How to Win at NaNoWriMo

Guide Note: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a contest held every November in which thousands of people from around the world attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. Sound intimidating? Follow this guide to learn how to win at NaNoWriMo.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • Thousands of people sign up for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, every fall. Each one has starry-eyed dreams of completing 50,000 words in the month of November. Most figure they'll get it done in half that time.
  • The sobering truth is this: In 2006, over 79,000 people signed up with NaNoWriMo to write a novel in November, but just under 13,000 of them succeeded.
  • Sure, we could have made this How To one sentence: "Write 50,000 words in November." But the real challenge is getting to 50,000 words, rather than giving up in the middle. You can be one of the winning 16 percent! You just need a strategy.

Step 1: Sign up

Photo by Elena Buetler
Photo by Elena Buetler
  • The first step toward winning NaNoWriMo is to sign up for NaNoWriMo.
  1. Go to the NaNoWriMo signup page.
  2. Enter a username, your email address, and a password.
  3. Review the terms of service.
  4. Check off the box certifying that you are at least 13 years old, and the box to accept the terms of use.
  5. Click the "Create new account" button.
  6. You can click on "Edit Profile" in the top right-hand corner of the page to provide more information about yourself.
    • You can add a user icon or photo.
    • You can give information on the area you live in, for local meet-ups.
    • You can tell people about the book you plan to write.

Step 2: Do preliminary work on your novel

  1. Write an outline before November 1. If you ever have trouble figuring out what comes next, you can just refer to your outline!
  2. Sketch out the key scenes in your story.
    • The Scriptorium has a great worksheet for sketching out scenes.
    • As long as you're not writing actual dialogue or description you will use in your story, this is completely legal.
  3. Write character profiles. This will help you figure out your characters' background, personality, and quirks.
  4. Several NaNoWriMo winners have recommended the Snowflake Method for preparing a novel. However, this requires several weeks of time investment.
  5. Angela Booth has a series of articles titled "NaNoWriMo Quick Start" that will help you get started.

Step 3: Prepare your schedule and support group

  • If you don't have two spare minutes to rub together, getting enough time to write close to 1700 words per day might be difficult.
  1. Set aside at least two hours per day to write.
  2. Review your calendar. Do you have any large time commitments during the month that will interfere with your writing? (For example, many Americans will lose a day to the Thanksgiving holiday.) If so, you will want to increase your word count for the other days accordingly.
  3. Tell your family and friends that you're participating in NaNoWriMo.
    • This will let them know you have a commitment that will be taking up part of your time for the next month.
    • It also makes you accountable to others!
  4. Build a NaNo support network.

Step 4: Start writing on November 1

  • The main reason people fail at NaNoWriMo, say participants, is that they didn't start. If you don't write anything on November 1, you're already behind on your word count. Kristin Gorski gives a great scenario of what happens if you don't start on November 1.

Step 5: Pace yourself, but don't stop yourself

  • This is a month-long marathon, not a sprint. You might be able to write 7,000 words in one sitting on the first day — and then not be able to write for the next two weeks. Don't wear yourself out! Slow and steady wins the race.
  1. Track your word count every day.
    Don't get frustrated if your words aren't perfect. (Photo by Channah)
    Don't get frustrated if your words aren't perfect. (Photo by Channah)
  2. If you write 1,667 words a day, every day, you will write 50,000 words by the end of November 30.
  3. If you plan to write a little more than 1,667 words per day (2,000 or even 2,500), you will have padding for days when crises arise and you are unable to write.
  4. On a roll? If you've hit your word count for the day and you're "in the zone", keep writing! The extra words will provide insurance if you miss a day.
  5. Don't go back and edit what you're writing. That's what March's NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month) is for. You have to write 50,000 words in November. No one said they had to be good words!
  6. If you can't figure out how to write a scene, just write yourself a note that describes what happens in the scene. ("Jane throws a cream pie at her boyfriend, but accidentally hits her boss in the face with it while he's giving an interview live on CNN. Hilarity, and two early terminations, ensue.") Then continue with what happens after. You can go back later to fill in the missing scene if you have a great idea of how to write it.
  7. Write. Even if it's awful, even if every single word that day is like fingernails down a blackboard, just write.

Step 6: Come back from behind

  • From marathon writing to dirty tricks, there are several ways you can increase your word count if you're falling behind.
    You can still win if you've fallen behind! (Photo by Rajesh Sundaram)
    You can still win if you've fallen behind! (Photo by Rajesh Sundaram)
  1. Avoid contractions. Substitute "do not" for "don't", "would not" for "wouldn't", and so forth.
  2. Set aside a full day to write.
    • Some NaNo participants block out the entire final weekend of November to write.
    • Author Simon Haynes suggests you start writing at 8am, write 500 words, take a break until 9am, write another 500 words, and continue in that pattern until 10pm. By the end of the day, you'll have 7500 words.
  3. Write for 45 minutes, as quickly as possible, without going back to edit.
  4. Describe something — a room, a person, a meal — in the most minute detail you possibly can. You can always edit it out later!
  5. Check out the writing prompts at Toasted Cheese, the Random Plot Twists List, or Lazette Gifford's article on using dice to generate a scenario if you have writer's block.

Step 7: Upload your novel for verification

  • If you write 50,000 words by midnight on November 30, you'll know you succeeded. If you want your name added to NaNoWriMo's Winner's Page, you'll need to have it certified.
  1. Upload instructions will be posted in mid-November to the NaNoWriMo site.
  2. If you're worried that someone might steal your work, you can scramble the text so that the word count remains the same, but the text is illegible.

Step 8: Celebrate!

  • Whether you won NaNoWriMo or not, it's time to celebrate. Many people talk about writing a book. You just took thousands of steps toward writing one. Congratulations!

Resources for How to Win at NaNoWriMo



Have any great tips on How to Win at NaNoWriMo? Post your thoughts to the discussion board or email them to Julia: Julia at mahalo dot com.


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