by Katana Collins
It’s that time of
year!!! National Novel Writing Month, or more affectionately known as NaNoWriMo,
is here!
Last year popped my
NaNoWriMo cherry and this year? I am SO excited to get this book done. Also, I
have a deadline looming and this is the perfect kick in the ass I’ll need. You
see, November is a notoriously busy month for me. And I’ve been in a bit of a
writer’s slump lately. Hopefully, this is just the kick in the pants I need. In
preparation, I’ve been researching tips to make November as successful as
possible. Here is what I’ve compiled:
1) Outline.
By creating an outline
(however you find it easiest to do so) will help on those days you find it
difficult to write. Thwarting writer’s block is tough, but the more prepared
you are for what you will be working on each day, the more successful each day
will be.
2) Don’t Edit.
The whole idea of
NaNoWriMo is quantity not quality. For this month, don’t revise. Don’t edit.
Just keep writing. If November is National Novel WRITING Month, then December
should be considered National Novel EDITING Month.
3) Create a comfortable
writing environment.
Have a specific area set
up that is just for you and your laptop. Keep it tidy. Make it
inspired–whatever that means for you. For me, I have an inspiration board I
like to reference. For my husband, he likes a minimalist environment. Determine
what you need to be the most successful.
4) Set your goals.
Then
overwrite. In order to make it to the 50k in the month of November, you need to
write 1,666 words every day. Because I know I will need to take a couple of
days off, I plan on setting myself a goal of 2,000 words a day at least 5 days
a week. Then, the goal on top of the goal is to exceed the initial goal.
5) Set aside the time of
day that best works for you. Then stick to your schedule.
For many, writing in the
early morning is ideal for them. Waking up at 5am and writing until 7am when
the kiddos need to wake for school is ideal. For me, I’m a night owl. My ideal
writing time is either during the day (after lunch), or midnight – 2am.
6) Form or join a
community of other writers participating.
Self explanatory, right?
Writers are known for holing themselves up in their office with one dim light
and a pot of coffee. But having a support group of sorts for this type of
competition is key.
7) Set rewards for
yourself.
Little rewards along the
way are motivating. Offering yourself a hot chocolate for meeting your daily
goal. Or buying that cute dress in the shop window you've passed each day when
you meet the weekly goal. Keep yourself motivated. Keep yourself going.
8) Assemble your
writer’s block first aid kit.
This could mean a lot.
It could be a physical kit or a virtual kit. Your physical kit could (in
theory) contain a dictionary, a thesaurus, story dice, cute pens and pencils,
assorted paper, number dice, baby naming books (for character names), your
outline, a couple of current magazines, creativity card deck, and a stress
ball. Your virtual kit could contain: Pinterest, a timer, Scrivener, etc. This
year, I’ve put together a jar of Popsicle sticks. Written on these sticks are
random sentences for when I don’t know how to start. I grab a stick at random
and begin to get the creativity flowing. It’s also a fun challenge!
9) Read.
Despite the crazy busy
November month and your day job and holiday shopping–find time to read and be
inspired by other people’s words.
10) Turn off your
internet.
Trust me and just do it.
Right now, I should be working on my novel….but here I am dicking around on
Facebook.
11) Write your scenes
out of order.
This is one of those
tricks I always say that I’ll try and I never do. I’m a very sequentially
motivated writer, so the idea of writing a scene that comes later in the book
first gives me heart palpitations. But I understand the sentiment behind it and
it’s worth a try on those slump days!
So, that’s it! I’ll see
you on the flip side (otherwise known as December)!♥
Katana Collins is best known for writing steam-your-glasses romances.
Between navigating life as a small business owner, a first-time homeowner, and
a newlywed, Kat is in a constant state of “OHMYGODINEEDCOFFEENOW.” She is the
author of the Soul Stripper trilogy, Wicked Exposure, and the graphic novel,
Cafe Racer, co-written with Sean Murphy. She and her comic book artist husband
commute back and forth as they please between Brooklyn, NY and Portland, ME
with their ever-growing family of rescue animals. She can usually be found
hunched over her laptop in a cafe, guzzling gallons of coffee, and wearing
fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.
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