How to Survive NaNoWriMo

The first time I attempted NaNoWriMo, I only reached 14,143 words, which isn’t bad—at least I was writing—but I didn’t reach my goal.

Writing 50,000 words in a month is no easy feat, and many who embark on the journey of

NaNoWriMo don’t complete this goal.

That’s why I’m here to provide my best tips to help you survive the entire month of November, and complete your goal!

But first let me back up a bit. For those of you who don’t know, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a challenge during the month of November that writers from all around the world take part in. The goal of the challenge is to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of November.

Now that we’ve got that introduction out of the way, let’s dive in.

#1 Don’t edit as you write

Since the goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words, no time can be wasted—which is what happens when you edit as you write.

Remember, all the first draft has to do is exist. No one is expecting you to walk away with a perfect first draft that is ready to be published. That’s not how writing a novel works.

This is why we have edits and revisions. There will be plenty of time after NaNoWriMo for you to edit your novel, but during November, just focus on getting your words on the page.

#2: Set a daily goal

Setting daily goals is important because they show your progress. Seeing that you’ve hit your word count for the day is a great way to boost your confidence. Plus, setting daily goals helps keep you on track, so you don’t fall behind.

The recommended daily goal for NaNoWriMo is 1,667 words. But this plan is for people who want to write every single day of the month, which isn’t possible for many people, especially since Thanksgiving is in November.

Because of all this, daily goals will look different for each person. Take a look at your calendar and make note of the days where you probably won’t be able to write, and then make a daily goal for the days you will be able to write. Once you set a goal that works for you personally, try to stick to it throughout the month.

But sometimes, there are just days when you won’t reach your daily goal, and that’s okay. Give yourself grace and remember to be kind to yourself.

#3: Eliminate distractions

Maintaining focus is crucial for writers.

When I’m in the middle of writing and I get distracted, it’s difficult to come back to my writing because my focus has been diverted to something else. This is why it’s so important for us writers to eliminate distractions—so we can experience smooth writing sessions where we’re fully focused on our writing.

Distractions are different for each person, so identify the things in your life that steal your attention during your writing and come up with a plan to combat them.

For most of us, it’s our phones or social media. An easy way to fix this is to set your phone in another room or shut it in a drawer when you start writing.

There is also the distraction that comes for those of us who write on a computer—the internet. You can get rid of this distraction by installing apps like Cold Turkey or the Freedom App that block your web browser.

Then there’s the distraction of family. Sometimes they can be loud or disrupt your writing time, which is frustrating.

This is why it’s important to communicate with the loved ones in your life about what you’re trying to accomplish during the month of November, so they know to give you the time and space you need.

I’m not saying spending time with your family is a bad thing—it’s a great thing, actually! But it’s healthy to set boundaries and expectations in order to avoid conflict and ensure a smooth month of writing.

#4: Use writing sprints

When I first got into writing, writing sprints were the single most helpful tool for my writing. Basically, writing sprints are just what they sound like. You set a timer for a certain amount of time, such as fifteen minutes, and just write until the timer goes off. After that, you take a break for a couple minutes before diving into the next sprint.

I think the reason writing sprints were so beneficial for my writing is because they challenged me to write quickly and not look back. I enjoyed trying to beat my word count from the previous writing sprint, and this helped me complete my word count goal every day.

And if you don’t want to do writing sprints alone, there are tons of writers doing sprints all the time on YouTube! Just search writing sprints on YouTube and there’s a good chance you will find a live one going, especially during the month of November.

#5: Remember to have fun!

This last tip might sound a bit cheesy, and maybe it is, but I still believe it’s important.

So often, we writers put enormous pressure on ourselves… but this can suck the joy out of writing.

As you’re writing, remember what you’re doing it for and why you love it—remember to have fun. Because even though it’s great to take writing seriously, it’s equally important to enjoy the ride.

Conclusion

Those are my best practices to help you survive and win NaNoWriMo. I hope you find them helpful!

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo?