Ahh, fall. Here on a southern campus, I feel like the temperature has finally dropped low enough that it’s appropriate to pull out my sweaters and boots. Along with the autumnal apparel come the autumnal traditions. I light my Christmas scented candle, sip on my Caramel Brulee latte, and open my laptop to begin work on my newest and probably least recognized fall tradition: NaNoWriMo.
NaNoWriMo is a website that celebrates the author in everyone. Inspired by the idea that everyone has a story, NaNoWriMo annually challenges young and veteran writers to type 50,000 words throughout the month of November. The website offers a variety of resources to keep you on track and plans events throughout November with writers in your area to develop a community. Sponsors support NaNoWriMo by offering prizes and discounts to “winners”, those who reach their 50,000 word goal, and providing opportunities for these books to be published. Well known authors also step in and provide “pep talks” to encourage writers as they tackle this task.
This challenge is by no means supposed to produce a Pulitzer Prize winner in 30 days (I mean it could, but no pressure). Instead, it serves as a way for authors to put their idea down on paper (or screen). The website provides further guidelines after November to help with editing and possibly even publishing your novel.
You may say, “But it’s already November. There’s no way I could make it through this challenge!” Au contraire mon ami, I have several resources to power boost you through these next few weeks of writing.
1. Use the NaNoWriMo communities. There are many events set up that provide opportunities for you to meet people who will encourage you to get down to business and defeat your 3,000 a day word goal.
2. Write an event outline for your novel. Yep. Just like you would for an English paper. Writing an outline will help keep you on track. No one said that you had to type your novel in order. If you already have an event that keeps popping into your mind, write it down. You can always go back through your outline and add details for more words. Think of it as a skeleton.
3. Milestone rewards. Tell yourself that for every 10,000 words, you’ll allow a trip to Marble Slab, or you’ll buy that new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing when you reach 25,000.
4. A change will do you good. If you feel like you’ve hit a wall, look for a change in scenery. You’ll be surprised how much a new view will re-energize you.
5. Movie soundtracks set the mood. If you ever need to be pumped up without lyrics to distract you while you’re reading, look no further than your favorite movies. I like to match up the playlist with the scene that I’m writing. For action scenes, I tend to like Rocky and Lord of the Rings. For more mellow, romantic paragraphs I gravitate to soundtracks like Pride and Prejudice.
Just remember to keep it lighthearted and fun. Even if you don’t reach your goal, continue past November and share your novel with the world.