Hello fellow bookworms 🖋 It’s me again … already … even though I was determined to take it slow with the posts as I still have to answer my comments, but here we go again 😅 To be honest I just couldn’t resist, because I got so inspired to write a NaNo themed posts and share some of my NaNo tips that I have collected over the years. I do have a lot more NaNo posts planned, but this on was purely spontaneous, as I actually was planning to only post my Wrapup this week, but when inspiration strikes you should use it right? 😃
All my NaNoWriMo 2018 Posts
What the hell is a NaNoWriMo?!
As this will be the first post in my little NaNo Series, I shall adress the most important question first: What even is this NaNoWriMo everyone is screaming about?
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and occurs throughout the whole month of November! The reason behind this writing month is pretty simple: to write and finally get all the procrastination and self-doubts out-of-the-way that constantly pull you under. NaNo is not about writing perfectly: it’s about getting that damn first draft done and just write without listening to the inner critic! There are not many rules. You have to write something new and write 50.000 words in a month – that’s 1667 words per day! If you’re interested in writing then definitely consider trying NaNo! You don’t have to win, because it’s be more about writing itself and getting started that counts!
My NaNo username is Miss.Supernatural! Feel free to add me as a writing buddy, I’d love to know what you get up to this NaNo 💗
My personal NaNo Tips!
I’ve done NaNo 5 times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) meaning this is my 6th time participating [oh god I’m getting old], so I thought why not share some of my tips with you? I’m kind of an old NaNo veteran now and I’ve also done Camp NaNo so over the years I have tried out a few things here and there. Let’s face it, we all must stick together during this intense writing time, so sharing some tips seemed like a lovely idea 💕
Us writers during NaNoWriMo 😂
Keep a NaNo Journal 🖋 This way you can keep track of your writing process and you also get to reward yourself with some stickers when you’ve reached your daily goal! I usually treat myself to a new journal each NaNo and just choose one that looks nice and doesn’t have too many pages. I keep track of my daily word count goal, how many words I have written in total and what I was working on for each day – that has always worked out for me in the past. However, you can literally write anything you like into your journal 😃
Stock up on snacks & keep the hot drinks ready 🖋 Sometimes you just crave FOOD while writing, because let’s face it writing is hard and the writer requires food to function. If you’re busy having a meal plan for the week is a great ideas, as is meal prepping and having some snacks at the ready, that you can easily eat. I personally live on coffee, tea, hot chocolate and any snacks I’m craving at the moment (chocolate is always good).
Plan ahead 🖋 There are so people who are going into NaNo very spontaneously and don’t have a plot ready but do yourself a favor and have some kind of plan. Some people know how to write plotless, but if you’re not like this have at least a bit of an outline & all your characters and their world ready to go! It helps you not stress out halfway through the month when you find out that you’ve no idea what’s going on
Find your writing time & space 🖋 To write you need to be in a comfortable environment (tell roommates or parents to not disturb you during writing time!) without any distractions. It’s also wise to figure out when you write the best/most productive! I know that I write best in the afternoon, as I’m pretty much useless in the morning and often feel pressured writing in the evening, as the day is already almost over.
Schedule writing time 🖋 This is extremely important when you’re busy during NaNo and don’t have a lot of time like I do. You can still do it, but know when you’ll have time to write and how long you’ll need for the daily word goal. Stick to those times as best as you can! Make sure that you have all those important happenings in your calendar so you know at which days you won’t have much time for writing because there’s an event happening. Also try to figure out when you’ll write on days that are always busy.
Tell everyone that you’re doing NaNo 🖋 because the more you talk about it and spread the word the least likely you are to opt out of NaNo last-minute. When everyone knows about your little project they’ll come around asking some time and how embarrassing would it be to tell everyone that you quit? This theory works on pressure but is very effective! And maybe those people will even cheer you on!
Find some writing buddies & participate in word sprints 🖋 Either through Twitter or the NaNo site itself and their forum. There’s a writing buddy thread where you can introduce yourself and get in contact with other fellow writers in need of a writing buddy. I had some really nice chats the last years and having a fellow writer to talk to really helps! What especially helps me is following the NaNo word sprints on Twitter and participating in the sprints, when I’m struggling a bit. Just writing with others is a good way to get me back on track!
Get yourself into NaNo mood 🖋 I always print some motivational NaNo stuff and set a NaNo inspired wallpaper as my laptop background to get myself into the mood! You can also talk about NaNo on your social media and blog!
