Posted: November 26, 2024
The NaNoWriMo month is almost over, so you’re just getting to the end of your goal. You’ve probably figured out what works for you and what doesn’t, and you might even be planning for the next writing-month event.
I know I am.
But what if you didn’t meet your goal? How can you ensure that next time you get there? And if you did, how can you work towards a new goal with more efficiency? Here are some tips I’ve found useful:
Sometimes, just having a time set aside for writing is enough. I know that I often put off writing because it’s “not as important” as other things in my busy schedule, but having a time that’s entirely dedicated to writing can help take some of the stress off.
On top of having a schedule, you should know what time of day is the best time for you to write. When are your ideas flowing? I personally like to write in the mornings when I’m fresh, but I also write well just after dinner, once the workday is complete. I have a writer friend whose best time is around midnight. You may even feel flexible, and your best time varies from day to day. Find the time that works best for you—and use it.
There is a big risk of this tip making you feel guilty for not getting as much done as you want, which is why you should be careful with it. Still, if done right, this can be super helpful and motivating. Set small, manageable goals for yourself at first, things you know you’ll accomplish. This could just be “write every day” and giving yourself a check mark when you accomplish it. Always make sure to write down the positives from your progress. Maybe you daydreamed about your project for ten minutes one day—that’s progress. You can set a reminder on your phone or computer; that way, you can make sure every day is a non-zero day.
Even pansters need to have an idea to play with before they start writing. Whatever your writing practice, make sure you have an end goal in mind before you take on a big challenge like National Novel Writing Month. Before you start your goal, make sure you know the bones of your project (and anything else you may need). Have some exercises in place for when you get stuck.
An accountability group is helpful, but this tip talks instead about just having someone to talk to about your project, even if it’s just your cat, dog, or fish! Who can you talk aloud to, bounce ideas off of? Brainstorming aloud often sparks new ideas!
You’ll never get anything done with a full brain. That’s why taking breaks is equally as important as setting time aside to write. Destress and be kind to yourself—people often forget that.
Having a big goal to strive for is excellent, but it’s supremely helpful to break it down into chunks so you can tackle things one at a time. Perhaps you want to get to a certain point of your novel on a certain day. Perhaps you want to do an exercise to get to know one of your characters. Perhaps you set a day to hammer out a specific scene that’s been giving you trouble.
Stopping to edit or research while writing halts your progress forward. It’s difficult, but remind yourself to leave the editing until later. Focus purely on the creation process, and leave the refinement for later.
One of the main reasons why authors stop writing is because they lose motivation. They’re no longer interested in their own book, and if they aren’t interested in it, why should anyone else be? It’s a troublesome mindset. Stay productive and enthusiastic by sharing the idea with others, get to know your characters well enough to want to finish their stories, maybe even read a book that you love that’s similar to what you’re writing.
This last—and most important—tip has been a godsend for me this month. With my critique group, I’ve set up a daily Zoom meeting for us to just sit down together and write to some mellow music every night at 7pm. Not only did it help to have other writers (and friends) to chat to and bounce ideas off of as I’m actively writing, but it forced me to show up, and that’s half the battle.
Take these tips with you the next time you take on the novel-writing challenge, or even when you’re just setting a large goal. The more you work at it, the more successful you will be.
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