If you’re still on the fence about taking part in NaNoWriMo, just do it. I used to think that NaNoWriMo was about writing 50.000 words, but it’s actually about so much more than that. It’s an opportunity to learn.
Here are the reasons why you should do NaNoWriMo:
Every word written is a win
Empty pages are a writer’s enemy, so every word you write is another win. That blank page is filling up with your ideas. And until the end of the month, all of them are good, loved and valued. Even if you get fifty, or those fifty thousand, you’ve done it. You’ve started writing your story.
You can decide in December if you want to delete all of it and start fresh, if you want to edit your words, or if you want to keep going until your story is finished. But this is the next step. All your written words are experience you gained. It’s your choice to decide what you’re learning from them.
Discover your writing process
NaNoWriMo is writing on steroids, especially for someone who has to juggle a day job and writing and you’re just starting out combining the two. Use this time to figure out what works for you. Do you write in lunch breaks? Or do you have time during your commute to write on your phone? Are you willing to wake up early and get started before everyone else starts their day? Or are you the kind of person who goes to bed late because midnight is the magical time?
Figure out if you’re a pantser or a plotter, how much research you have to do or how well you have to know your characters. Do this with trial and error. You don’t have to figure everything out now, but being aware of what you’re doing and what’s not working for you will improve your overall writing process.
Find your motivation
As the month progresses, you’ll probably hit a wall where you either can’t find the words or start thinking if you can even finish the event. In the last case I refer back to the first reason, every word written is a win. And in case you can’t find the words, take a break. Think about why you want to write this story and what the story needs to have at least a beginning, middle, and end.
You’ve got nothing to lose
This is probably the most important of all. What do you have to lose by taking part? Maybe you’ll learn something new about yourself. And that’s a win.
October is ‘NaNo Prep’-month on Narratess. Come back next week for more tips on how to prepare for a month of writing on steroids.
I have never “won” NaNoWriMo, but I keep putting myself out there because it reminds me to write daily.
It took me a few years to win as well. I really hope I can do it again. One day you’ll get there!
I’ve seen several people mention this, and I must say, I really love your attitude towards it. Rather than it seeming like a big, scary task and intimidating, you present it as something very rewarding!
That’s how it’s been for me, even the years that I didn’t manage the 50k word goal. I learned so much about the process and myself, and it made me a better writer. I hope I can inspire more people to take that step