More amazing NaNo Tips
- How I won NaNoWriMo (tips and tricks) by drizzleandhurricanebooks
- How to set aside time for your WIP by readingeverynight
- My NaNoWriMo strategy by thatbookgal
- The NaNoWriMo Self Care and Survival Guide & Tips for writing a novel for busy people by sophiexli
- NaNoWriMo Tips 2018 edition by englishficionary
- NaNoWriMo Tips by maraiscarin
- NaNoWriMo Writing Tips by deborahocarroll
- NaNoWriMo Tips by sjsmithsite
- Tips for NaNoWriMo by weirdzeal
Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? If so, what are you top NaNo Tips? 🖋
The Bookcheshire Cat 
I love this post! I’ve done NaNo for the same amount of years as you, I believe, but I’ve only ever managed to finish anything the first year. It was fun and I had nothing planned out whatsoever. I thought I could do the same in the following years, but it turns out that every book has different needs and you can’t go into certain stories without a bit more of planning. Oh well, lovely post! Great advice!! I wish you all the best for your witches 😉 ❤
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Thank you so much! 💗 That’s certainly true, some stories have different needs than others! I have kind of worked on the same story for all that time, just in different versions and now it has reached the most advanced version, if that makes sense 😄 Thank you, Kat!! Hopefully me and my witches will make it this year 😄💗
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It totally makes sense! I am so excited to maybe one day get to read your story 😀
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These are fantastic tips, Caro, thank you for sharing them and for sharing my post as well, you’re so sweet! ❤ It's incredible that you've been doing NaNo for so long. I also try to schedule some writing time during NaNo and to tell some people I am doing it, just to keep me… accountable and to have people screaming at me when I should be writing, too, hahahaha. 🙂
Happy writing and best of luck for your story! ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked the tips (and always happd to share your posts!) 💕 I couldn’t believe it has been so long when I looked it up, it seemed like only yesterday when I started 😅 It definitely works the best to make people aware what you’re doing, as sometimes they will even ask about it 😄
Thank you so much Marie!! 💕💗
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Thanks for linking to my post! This is a really wonderful and helpful list – I definitely agree with all of your points! Particularly the one about stocking up on snacks and hot drinks 😉 I’ve been steadily working my way through my tea box since the start of the month. I hope NaNo has been going well for you so far, and good luck with the rest of the month!
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You’re welcome 😊 I live on snacks and hot drinks when it comes to NaNo 😄 But a tea box sounds amazing, I love tea so much and have recently treated myself to a new type of tea 😍 Thank you, I wish you all the best for the remaining NaNo as well! 🙂
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Wow you really are a NaNo veteran Caro! 😀 I’ll wish you luck for this year around, and these are all great tips as well.
I tried planning in October, but it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped so now while writing the beginning of the WIP I’m trying to plan the end of my WIP at the same time (and keep up with blogging and commenting, and sorting out everything else I have going on in my life). Scheduling is also really important, I’ve set myself a time each day where if I don’t get any writing done at another time throughout the day that will be my writing time (it’s nine until ten in the evening, I’m a night owl so I get my best writing done at night).
Thanks so much for featuring my post, and again good luck with NaNo and your WIP. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you so much, Beth! 😊 I’m truly a NaNo veteran now, it only feels like yesterday when I first did NaNo 😂
That’s actually really impressive! I don’t think I could do that, as I need to have everything planned right in the beginning so things work out for me 😅 (but keeping up with everything is quite hard during NaNo, something I’m especially feeling this year)
It’s truly so important to have a writing time! 🙂 I’m usually writing between 2 and 5, but lately I have been trying to use the morning for writing too (even though I’m so not a morning person), because it’s very relaxing to have done the day’s work early 😄
Always happy to share and thank you so much, all the best luck to you too! 💗💕
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Awesome post Caro 🙂 I love all the tips that you mentioned here. I like that you recommend using a journal to document our progress! I keep a very simple one where I track my word count for the day, and I write down encouraging comments like “Great job! Keep it up!” when I am able to reach my word count (in place of stickers hahaha XD)
Thank you for linking to my post. I added you as a writing buddy (I’m portabelloxoxo by the way haha, in case you were wondering who that was!) Here’s to a great Nano! 😀
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Thank you so much, I’m glad that you enjoyed the tips! 😊 Ohh writing encourgament is a super sweet and nice way to reward and motivate yourself, that I haven’t even thought of! I usually keep my journal pretty simple too, as I don’t have time to make it look all fancy 😅
Always happy to share! Yees, you’re doing so well, I’m very impressed!! 💕 We can do it! 🙂
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Lovely post, Caro! These are really wonderful helpful tips! Thank you sharing 😊💕
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Thank you so much, I’m glad I could help!! 😊💕
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