How to Prepare for Nanowrimo.
As Nanowrimo approaches in a little under 24 hours-eek! - here are some last-minute tips that I’d like to offer my fellow Wrimos in anticipation of The Big Day.
♥ Write from the heart. And by that, I don't mean unleash a messy, tear-stained, heart-wrenching sob story onto the unsuspecting blank pages of your word processor. (Although you can write a sob story if you want.) What I mean is: write as who you are, using the voice that feels the most natural to you, about things that you have personally experienced. In other words, make this story truly yours.
If you're still struggling with finding what to write about this year, look back at your life so far. What have been some things that you have struggled through, or pondered at length, or have been really disturbed by? Find a way to transform that into social commentary. Any oddball or embarrassing memories? Use it for the basis of a comedy. And don't feel limited to writing stories set in reality. The same principles can be applied to sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, etc.
Find ways to incorporate emotions too. Ever felt the sting of jealousy? The bitterness of a betrayal? The elation of a victory? The swell of comfort and encouragement of knowing you have the support of a loyal friend? Have your characters wrestle with them, be overcome by them, triumph over them.
[Adapted from my previous post here.]
♥ Outline your novel. It doesn’t have to be extensive, or incredibly detailed. Even just a general break-down of your plot will do. Just have something to steer and guide you through your story, so that come writing time you’re actually focused on writing and not stressing out liek whoa over what to write about.
♥ Find your writing space. Every writer works best in different environments. Some prefer to seclude themselves, avoiding anything that may possibly distract them. Others prefer bustle and background noise and lots of people. Figure out what sort of environment you work the most productively in, and stick to it!
For the more hermity Wrimos, I suggest trying out local public libraries. (Some may even have extended hours just for Nanowrimo!) For those who may otherwise go crazy in such a silent environment, seek out local cafes, bookstores, or a friend’s apartment. You can always stay at home too, if you need to be comfortable.
♥ Compile a writing playlist. If you’re like me and need music playing in the background in order to be productive, create a playlist of the tunes you find most conducive to writing. It can be anything, really! Some of my friends find that they work best when they listen to their favorite upbeat jams. I, on the other hand, can only write with instrumental music pumping through my headphones. Whatever gets you "in the zone" and writing.
Some of my favorites in the past have been film scores:
- Inception (really dramatic, but seriously zones me in like no other)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Pride & Prejudice (2005)
- Never Let Me Go
- Jane Eyre (2011)
- Emma (1996 & 2009)
- Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Recently, however, I was introduced to this amazing sub-genre of music called post-rock (I know, I know, shameful that it's been around for a while and yet I've only just heard about it) and I can't seem to get enough of it. I have a feeling that I'll be listening to a lot of stuff by God is An Astronaut in the next few weeks...
If you haven't had time to shop for new music, fear not! There are (legitimately legal) ways to get a hold of music for free. Spotify, for one, has been a favorite of mine recently. There is also Pandora, which some of my friends love.
♥ Find writing buddies. Do you have friends who are doing Nanowrimo as well? Band together! Be each other’s sources of support and accountability. Go to cafes together, or take turns hosting each other for daily write-ins. Or if you guys prefer to work independently of each other, check in every few days-via e-mail, text, chat, phone, in person-to see how each other is doing. The camaraderie will help boost your productivity and energy. And you won’t feel so alone, and perhaps more prone to despair.
If, alas, you find yourself without a writerly friend, check out the regional listings for a local write-in. Consider stopping by for a few minutes-or hours-to meet and write with fellow wrimos from your area.
♥ Stock up on essentials. Writing by hand? Stock up on paper and pens/pencils! Need coffee and tea to keep you going? Make sure you have plenty in your pantry! Prone to the seasonal chill? Have clean socks on hand, as well as blankets, sweaters, or fingerless mittens.
♥ Assemble an emergency kit. While I hope that no wrimo will suffer a melt down, it’s always best to be prepared. Keep a box full of nice things: pictures of fuzzy kittens, chocolate bars, stress balls, a shock blanket, a few episodes of your favorite TV shows. Or compile something virtually, like a collection of inspiring quotes. In the past, I’ve kept a list of reminders on hand to look over when I needed a perspective correction or something to knock me out of self-pity.
