Writing a Book? Resources for Students: Tips for Winning NaNoWriMo

Tips and Reminders

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• Writing is about showing up: Every word is a step towards your goal of 50,000 words. Even if there's a day you're struggling to put words on the page and don't meet your goal for that day, you're still showing up, and making time for your novel.
• Don't "talk it out:" If you're like me, you want to tell your friends and family everything, especially when it's something exciting, and writing a book definitely qualifies as "exciting!" When you have to tell the same story to all your family members and friends, though, you can lose some of the momentum you have saved for writing your manuscript. You also risk hearing conflicting suggestions from others, which can make getting words on paper difficult. Remind yourself, and them: they can read it when you're done!
• Don't wait for inspiration: This might be the hardest tip to hear and to follow. Inspiration is one of the most elusive aspects of writing, and it's a powerful tool--when you can get it, but it's not the type of thing that happens every day or even every week! The truth is, in order to win NaNoWriMo, and, often, to finish a manuscript at all, you have to set aside time to write whether you're inspired or not, and write what you can. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth.” If he'd listened to that feeling, we wouldn't have Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and so many more short stories, poems, plays, and other pieces. If you feel uninspired and like you're struggling, take comfort in knowing that you're in excellent company, and it is something you can overcome.
• Remember that this is a rough draft: Every book you've ever read had a first draft, and, chances are, the first draft and the book you read are very different stories. Heck, early drafts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl were originally filled with cannibalism, child murder, and racial insensitivity. You can always edit the words you have, but you can't edit the things you haven't. Writing is a lot like drawing: you have to accept that you may not be great at it right away and that the longer and harder you work at it, the better you'll get! Unfortunately, there may be times when you don't like writing your book. There may be parts you want to change right away, as well, but it is better to focus on moving forward. Keep moving forward, and when you're done, you can go back and make any changes you see fit. (And, keep in mind, if you get an editor for your manuscript, they'll have changes they want to make, too!) The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to write a draft of 50,000 words, and the creators don't expect you to write a perfect book, and you shouldn't expect that of yourself, either!

Suggestions and Resources

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• Set daily goals: 50,000 words in 30 days. That might sound like a goal that's difficult to reach. 1,667 words in a day. That probably sounds a lot more achievable! If you'd like to break it down into something more concrete, however, here's an easy way! On average, a single-spaced page contains 500 words, and a double-spaced page contains 250. Less than three and a half single-spaced pages or less than four and a half double-spaced pages per day sounds much more concrete, and achievable.
  But, what if you need to skip a day, or a few? Plan ahead for days you may need to take off, and set aside extra time to make them up later.
• Use the Pomodoro Technique: The Pomodoro Technique is a time management technique invented by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Although there are variations on the technique, the same five-step structure is used:
  • Step 1: Choose a task to be accomplished.
  • Step 2: Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes (the Pomodoro is the timer.)
  • Step 3: Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper.
  • Step 4: Take a short break (5 minutes is OK.)
  • Step 5: Every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break.

This technique is often used by people for working on larger projects, as well as for studying and general time management.

• Don't be afraid to ask for help: Like any project, having support along the way can make all the difference! If you know someone else who is participating in NaNoWriMo, they will likely be eager to help you too, and may reach out to you to ask for help. It is also recommended that you reach out to other friends and family members if you feel stuck, as talking through any issues you encounter can help you come up with solutions. If possible, it is recommended that you also connect with a writing group, and NaNoWriMo has many you can join right now! You can also reach out to our writing and research support faculty for help, support, and suggestions for how to get connected with other writers.