How to finesse National Novel Writing Month, by someone who knows
HOW DO YOU WRITE SO MANY WORDS SO QUICKLY? Dedication, lack of regard for plot, questionable priorities, and a whole lot of coffee. Fifty-thousand words in 30 days is 1,667 a day. Many writers can get their daily count in an hour or two.
WHAT IF I HAVEN’T FINISHED MY OUTLINE YET? It’s easy to bog down in researching and fine-tuning and never actually write the story. We have a mantra here at NaNo: November is for writing. December is for editing.
WHAT IF I HATE MY PROTAGONISTS? Identify what you dislike. Are they boring? Throw them into a
ridiculous situation that forces them to be inventive. Is their best friend more interesting? Make the best friend your protagonist. Forget convention. Write what feels right.
WHAT IF I RUN OUT OF IDEAS? Set a timer for five minutes and type until the timer runs out. This stream of consciousness free-writing can help unstick your brain. Or visit a Vegas Wrimos event and get inspiration from fellow writers.
WHAT IF MY NOVEL IS TERRIBLE? Here’s a secret: No first draft in the history of writing has been good. The point of writing a first draft is to have something to edit later. Forget about writing something perfect. You’re filling a sandbox today so you can build castles tomorrow.
Rachel Salyer is a 12-year participant in NaNoWriMo and a Las Vegas liaison for the event.