How to Survive (and Succeed at) NaNoWriMo

Writing a 50,000 Word Novel in One Month

November is upon us and you were struck with a fit of the crazies and decided this was a good month to attempt to write a 50,000 word novel... all in 30 days! Well, at least you are not alone. I'm starting a new university and looking for a new job in a new city (in a new country, for that matter), but for some reason this year seemed as good as any to do Nanowrimo. Thankfully, I've been through this once before, so I have so advice on how to make it work.

Don't edit. Only look back on what you've written if you need to clarify some important plot point like, say, your heroine's name. Even resist spell checking (unless it is to separate two words and therefore raise your word count!). Use all your time for writing. December is for editing.

Have a mascot. Have a theme song. Anything that helps you feel inspired and get in the mood for your novel.

Cultivate a support group. Go to Nano events in your area if there are any. Go to write-ins.

Tell everyone you know you are doing Nano. This will inspire you to work harder because you won't want to tell all those people that you didn't make it. Plus, they may be more understanding about your distraught, sleep-deprived state.

Accept the fact that you will probably go crazy.

Write everyday. Even if it is just a few sentences, every word you write today is one less you have to write tomorrow. It's so easy to fall out of the habit of writing everyday if you skip even one day. And you never know when one sentence will turn into a few paragraphs, or a few pages...

Aim for 2,000 words a day, instead of 1667. That way you have a bit of cushioning for those days when you just can't wring out more than a few hundred words. And who knows, if you keep it up, maybe you will even finish early!

Carry around your laptop or at least a notebook everywhere you go. Suddenly you will find magic writing time appearing everywhere: on the train, waiting in line at the bank, in the five minutes before class starts. Buy a pretty notebook with matching pen if that sort of thing makes you feel good about writing.

Bribe yourself with rewards. Candy, new clothes, a trip to Paris... whatever works.