How to Survive + Conquer NaNoWriMo

Want to know the secret to winning NaNoWriMo? Are you ready? Here's the secret, my friends: get ready to write like crazy. 

So what is NaNoWriMo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month and takes place the month of November, when crazy writer kids get together and try to write their novels. A whole novel. 50,000 words to be exact. Guess who happens to be a crazy writer kid?

Last year, I loosely participated in NaNoWriMo with a group of my writer friends, but it fell at an odd time for me. Because I was nearly finished with my first novel, These Are the Moments, I had trouble reaching my word counts.

But this year, everything changes. Not only am I taking #TATM2 to NaNoWriMo—Lord, help me—but I'm taking you with me. This year, I'm hosting an exclusive NaNoWriMo community, and you're invited. Scroll to the bottom of this post to sign up!

Are you up for the challenge? We need a game plan, folks. I've got three tips on how to survive NaNoWriMo, coming at ya':

Kiss the Delete Key Goodbye

50,000 words, people. And every single one of them counts. I'm a big believer in  writing sprints, so much so that it's my number one writing secret to writing faster. The key to making your word counts is to let your mind wander.

I'll be honest with you: I'm not the best at being totally edit-free, but with practice, I've learned to write through my mental editing. So, goodbye delete key, who needs you anyway?

For stratey, try reading:Why You Should Write Your Novel on Paper.

Be Distraction-Free

"Oh look, a tweet!" How often do you find yourself clicking through apps when you've promised yourself you'd write? We spend so much time wasting time that writing takes twice the time.

Let's break this down, shall we? For NaNoWriMo, you need to write 1,666 words a day. When sprinting, I can write 1,000 words in thirty minutes. That's around 45 minutes of unlocked writing time a day! But add in Twitter? And I'm done.

How do we fix this? Here are some helpful hints:

1. Find your ideal writing space. Do you need absolute silence? Do you write at a desk? Find what makes you most productive!
2. Download a distraction-free software.
3. Turn off your WiFi. (I know you're scared. Trust me.)
4. Schedule your social media ahead of time.
5. Leave your phone in the other room.

Plan Ahead

The most important part of how to survive NaNoWriMo is preparation. I'm talking a whole lotta coffee. When it comes to NaNo prep, this involves at least a small degree of outlining.

A few things you should know before you jump into November:

1. The general plot. When November 1st rolls around, you don't want to be choosing between two story ideas. Unless you think you can write 100,000 words.
2. Your main character. Or a character, at least. Don't worry about names, just know what he/she is all about.
3. A few scenes. 1,666 can add up really fast, especially when you don't have a scene idea. Save yourself the trouble and keep a list of scenes you want to write as a reference.

Remember, NaNoWriMo is a marathon. You don't just wake up one morning and say, "I think I'll go run a 5k today." You train. You practice. Take this same principle to NaNo.

How to Make Time to Write

Dear reader,

My name is Jenny Bravo. I'm twenty-three. My daily life consists of eight-hour work days, cooking, working out and writing. this. book. And you know what? That's about it.

Disclaimer: I can't  complain. Why? Because I don't have children to feed or a husband to talk to or soccer practice or parent teacher conferences or any of those things. I have me. And somehow, I still have to work hard to make time to write. Goodness, how do you moms do it?

Here's the thing, though: being an adult requires practicality, and writing/singing/art in general is the least practical, most important thing that we can do. If you're lucky enough to write full time, then you are amazing. Bravo, you! (Not that more time makes writing any less difficult. Because, it doesn't.)

If you're like me, and have a limited window of writing time, then we need strategy. We need to prioritize, organize, plan, plot. Basically, we have to TOTALLY go against our nature to make time to write. Sounds fun, right? Let's get started.

Take advantage of every spare moment.

We're creative. It comes with the territory. So, we need to get creative with our time. Maybe you're a morning person (more power to you). Try waking up thirty minutes early, fifteen even. Then write as much as you can in that set time.

Maybe you're a night person. Put yourself to bed thirty minutes early. Write for thirty minutes until you fall asleep. ADVANCED MOVE: Write on your lunch break. This is my newest strategy. With an hour for lunch, I could knock out about 2,000 words. Try this, once or twice a week. Let me know if it works for you!

Word Sprint.

With time restraints, we can't afford writer's block. We don't have the luxury of fumbling around until we find the words. WE NEED WORDS, NOW! Did that sound authoritative? Good. Word sprints are every writer's best kept secret. Set a timer: 30 minutes? 15? Even 10! Then get writing.