♥ Maintain thy well-being! In the rush to make the daily word quota, it’s quite easy to lose track of life, or to neglect one’s well-being. While I’m all up for writing fast and efficiently, I also believe in not compromising one's health. Make sure to take regular breaks. I recommend getting up every hour to stretch or walk around. Also, eat healthy! Don’t lapse into the typical collegian’s diet of junk food, fast food, and soda. It’s quick and cheap, but it’ll burn you out in the long run. Stick to fresh produce and balanced meals. Take vitamins. STAY HYDRATED. (And no, coffee and tea are not options here. They’ll dry you out of you don’t take in enough water.) And for goodness sake, get out of the house! Get some fresh air! Taking brisk walks or bike rides around the neighborhood will recharge and refresh the mind, and gets the blood-and creativity-flowing.
Also, don’t neglect your responsibilities! Pay the bills. Do the dishes. Clean up after yourself. Go to school. Take your exams. Show up for work. Feed the dog. If certain commitments conflict with your writing time, see if you can rearrange your schedule to accommodate both.
♥ Stay inspired. Keep sensory queues-like pictures, screencaps, music, etc.-close at hand for reference. Write an encouraging letter to yourself right now, and read it later on whenever you feel worn out or in need of a push. Take a 15-minute breather by reading from a favorite book. Listen to insightful reflections like this commencement speech by Neil Gaiman.
♥ Just write! (And have fun!) We all want to write good prose, and we all want to be good writers, and we all want to create stories that are exciting and cool and not too cringe-worthy so that we can actually share them with our friends; but at the end of the day Nanowrimo isn’t about writing well or even writing a lot-it’s about WRITING. Write. Just write. Keep on writing. Accept that what you’re writing will not be your best. And that’s okay. That’s what rewriting is for. For the moment, JUST WRITE.
And hey, remember to have fun! Don’t take this too seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Just let go and have fun! Enjoy the madness that is Nanowrimo, and see where your creativity takes you.
Write on!
Jennifer
♥ Write from the heart. And by that, I don't mean unleash a messy, tear-stained, heart-wrenching sob story onto the unsuspecting blank pages of your word processor. (Although you can write a sob story if you want.) What I mean is: write as who you are, using the voice that feels the most natural to you, about things that you have personally experienced. In other words, make this story truly yours.
If you're still struggling with finding what to write about this year, look back at your life so far. What have been some things that you have struggled through, or pondered at length, or have been really disturbed by? Find a way to transform that into social commentary. Any oddball or embarrassing memories? Use it for the basis of a comedy. And don't feel limited to writing stories set in reality. The same principles can be applied to sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, etc.
Find ways to incorporate emotions too. Ever felt the sting of jealousy? The bitterness of a betrayal? The elation of a victory? The swell of comfort and encouragement of knowing you have the support of a loyal friend? Have your characters wrestle with them, be overcome by them, triumph over them.
[Adapted from my previous post here.]
♥ Outline your novel. It doesn’t have to be extensive, or incredibly detailed. Even just a general break-down of your plot will do. Just have something to steer and guide you through your story, so that come writing time you’re actually focused on writing and not stressing out liek whoa over what to write about.
♥ Find your writing space. Every writer works best in different environments. Some prefer to seclude themselves, avoiding anything that may possibly distract them. Others prefer bustle and background noise and lots of people. Figure out what sort of environment you work the most productively in, and stick to it!
For the more hermity Wrimos, I suggest trying out local public libraries. (Some may even have extended hours just for Nanowrimo!) For those who may otherwise go crazy in such a silent environment, seek out local cafes, bookstores, or a friend’s apartment. You can always stay at home too, if you need to be comfortable.
♥ Compile a writing playlist. If you’re like me and need music playing in the background in order to be productive, create a playlist of the tunes you find most conducive to writing. It can be anything, really! Some of my friends find that they work best when they listen to their favorite upbeat jams. I, on the other hand, can only write with instrumental music pumping through my headphones. Whatever gets you "in the zone" and writing.
