Welcome to my latest blog series, specially made to help you through NaNoWriMo! If you don't know what National Novel Writing Month is, the name is quite self-explanatory. NaNoWriMo is a yearly writing challenge that tasks authors (new and old) to hit a 50,000 word goal within 30 days. I recommend all my clients, or anyone who wants to write a book but struggles with accountability, to give it a try! Visit their website for more information.
While working on a book, people can often struggle to find time to write. This is especially difficult during a challenge like NaNoWriMo, where you have to write up to 2000 words every day!
When inspiration hits, chances are you aren't at your desk, ready to write your masterpiece. So, when are you supposed to write?
Set a specific time each day
If you prefer to write in sprints, set aside a certain amount of time each day just for writing.
This could be twenty minutes to ten hours, but having this specific time will help you to stay focused. It gives you the pressure of meeting your goal for that day quickly, and stops you from thinking about your WIP when you have other things to do.
I prefer to write each day from 11pm-12am, because everything else is done for the day and my mind is relaxed and creative. Others prefer to write first thing in the morning, or even during a lunch break.
It's important to find which times work for you - try out a few and see when you're at your most motivated and creative!
Create a goal each day
If you can't set aside a specific time, or prefer to write in smaller sections when inspiration hits, create a word count goal for each day.
During NaNoWriMo, the goal is about 1700 words each day, so, this is a great place to start.
However it's a good idea to consider writing a bitextra each day to make sure you can have a few days off and still reach 50,000 words.
You might also choose to set a goal for up to six months, to finish your book within a more reasonable time period.
Every writer is different, and NaNoWriMo is a challenge because 1700 words per day is difficult for most writers! If you work better with a larger or smaller goal, do what works.
Use your phone's notes app
If you think of something while you aren't at home or in your writing space, use your phone's notes app to write down any ideas you can come back to later.
You can keep these ideas well-organised and upload them into your planning document when you get home, making sure you keep your writing to your designated writing times.
Write on Google Drive so you can write from your phone
If simply taking notes isn't enough and you need to get a scene down, you can use Google Docs on your phone.
Having Google Docs on your phone will allow you to write anytime and anywhere, such as on a long commute, or waiting for an appointment. You can just pull out your phone and have the latest version of your book synced up!
You can even use the speech typing tool to write while driving, but make sure you use it safely.
Come back next Monday for more NaNoWriMo advice! If you need help with your project, contact me.