| Nano (National Novel Writing Month) is from | | | | your writing time for the month. Figure out when |
| November 1st-30th. It's the writing frenzy where | | | | you are most productive. Is it in the morning, at |
| you kick out a large number of words to | | | | night or midday? Make a rule - no sleep unless |
| hopefully finish a novel in record time. Many people | | | | you have kicked out a minimum of a certain |
| start the challenge and end up with a sizeable | | | | amount of words. Make sure you schedule extra |
| number of pages by the end. Some are inspired | | | | time for working out of corners or temporary |
| to start writing for the first time. Others are | | | | writer's blocks. Make your schedule somewhat |
| inspired to finish something for the first time. | | | | flexible so that you don't get burned out and give |
| Some, like me, find that writing at breakneck | | | | up. |
| speed produces a lower quality of work that | | | | Write it |
| doesn't reflect what is normally produced when | | | | With a printout of your outline next to you and a |
| writing within your own timing. | | | | bullet list of your character profile - start the race. |
| There are ways to make speed writing more | | | | Follow your outline. If you want to go rogue, go |
| effective. The overall goal, is to produce more in | | | | ahead, write until the roadblock. If you reach a |
| a shorter period of time. If you keep this up, who | | | | road block - write anything, take some time off |
| knows, speed writing may become a habit. | | | | to think on it, then re-work your outline and get |
| Prepare for it | | | | back to it. Whatever you do - don't stop writing. |
| When you set out to write a novel in a short | | | | Remember, you will always have to edit it. |
| period of time, outlining is your friend. Take a few | | | | Don't look back |
| weeks to write a detailed outline of the story. It | | | | Whatever you do, don't read over what you've |
| will help to work out most of the kinks before | | | | written until you are finished. That is an easy way |
| you even sit down to write. Create character | | | | to get distracted. Remember, you'll have to edit |
| profiles of the main characters and review outline | | | | the thing many times before your piece of art is |
| before the start of your writing marathon. | | | | perfected. Just write forward, don't make |
| Plan it | | | | corrections, don't read over it, just push forward |
| If you are going to focus on spitting out as many | | | | and write. |
| words as possible a day, then plan it. Block out | | | | |