NaNoWriMo Nuggets of Wisdom

Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month

Today's the big day. Writers all over the world are pounding out word after word, straining to reach the 50k goal by the end of the month. Go, little NaNoWriMoers! Write your hearts out!

But I'm not doing it this year.

Not that I'm averse to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), mind you. I've just got way too much life hitting me upside the head at the moment. Don't panic. I'm still writing. I'm simply not stressing out over making the 50k mark.

Don't let that hamper your fingers on the keyboard, though. Be a champion and go for it. And while you're at it, here are some nuggets of NaNoWriMo wisdom . . .

Don't spaz out over word count

If you don't make your word goal one day, don't flip out. Make it up the next or the next. It's kind of like a diet. If you blow it one day, that's not a free ticket to stuff your face full of chocolate cake from there on out. Hop back on the bandwagon the next day. And if you're really on a roll one day, write extra and bank those words for days you're not so prolific.

Take risks in your writing.

A lot of those 50k words you write are going to get edited or changed later on, so type like mad and write whatever's on your heart. Don't worry about "doing it wrong." At this stage of the game, there is no wrong. You're capturing ideas, not spit shining them to a fine sheen.

Save and back-up

If you're going to the effort of grinding out gobs of magical word crafting, then back it up, Hoss. Jesus saves. So should you. Trust me, it will be an ugly weepfest if you don't and your computer crashes.

Writer whether you feel like it or not

There are 30 days in November. Chances are there's going to be a day or two when you just don't feel like being creative. In fact you'll have days when you're pretty sure a drunk clown could create something more exciting than what's in your feeble brain. It's a lie that you can't write unless your muse shows up. Suck it up and write anyway.

Unplug

The interwebs are a wonderful thing—and way too distracting. Shut off your internet. Here's a program to help you: Freedom.

There you have it. All the best to you Nano champions! I shall eat chocolate in your honor all month and cheer for you at the finish line.