You don’t need to be a writer to start writing but you will need to be dedicated, determined and smart with your time to get your 50,000 words to paper before December 1st.
The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to get people committed to writing and reward them for making achievements. Our Managing Editor Beth completed NaNoWriMo last year – it’s one of the best things you can do if you want to get something down on paper. From fiction to autobiography, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
1. Start the challenge
Sign up to NaNoWriMo here and commit to writing your novel. You’ll never feel ‘ready’ and that’s ok. You need to know that writing doesn’t take much time out of your day, so no amount of excuses are valid. You can literally set a daily goal of 1,667 words a day to end up with your 50,000!
2. Make time
Speaking of time, make some. It’s so easy to put other priorities in front of your writing time. As Steven Pressfield says in War of Art:
“It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.”
There will be a lot of tempting distractions, so prepare by planning out your writing time. Our Managing Editor wrote most of her 50,000 words in the notes on her phone – there is no perfect time or place to get it done, just do it. You can either create a routine or do it when inspiration strikes.
3. Make Space
You’re going to be putting in the work this month so create a space to write which inspires you. Decorate your writing space with things that make you feel grounded and focused, as well as things that fire up your imagination and get your pen moving. Fresh flowers, new stationery, a mood board linked to whatever you’re writing or maybe an inspirational quote.
Of course, there is no perfect place to write a book, but if you need your study to refresh your mind – you can pick up a few things that will help you out.
4. Make It Social
National Novel Writing Month has loads of resources to help you tell the world about your passion. Let your online community know about your undertaking with these graphics for your blog and social media. Offline, tell your friends and family what you’re up to and how they can support you. This could be anything from keeping you motivated to leaving you in peace during your writing hours. You never know you might even inspire them to commit to writing a novel in a month too!
5. Commit To It
You can do this. Writing a novel in a month is not going to be easy, but it is going to be rewarding when you look back at your 50,000 words on November 30th. Your book is waiting and all you have to do is give it the time to shine. There is no wrong, just write!
Let us know how you’re getting on – your book might just be the next one on our shelves!
Featured photo :@carmengracehamilton
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