Quick Tips for NaNoWriMo
November 11, 2011 
25 Comments
When NaNoWriMo first started, there were 21 participants and six winners. Now there are over 100,000 participants, and over 16,000 winners. The whole idea is to overcome your fears about writing and just write. Here are a few more tips to help get you through the month.
Don’t Be a Critic
The whole point of NaNoWriMo is to get out 50,000 words in November. So it’s about quantity, not quality. It’s hard for many of us to let go the idea of writing the best you can, and instead just write as much as we can, but that’s what you need to do. I am my worst critic and I try to get my story right before I move on. But not during NaNoWriMo. You have to turn off the critic in you and just keep pushing forward. If the novel you’re writing is something you think will be suitable for publishing down the road, then make notes of what you want to go back and correct. But resist the urge to correct it now.
Don’t Worry About Plot Problems Now
It’s inevitable that as you create your novel, you will run into some plot holes. You may have created a character at the beginning of your novel and you realize halfway through that he needs to go. Don’t worry about that now. Make a note of it and move on. Pieces of the plot make not make sense, or you won’t know what direction to take. When I get in this situation, I start dialoging with myself on the page:
- What would this character do?
- Why would she go there?
- Why would he want to kill that man?
Pretty soon, I’ve figured out the direction I need to go in. Press on with your story and correct after December 1st.
Enjoy Yourself and Take Breaks
This is supposed to be fun, right? Why would you press on unless you really want to be a writer and produce a novel? Remember to enjoy seeing your characters come to life. Even if the story is bad, it’s still something you created, so give yourself the kudos for doing this. Few people write a novel, and even fewer write it in one month. But it’s not worth risking your health or relationships over this. Even if everyone around you is supportive (as we hope they would be), you still need that time away from your work. Don’t forget that.
You CAN Go Back Later
Remember when you finish your novel by November 30th, you have won NaNoWriMo. And good for you! But that novel is not set in stone…thanks goodness, right? In this day and age, with all the computer technology that we have, it’s easy to go back and edit your novel. Maybe December should be called Fix-ed (Fix Edit) because this is the time to check back through your notes and make all those corrections that have bugged you throughout your writing process. And I’ll bet you’ll find more things to fix – that’s just part of writing a novel.
Final Thoughts
Once you have that novel completed, and edited, and edited again, and it’s as perfect as you can get it, you are ready to publish and market it. And isn’t it cool that this pile of words is now a novel that you’re selling?
And I’d like to take a moment to tell you about a HUGE contest. I am giving away a Kindle to one lucky person! For the details, visit my website at www.reneepawlish.com. Good luck with NaNoWriMo, and with my contest!
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Why did I not see this post a month ago?! I totally would have commented on it and been rooting for you! So how did you do? I just successfully completed my 7th of 7 attempts.
Grady Pruitt recently posted..The 100 Questions Follow-up Exercises – New Year Resolution Goal Setting – Mastering Me Monday
As I have mentioned in previous post, this is the first time I have started writing. It seemed really hard at first. Well, it’s hard now too, but I have progressed a lot from the start. I was still thinking if it was still worthy to be written. Thanks for the tips. Not much time left. It will be hard to finish 50,000 words in time. By the way, I am not participating, but still it’s a good feeling
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November 15, 2011 at 5:48 PM
That’s cool, good luck!
Renee Pawlish recently posted..Indie Authors Are Killing Great Writing
I didnot know about NaNoWriMo before reading this post but I am willing to know more about it and it is worth to try it.
Contest looks great.Best of luck to the participants.
superMan56 recently posted..Good Movies To Watch
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November 15, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Thanks, and I wish you luck it you try it. Appreciate the comment.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Best Film Noir Movies
I write anything that I like and do it quick. After an hour or two, I check the spelling and grammar. Then, I take a walk. Then, I do some editing again until I can finally say that my piece is worth reading. Thanks.
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November 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Great, that sounds like a good way of writing. Thanks for commenting.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..Author Interview – Athanasios
Renee, you may find this funny but the most effective way for me to write is “write, relax and get back”. I write anything that I like and do it quick. After an hour or two, I check the spelling and grammar. Then, I take a walk. Then, I do some editing again until I can finally say that my piece is worth reading. Thanks.
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November 14, 2011 at 11:02 AM
If that works, great! As long as you’re getting words on the page. Thanks for the comment.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Best Film Noir Movies
It is a perfect advice for me i am fresh in this writing passion, i will definitely participate in this contest one day!
Twitter: reneepawlish
November 14, 2011 at 11:03 AM
It is a crazy contest, but people like it. Good luck to you in your writing, and thanks for commenting.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Best Film Noir Movies
It also had been my first time tackling this so called thing as NaNoWriMo. Thanks for sharing this kind of stuff into the public and to us readers. It’s an additional information and knowledge for us both readers and bloggers. Keep Up!
Twitter: reneepawlish
November 14, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Thanks! Good luck to you and I appreciate the comment.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Best Film Noir Movies
Thanks a lot for sharing these great tips of yours. I am sure many were able to gain understanding and knowledge because of the blog that you have here. Your tips are also relevant and effective at the same time so long as properly utilized.
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November 13, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Thanks, I appreciate that, and thanks for commenting.
Hello Renee,
to be honest, i never heard about NaNoWriMo until today, but for sure I will try to find more information about it. The fact that NaNoWriMo already has more than 100.000 means that it is very interesting though. Maybe one day I will try it out myself as well.
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November 13, 2011 at 8:47 PM
If you do, good luck. It can be crazy, but worth it. Thanks for commenting.
I didn’t knew about NaNoWriMo before I read this article. It seems really interesting and I am going to read more about it and ask my friends about it. Thanks for sharing!
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November 13, 2011 at 8:48 PM
You’re welcome, good luck to you and thanks for the comment.
Hi Renee,
Nice post.I didnot know about NaNoWriMo before reading this post but I am willing to know more about it and it is worth to try it.
Contest looks great.Best of luck to the participants.
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November 12, 2011 at 5:00 PM
NaNo is a challenge, good luck if you try it. Thanks for the comment.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Nephilim Today…and Free Books
Hi Renee,
It will be interesting to keep an aye on that contest.
I think most of your tips would even apply to normal situations as well. For example, when I write an article, I dont even bother with misspelling , grammar or the correct placement of paragraphs and sentences.
Instead, I write the article as fast as I can. Then I go back to it and fix all the problems. Then I leave it for a day or so, so my mind can clear out. Then I’ll go back to it and often times, I end up seeing a lot of room for improvident. Thanks.
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November 12, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Yes, I agree, and I actually do that as well. I’m working back through something I wrote last night lol. I heard a talk by Lee Child, and he said he does the same thing. Thanks for commenting.
Renee Pawlish recently posted..The Nephilim Today…and Free Books
You have brilliant ideas that are of practical use. I love to write as well but I started off as a newbie and was really afraid to write. But when I was exposed to a lot of writing back in college, I was able to overcome my fear of writing. And yes, you’re right, you have to start with quantity then level up to quality until your work would be perfectly made. Good luck for all participants of the contest. I would love to win a kindle too.
Twitter: reneepawlish
November 12, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Thanks for your comment. Writing is about putting your behind in a chair and doing it. And during NaNo, it’s about doing it fast
but you’re not locked in to what you wrote. And I’d like to see you win a Kindle, too, so I hope you enter! Thanks!