Finally, it’s November, the sweet November of love and above all the much-awaited challenge for the writers falls in this particular month – NaNoWriMo.
More than 400,000 writers get their ink refilled to run through this challenge, the great challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. Writing 50,000 words is not the task of one night. It will take a hell lot of guts and proper planning to make it to the end. It is not difficult to give a start, but, the question worth asking is “Whether you can sustain throughout and trace your imagination to 50,000 words”
Almost half of the people who participate give up in just 15 days. NaNoWriMo is not the cocktail that you drink in just one sip, you gotta plan & plan and plan. Make your schedule, follow it and bang.
Many writers at NaNoWriMo start up fulfilling their daily target, but as they reach towards the end, they start to get easy on their target. And, that’s where the real problem begins. If you have to win it all, you have to give it all, it’s as simple as it sounds.
Every year millions of people search out google for “ How to win NaNoWriMo ”.
What do you think? What will they get? A full fledged recipe to win NaNoWriMo?
The real truth is, there is no recipe that answer “ How to win NaNoWriMo ”
The only power that helps you to win NaNoWriMo is “YOU, YOURSELF”
Let’s do it together, let’s dig out your power that is going to make you become the winner of the NaNaWriMo this year.
#1. Write what you believe in.
If ever you think of writing a full-fledged novel, then this is the right time. Many people will advise you to just look out for 50,000 words and complete the challenge. I advise you to look for your own story. Anything that you were thinking of writing lately, do it now, do it in November. Why I am stressing over “Write what you believe in” because in that way, you are not limited in terms of imagination, story lineup, thought process and character building.
#2. Stay Calm & Carry on
Don’t get buzzed up with the questions of your mind saying “I can’t do it”,“I will end up as a failure”. Instead, make a proper schedule and follow it. Smart and steady wins the race.
#3. Write Early Morning
Yes, it is one of the most important things that will help you to win the NaNoWriMo challenge – Write Early Morning. Many scientific studies reveal that our brain is 90% active and fresh in the morning as we have already consumed 7+ hours sleep which makes the brain to regain its full efficiency of ‘power to think’
#4. Drinking Coffee makes NaNoWriMo easier!
Coffee and writers, it’s like long term relationship. Coffee can boost your creativity in many ways which will help you to write faster, smarter and actively,
To know about the magic of coffee on your writing, do read this article.
#5. Make a NaNoWriMo buddy.
You can have a companion. He/she can be any of your know faces, but one thing you should keep in mind that the person whom you will be choosing is worth to look for, means passionate about writing. You cannot place your bet on a slugabed.
#6. Don’t care about editing.
A lot of WriMos wasted their time in editing, as a result, they lag behind and couldn’t complete the words. Don’t waste your time on editing. Write at least your first draft in time.
#7. Be happy throughout NaNoWriMo.
Try to be happy as much as possible. Happiness will make your words shine, and eventually, you will start to enjoy this challenge more. And, once you learn that, you will no more be just a participant, but a winner.
Simple enough, right? No secret recipe to winning. Just you who can make it happen.
Are you still in doubt? Are you still not able to get over your fears?
Let me help you a little more, the best way to score well in the examination is to take advice from those who have already been a part of it. Yes, you heard me right. Here are some golden tips from the NaNoWriMo Winners themselves.
Five Golden tips from NaNoWriMo Winners
Do something, anything that doesn’t involve writing once in a while. Take a walk, go to a museum, do yoga, paint your toenails, spin around in circles. Shake your brain up so the ideas can move around.
Never delete anything. If you can’t stand to look at it, change the font to white and keep going.
by Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
Keep your head in the clouds, your hands on the keyboard, and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
by Marissa Meyer, Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress
You’re allowed to put writing first.
by Carrie Ryan, The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Silence your inner editor. Don’t worry; just write. Go, go, go.
by Lydia Netzer, Shine Shine Shine
Get that first draft down on the page and stop talking about writing it someday.
by Mary Robinette Kowal, Shade of Milk and Honey