Some of my favorites in the past have been film scores:
- Inception (really dramatic, but seriously zones me in like no other)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Pride & Prejudice (2005)
- Never Let Me Go
- Jane Eyre (2011)
- Emma (1996 & 2009)
- Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Recently, however, I was introduced to this amazing sub-genre of music called post-rock (I know, I know, shameful that it's been around for a while and yet I've only just heard about it) and I can't seem to get enough of it. I have a feeling that I'll be listening to a lot of stuff by God is An Astronaut in the next few weeks...
If you haven't had time to shop for new music, fear not! There are (legitimately legal) ways to get a hold of music for free. Spotify, for one, has been a favorite of mine recently. There is also Pandora, which some of my friends love.
♥ Find writing buddies. Do you have friends who are doing Nanowrimo as well? Band together! Be each other’s sources of support and accountability. Go to cafes together, or take turns hosting each other for daily write-ins. Or if you guys prefer to work independently of each other, check in every few days-via e-mail, text, chat, phone, in person-to see how each other is doing. The camaraderie will help boost your productivity and energy. And you won’t feel so alone, and perhaps more prone to despair.
If, alas, you find yourself without a writerly friend, check out the regional listings for a local write-in. Consider stopping by for a few minutes-or hours-to meet and write with fellow wrimos from your area.
♥ Stock up on essentials. Writing by hand? Stock up on paper and pens/pencils! Need coffee and tea to keep you going? Make sure you have plenty in your pantry! Prone to the seasonal chill? Have clean socks on hand, as well as blankets, sweaters, or fingerless mittens.
♥ Assemble an emergency kit. While I hope that no wrimo will suffer a melt down, it’s always best to be prepared. Keep a box full of nice things: pictures of fuzzy kittens, chocolate bars, stress balls, a shock blanket, a few episodes of your favorite TV shows. Or compile something virtually, like a collection of inspiring quotes. In the past, I’ve kept a list of reminders on hand to look over when I needed a perspective correction or something to knock me out of self-pity.
♥ Maintain thy well-being! In the rush to make the daily word quota, it’s quite easy to lose track of life, or to neglect one’s well-being. While I’m all up for writing fast and efficiently, I also believe in not compromising one's health. Make sure to take regular breaks. I recommend getting up every hour to stretch or walk around. Also, eat healthy! Don’t lapse into the typical collegian’s diet of junk food, fast food, and soda. It’s quick and cheap, but it’ll burn you out in the long run. Stick to fresh produce and balanced meals. Take vitamins. STAY HYDRATED. (And no, coffee and tea are not options here. They’ll dry you out of you don’t take in enough water.) And for goodness sake, get out of the house! Get some fresh air! Taking brisk walks or bike rides around the neighborhood will recharge and refresh the mind, and gets the blood-and creativity-flowing.
Also, don’t neglect your responsibilities! Pay the bills. Do the dishes. Clean up after yourself. Go to school. Take your exams. Show up for work. Feed the dog. If certain commitments conflict with your writing time, see if you can rearrange your schedule to accommodate both.
♥ Stay inspired. Keep sensory queues-like pictures, screencaps, music, etc.-close at hand for reference. Write an encouraging letter to yourself right now, and read it later on whenever you feel worn out or in need of a push. Take a 15-minute breather by reading from a favorite book. Listen to insightful reflections like this commencement speech by Neil Gaiman.
♥ Just write! (And have fun!) We all want to write good prose, and we all want to be good writers, and we all want to create stories that are exciting and cool and not too cringe-worthy so that we can actually share them with our friends; but at the end of the day Nanowrimo isn’t about writing well or even writing a lot-it’s about WRITING. Write. Just write. Keep on writing. Accept that what you’re writing will not be your best. And that’s okay. That’s what rewriting is for. For the moment, JUST WRITE.
And hey, remember to have fun! Don’t take this too seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Just let go and have fun! Enjoy the madness that is Nanowrimo, and see where your creativity takes you.
Write on!
Jennifer