We’re in week four of NaNoWriMo, and that finish line is creeping closer as we speak. But… Will we make it? Here are some tips and tricks to survive the fourth week of NaNoWriMo.
- If you’re ahead, keep going
If you’re ahead of your targeted word count, congratulations! Now, keep going. No dilly-dallying, no focusing on other stuff, keep on writing! That you’re ahead doesn’t mean you’re there yet, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve failed right before the finish line, and I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. Be glad you’re ahead, but keep going, and don’t take any breaks until you’ve hit that marvellous finish line.
2. If you’re behind, time for a sprint
Years ago, NaNoWriMo’ers already started with word sprints, where you write as many words as you can in fifteen/twenty/thirty minutes, or even an hour, in an effort to get that word count up. Join other NaNo’ers for a word sprint or a word sprint weekend to get back on track. There’s power in numbers, and if you have other people participating too, it’ll be that much easier to reach your goal. Try the @NaNoWordSprints twitter account if you’re looking ofr other authors joining in the sprints too.
3. Keep on going, don’t give up
No matter how far you’re behind, now is not the time to give up. You’ve come this far already, don’t give up now. Even if you’ve only written 10k words so far, try for 15k. If you’ve only made it to 5k, push until you reach 10k words. You don’t have to reach that big 50k goal, any progress is progress, but now is not the time to give up.
4. If you’re getting bored, add more conflict
If your own book is starting to bore you, don’t worry, it’s perfectly natural. That’s mostly because you already know the grand resolution, the big ending that is going to tie it all together, and that takes away the tension for the author. A good way to get un-bored is by adding more conflict to your story, adding different layers, and overall, making the story more complex and intriguing. Find a way to fall in love with your story again.
5. Take it one day at a time
Don’t stress over NaNoWriMo too much. If you didn’t get your desired word count yesterday, don’t fret about it again today. Let it go, or the whole experience will have you more stressed out than anything else. Instead, focus on your progress, and be proud of any progress you’ve made so far.
I hope my tips were helpful to those of you participating in NaNoWriMo. Good luck, and see you at the finish line!
