Are you familiar with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) ? The challenge is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days and this time, hundreds of thousands of published and aspiring authors will take the plunge in hopes to produce a workable manuscript.
If you don’t want to write a novel, you can still get in the game and use many of the tactics fiction writers employ stay productive over the entire month push through to the end.
Visualize Your Complete Manuscript
In the next 30 days, you could be holding the first draft of your manuscript and while it may not be bookshelf worthy, you’ll have created something that’s worth of editing and polishing. This thought alone is enough for some writers to take the plunge headfirst.
If that’s not enough, consider this: NaNoWriMo novels have gone on to be published, while others have made bestseller lists. And last year, over 34,000 participants met the 50,000-word goal, in a month, so it’s completely doable. So, the question is, are you up for it?
Create a word count strategy
Stop saying you’re writing a book; instead, challenge yourself to write 1,667 words per day for 30 days. If you can muster more than that on any given day, go ahead.
If the mere thought of 1,667 words in one shot makes you break out in hives, try writing in 250 or 500-word sprints. Take a ten-minute break. Repeat this as many time as needed to reach your session goal.
Focus, focus, focus – on word count
Don’t waste time editing, reviewing, backspacing, deleting or even formatting. This 30-day writing challenge is simply about writing. For each section that requires more research, simply note it as a comment to review later. Your objective is to write, not polish.
Get militant if you have to
If at any time you need to turn up the pressure, check out Write or Die . This crazy, yet effective app (I’ve tried it) monitors your progress—by word count and elapsed time—and allows you to set rewards or consequences for each writing session.
Punishment for not reaching your goal might include startling, dramatic, or evil sounds; a screen colour change; or a sudden disappearance of words or vowels you’ve already typed. It’s cruel but it works!
Set the mood
I you find Write or Die too intimidating but silence too deafening, consider downloading focusatwill.com. This much kinder app lets you set a timer and write while listening to scientifically optimized music from over fifty channels. You can choose from classical, ambient, baroque piano, spa or ADHD Type1 just to name a few.
Leave in the thick of things
Don’t stop writing when you’re out of ideas or words. If you leave your writing session mid-chapter, you’ll pick up the next day far more easily because the writing juices will still be flowing. Your subconscious will work overnight and you’ll have a specific, predetermined starting point for your next session and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate if you’re already pumped.
Dangle a carrot
Ever feel better after accomplish a tough task? We all do. Why not reward yourself every week as a reminder of your time sacrifice and as a way to continually motivate yourself to keep going? Small rewards (a special dessert, controlled movie binge, retail therapy, an afternoon at the spa or a long walk in a beautiful neighbourhood other than your own) can greatly impact your mindset and outlook for the following week’s task at hand.
Lastly, don’t overthink it. The idea of writing a full-length book isn’t complicated; it’s the thought of buckling down and doing it that turns too many would-be authors to inaction. Just remember: You don’t need to turn your 50,000-word goal into a novel. You just need to give your book the opportunity it truly deserves. If you make a commitment tomorrow to do just that, November will fly by and before you know it you’ll have earned the right to tell your friends, family, frenemies and naysayers, “I wrote a book.”