What is NaNoWriMo?

I’m sure if you’re into reading and writing you’ve heard at one point the term, NaNoWriMo.

But what does it actually mean?

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. 

The goal is to write an entire 50,000-word novel in the month of November. 

This challenge was started in 1999 by Chris Baty and of a group of his friends.

So that means, today November 1st, this challenge has started. You can join today and give yourself the goal of writing 50,000 words by November 30th at 11:59 p.m. 

However, I don’t advise all writers to participate in this challenge. Especially if you have never written a book before. But, have no fear! You can still participate, I just advise you to be well-equipped for success!

This practice is great for those who:

1.) Already have a story idea they’ve been wanting to write

2.) Have a general plot mapped out (Or can plot out quickly)

3.) Are in LOVE with their story (If not, you’ll end up quitting)

4.) Need practice on writing instead of editing their way through their novel 

What is this challenge good for?

1.) Getting into the habit of writing. It’s a whopping 1,667 words per day! 

2.) Challenging yourself to set a goal and work hard to achieve it.

3.) Receive energy of support from others who are participating in NaNoWriMo. 

4.) Build the skill of writing faster.

If you are not wanting to write a novel, you can still take part in this challenge! Give yourself the goal to write an entire picture book and to have it edited by November 30th. This is totally doable! 

If you plan to participate, you can surely put your head down and get to work. This is a great angle if you are trying to just WRITE and get into the habit of writing. Solely to build up your “writing” muscle. 

If you are hoping to get a solid story to publish, here are some tips to consider:

1.) Have a great understanding of who your characters are before you start. 

2.) Have a solid picture in your mind of what the setting is. Create a vision board if you have to and a map! Those are fun!

3.) Create a complete outline. You can do this by filling out a plot structure, using the book plotting templates that include structures like the 3-act structure, 7-point plot structure, Save the Cat etc… You can create a chapter-by-chapter or scene-by-scene outline as well. This is so important to help you focus on writing instead of figuring out what to write. (Check out the Writer’s Guide to Outline Your Story)

4.) Commit to a specific time every day to make the goal a serious commitment. If sitting for a long duration of time each day isn’t realistic, consider breaking that time up into smaller writing sprints throughout the day. 

5.) DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ERRORS!!! Let them sit. You’ll have plenty of other days to get it polished. Expect to write a messy book! Remember, this is a DRAFT! NOT a polished manuscript!

6.) If you’re stuck, SKIP IT! and go back to it later! Be kind to yourself! This kind of writer’s block is totally normal! It’s ok to let it go to keep up the momentum. 

7.) Join our FaceBook Writing Accountability Group to get some support! (It’s fun and free!)

You can also join my FREE Writing Program if you’d like to have guides/worksheets to follow for research, mapping, plotting, writing, and testing your story. Everything you need to get your idea into a polished manuscript.

But above all else, this should be FUN! NaNoWriMo can be a wonderful encouragement for you to get a book done. If you have a story idea that you love and you know what generally is supposed to happen throughout the plot, enjoy yourself! Don’t take it all too seriously! 

Have fun! and Good Luck future AUTHORS!

Sara V.