4 Lessons I Learned from My First NaNoWriMo
Tackling this challenge for the first time kicked my butt!
How long does it take you to write 1,667 words? An hour? Two hours? A couple of days? A month?
How about doing it multiple times. Will it take even longer?
Try 1,667 words every day for a month. That’s right, no breaks or rests. Suddenly that number has become more daunting than ever.
At least for me, it did.
Why am I focusing on that specific amount though? Well, a little event we writers (and everyone that wants to participate) call NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month.
What is NaNoWriMo you ask? Well, every November, people around the world take part in this writing challenge with the end goal of producing a novel — or any other type of writing they wish to do, we call those rebels. You rebel you!
The point of 1,667 is that it is the exact number of words you need to hit the goal of 50,000 words by the end of the month.
Breath in and say it with me…50,000 words in one month.
Now THAT is a tall order to fill! 50,000 words may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things. Many books out there have much more than that. However, to do it all in one month, now that is a feat worthy of praise.
At least from my perspective, rock on you gladiators of the written word!
This year marked my first attempt at this challenge; I thought I would be able to knock it out no problem. Write 1,667 words a night and call it a day.
Oh, how wrong I was.
Here are some of the things that smacked me in the face and gave me a-talkin’ to.
I Didn’t Pregame…eh hem…Preplan
When it comes to writing a novel, you usually will do some research first.
Figure out what you want to write, where it’s going to go. You know, the plot…setting…characters…
Anyways, I neglected to do this. My fault I know, not something someone else would do who isn’t oblivious.
I started with a vague idea in my mind of what I wanted to write. Bad Elise! Having never done this before, I somehow compartmentalized the challenge to a different section of my brain then I would normally. Leading to my unfortunate decision to go with it!
So, my lesson to you, whoever you may be, PREPLAN. That’s right. If you want to crank this thing out like you own it (you do), then set that plan straight and give it the business before you start that first chapter.
Or you’ll end up like me…crying in a corner having rewritten the same five chapters multiple times…
You Don’t Have to do Precisely 1,667 Words
But Elise, you just told us this is the amount you need to write to meet the end goal!
That’s right, and I did…gold star!
However, feel free to write MORE than that too. If you write more one night, then writing less another night when you’re not feeling as creative — and trust me there will be those nights — then you’ll be ahead of the game!
I started this out with a goal of 2000 words a night just for this reason. Well, my non-preplanning nixed that goal, and I quickly floundered.
PREPLAN PEOPLE.
It’s OK if You Fall Behind
Yes, it is ok. Don’t force yourself if you’re not feeling it. The challenge may be to get to 50,000 words by the end of the month, but no one said you had to do it by the book every night. Give yourself a break, don’t stress or your writing will suffer in the end. This is something else that ended up harming me.
I was so focused on meeting that end goal that I let my writing suffer. I just wanted to crank out those words no matter what I was putting down on paper (or Microsoft Word as the case may be).
So don’t stress it, you’re a rock star no matter what. You do you and get through it how YOU want.
GO YOU!
In the End, It’s All About Fun and Creativity
When I finally threw in the towel, realizing that because of a mix of mistakes on my part — cough, preplan, cough — and real-life responsibilities — like my 20th Century American Literature class — I was not going to be able to complete this months’ NaNoWriMo.
It was a hard pill to swallow especially since, to begin with, I had been so excited!
Things happened that were beyond my control, so I came to the realization that it was a fun experience while I was attempting it and I learned a lot.
So, in the end, even if you don’t finish that manuscript or fall behind. Take my lessons and learn from them like I did this month.
I want to know about that novel you plan on writing next year. Or the series of short stories, articles, essays, etc. (you rebel!).
But always remember, have fun, be creative, you’re amazing, and don’t stress about a number. Like me…don’t be like me.
Oh …and more thing…
PREPLAN.
Thank you.
