Five Tips for Making It Through NaNoWriMo
The last two days of National Novel Writing Month are upon us. How do you plan on getting your final words in? If you’re like me, you’re frantically writing to finish your word goal. Just remember whether you’ve written ten words or the full 50,000, you’re ending the month with more written than you started with. That’s the most important thing. Here are a few tips to get you through the last 48 hours of NaNoWriMo.
Good Music
Your writing soundtrack is very important. It needs to be something that helps you dive into your novel. By this point, you hopefully have a go-to playlist filled with songs that help inspire you to write. If not, go to your favorite streaming service and search for writing music. There are tons of writing playlists on Spotify, which is what I personally use. A good soundtrack sets the mood for your writing time.
Comfy Clothes
Put on your most comfortable clothes. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable and not fighting with your own clothes. I love to write in my Princess Leia onesie because it’s the softest thing that I own and it reminds me to write about strong characters. Do your Hogwarts robes make you feel inspired? Wear them. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy.
Key Tactic: Hydration
Make sure that you stay hydrated. I recommend keeping a full bottle of water next to you at all times. If you stop typing to think about what comes next, make sure that you take a sip of water. Tea always helps me get into the writing mood. I always think of cold weather and warm drinks when I think about writing, which is probably something to do with how many cold Novembers I’ve spent frantically trying to complete NaNoWriMo. Tea is a great source of hydration, provides a small caffeine boost, and helps set the mood for your writing time.
Take Breaks
During the last week of NaNoWriMo, I tend to push myself when I’m writing. It’s normally my busy time at work, so during the hour or so of free time I have to write, I push myself to do as much as possible, and then I feel stressed and unhappy with what I actually end up writing. Remember that it’s important to take breaks from writing your novel. Set an alarm. Get up and walk around. Make some food. Your novel will thank you, and maybe changing your location for a few minutes will help inspire you.
Find the Time
The last day of NaNoWriMo is a Monday this year. This means that many of us will be spending our day at work instead of at home writing. Do you get a lunch break? Write then. Do you have time for a bathroom or water break? Pull out your phone or a piece of paper and get a paragraph written. You can write a lot in five minutes. After you get out of work, make sure that you find some time to set aside for writing. Write wherever and whenever you can.
Do you have any tips to help your fellow NaNoWriMo participants hit their final word goals? Let us know in the comments.
