You can ask your friends if they are participating or want to jump on board to help you. Once you have a buddy, you can plan writing dates, share word counts, and track each other’s progress – those last two are made very achievable through the website. This form of accountability drives your to keep going. After all, someone will be expecting to see more!

Set Incentives

The official NaNoWriMo website gives prizes to winners – usually a certificate and discounts on good software – and this may be enough of an incentive for you to work hard each day. If it isn’t, you can personalise rewards by adding in your own and arrange different winnings for meeting milestones along the way. For example, you could plan a self-care night with your favourite treats and a movie for when you reach your halfway point. Schedule a big party or outing for the first weekend of December to celebrate what you achieved. You can celebrate any and all progress, but the event will definitely help you push yourself that extra mile when it counts.

Imagine Reaching Your Goal

Completing NaNoWriMo is a great feat. It takes perservenance and skill. When you feel disheartened or challenged, think about how triumphant you will feel when you cross that finish line. Whether you successfully manage to hit that 50,000 word count, finish your novel, or just write more than you regularly do – you’ll have accomplished something. Accomplishment feels good. Sometimes imagining the glow of that success can spur you on.

Skip Around When You Get Stuck

There’s no rule that says you have to write scenes in order. If you get stuck, you can always skip ahead. Better yet, if you often run into these sort of blocks, jump around from the beginning. When you feel like it or when you figure out the problem, go back and fill in the missing segments. Just make sure you mark or flag where you are skipping so it is easy to find the section again. Utilise square brackets and short descriptions to brush past scenes you plan to include later: [insert fight scene here]. If you are using software that allows for it, the Ctrl+F, highlight and comment features are excellent tools to stay on top of your sections.

Lets Be Real...

Winning NaNoWriMo is not the overall objective in November. Instead, focus on being productive and allowing your WIP the opportunity to take centre stage. And if you feel stressed, over-tired or ill – stop. Your health comes first, and another great aspect of NaNoWriMo is that you don’t need to stop creating after November 30th. Take your time, be kind to yourself, and do it your way. Good luck!