| It may be a little while still, but writers around the | | | | where you're at. |
| world will likely be very aware NaNoWriMo is | | | | Most people have busy lives. This doesn't |
| getting closer by the day. NaNoWriMo - National | | | | need to stop you from taking part, though. Try |
| Novel Writing Month - takes place in November. | | | | to set aside some "me-time" each day to do your |
| It's often seen as the ultimate challenge for | | | | writing. If you speak with your family, they're |
| aspiring and professional writers alike. Starting on | | | | very likely to understand! And you can write |
| November 1, the aim is to write a 50,000 word | | | | anywhere - during your lunch hour, on the train, |
| novel by midnight, November 30. | | | | whenever you feel creative and part of your |
| During NaNoWriMo, it's not about quality but | | | | story enters your head. It's good to take a little |
| quantity. It's all about getting the story out there | | | | notepad and pen with you so that you can |
| instead of getting stuck on technicalities. The | | | | scribble down your thoughts. |
| novel can be edited and rewritten later, but first it | | | | In the time leading up to NaNoWriMo, you can |
| has to be written! It's okay to make mistakes. It's | | | | work on your basic outline. If you already have |
| perfectly fine to write words you're likely to take | | | | ideas about the events and timeline of your story, |
| out at a later stage, so long as you're getting the | | | | write them down. They will be helpful later. |
| idea for your novel onto paper or saved onto | | | | Character names, personalities, background |
| your computer. | | | | stories, significant scenes, the mood you want to |
| Some people think that writing 50,000 words isn't | | | | set with your opening paragraph - all will come in |
| that much. Past participants will know that it's a | | | | handy for when you sit down to write your novel. |
| challenge. It's an endurance test. It takes | | | | Prepare your preferred workspace for your |
| perseverance and determination and a whole load | | | | writing sessions. Many authors love a clean, tidy |
| of creativity to succeed. | | | | desk in a peaceful space. Try to set it up the |
| So how do you prepare yourself for NaNoWriMo? | | | | way you like it the most. Strange as it may |
| How can you fit such a task in with a busy life, a | | | | sound, it does help. |
| family and other obligations? Well, each writer | | | | Seek encouragement. There's an official |
| goes about it in their own way, but here's my | | | | NaNoWriMo website with loads of advice and lots |
| advice: | | | | of other writers who will be going through the |
| The novel doesn't have to be written in a | | | | same experience. You can make it a shared |
| week. It's natural to want to write as much as | | | | adventure to tackle this challenge. |
| possible early on, but you may wear yourself out. | | | | If you have friends who'll take part, it's fun to |
| Take your time. | | | | compare word counts. However, don't feel upset |
| It can be helpful to calculate how many | | | | if they've written more than you have. |
| words a day you'd need to write to complete the | | | | NaNoWriMo is not a competition against others. |
| project, and aim towards that. If you happen to | | | | It's a personal achievement. So, whilst |
| write more on a certain day, it's great! If you | | | | encouragement can work wonders, it's important |
| happen to write a bit less, there's nothing to | | | | to work at your own pace. |
| worry about. It tends to balance out in the end | | | | Above all - have fun! |
| and, if needs be, you can recalculate to see | | | | |