How to Survive National Novel Writing Month

November is National Novel Writing Month. The goal: write 50,000 words in the space of 30 days to produce a novel. Now in it's tenth year, the list of participants has grown from the original 21, to well of 100,000. But to write that many words, in an first time attempt, is not quite as simple as it seems. By the time you reach week two, the goal may look insurmountable. There are keys to surviving this task.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A diary.
• A regular place to write at.
• Your choice of writing equipment (pen and paper/computer etc)

1. 
   Plan to write.

   Start at midnight November 1. Get writing as fast as you can, as quick as you can. Don't worry about the ideas, don't fret if your characters suddenly meet fantasy creatures. Get the story moving and get the first 5000 words down.

2. Write every day. Never go to bed without having written something. The goal is to write 1666 words a day. You're going to need to write more initially, to help you through some of the days at the end.

3. 
   You are a writer!

   Do not listen to anyone who use phrases like "you can't", "unfair", "selfish", or "neglecting your responsibilities". They are just disbelievers who would love to be writers. You are a writer - write on past them.

4. 
   Just write anywhere you can.

   If you are going to be away from your regular writing location, take your writing instrument with you. You can write anywhere - on the train to work, waiting for a plane, at lunch. Just write.

5. The hardest week to write will be the week you are most pressed for time and ideas. Budget your timings to allow you to write, even on Thanksgiving Day.

6. Do not go back and rewrite anything. The concept is to write, not edit. You may put a spellchecker through your novel, but you should not rewrite anything. Save it for December.

7. In week three, check your word count. Look at the remaining time in the month and begin to wrap up your story - but not before you reach 50,000 words.

8. When completed, upload your novel for a word count verification and then, take a nap. You have completed your first novel in under a month. Congratulations - you have survived.
   (See you back here next year.)

Tips & Warnings

• National Novel Writing Month is a process - to write to a goal. Your novel may go no further then your eyes or, like some others, it may go to into print as a novel. The goal is to write.
• The National Novel Writing Month website (nanowrimo.org) has a list of message boards and writing groups which cover the globe. Get together with other local writers and write.
• Try not to write while in control of a motor vehicle. The only thing more important this month is the safety of others.
• Perseverance is the key. Late at night when you are dead tired don't avoid writing, even if it's a few words. Write every day, for every day that your don't, will make returning to writing that much harder.

Resources

• National Novel Writing Month website.