As many words as possible without editing, without stopping. You'll be AMAZED at how this unlocks all the words you've been hoarding. I can write about 1,000 words in thirty minutes. If I do that three times a day, imagine the possibility! (NOTE: I do not do this three times a day. Yet.)

Hide your phone, hide your TV.

I'll admit it. After work, I just want to lounge around and not use my brain. But there comes a point where my book is calling and I have to answer it, of course. But I want to talk to my friends on Twitter. And I want to see all those cute coffee pins on Pinterest. And I need to blog. And and and…. the excuses keep on coming.

Are you sitting down? I'm about to lay some serious knowledge on you. READY? Do you know how much writing you can get done, simply by writing? I know. Mind-boggling. Sometimes, when I have my phone in my hand and I'm watching some stupid reality show and I have my WIP up on my screen, I have the audacity to say, "Yeah. I'm writing." NO. Give your writing your full attention. Make time to write, and write only. Just for a small portion of your day. Watch how much you'll get done!

Take Home Work: Read six strategies here, read seventeen ways here and read this hilarious post here.

DISCUSSION TOPIC: Okay, these ideas are great for writing. You will see results and words this way. But how about editing? groans groans groans. How do we make time to edit? Comment below. Let's get the ideas in motion!

How to Write in Coffee Shops

First, a story. Once upon a time, in a television show called Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw wrote salacious advice columns in her cute New York City apartment, that she couldn't possibly afford IRL.

Until one day, in one particular episode, she's forced to flee to premises to work at a Starbucks while her boyfriend Aidan fixes up her apartment like the perfect boyfriend that he is. Anyway. The point is, Carrie comments that people writing in coffee shops are phonies.

I CALL BULL.

Writers don't have to write in coffee shops, of course. They also don't need to drink tea/coffee, quote Shakespeare, go to poetry readings or play Quidditch. There isn't a writer initiation, thank goodness. Writers write. That's the only rule.

Maybe you're the type of writer who needs complete silence. Maybe you blare music. Maybe you even watch TV shows as background noise (guilty). Whatever works for you, do that. Writing is hard enough. But, there are benefits to coffee-shop writing, so if you're looking to branch out, I've got a few tips! 

People-Watch

Ok, so this doesn't technically fall under "how to write in coffee shops." More like "how to stalk in coffee shops." Still. People-watching is a writer's secret weapon of inspiration. Write that down. Here are a few ideas of things worth your attention:

1. Interactions. How do the people around you treat one another? Are they friendly? Are they cautious?
2. Conversations. Okay, tread lightly here. This is a tad violating, but it's beneficial to observe how people talk to each other.
3. Activity. What's happening around you? Coffee spills? Study groups?

You will be amazed at the kind of people you'll see, the kind of conversations you'll accidentally-on-purpose overhear. Trust me, you'll be hammering away at the keys in no time.

The Barista is Your Best Friend

Say you find your favorite coffee shop. Say you find your favorite chair in your favorite coffee shop. You know, the one with the perfect lighting and easy access to a wall plug? These are all good things. But let's not forget the one who holds all the cards here, my friend. The barista.

I like to make friends with baristas because a) they're awesome and b) they start to remember my order and that's the dream. Tip your baristas. They're the ones in charge of the thermostat.

Bring Headphones, Even if You're Not Listening to Anything

Here's a productivity secret for you. If you plan on listening to music, by all means, this is an excellent way to go about that. If not, wearing headphones can isolate you a little bit. Jenny, do you want me to be a loner? Yes. Yes, I do.

Think of it as tricking your mind. By cutting yourself off from the other people around you, even in just a small way, you can tap into your own mind a lot easier. Try this: point at the nearest coffee person and say you don't exist. Just kidding. Don't do that. Too late? Oops.

Discussion Time: What are your coffee shop techniques? Where's your favorite writing spot? 

The Best Notebooks for Writers

The Best Notebooks for Writers

Confession: I'm a notebook hoarder. I buy notebooks for both functionality and you know, if they're pretty, and I keep them stacked with my books. Lately, I've been writing everything by hand. So I'm breezing through my stockpile. And also icing my hand, because well, you get it.

Every writer has a different strategy. I'm definitely not here to tell you what's the "best" way, because that just doesn't exist. But if you're looking for ideas, here's a good list of the types of notebooks to keep:

Writing Notebook

I mean, this is pretty obvious right? This is where I keep my scenes, where I brainstorm, where I keep all my story stuff in one place. This might just be the most important of the best notebooks for writers, because it's where the magic happens.

Idea Journal

I'm always getting these different "what if's" and "if only's" that I need to write down or else they're gone forever. My brain works like that. If I don't write it down immediately, it's gone forever. Half of my story comes from these jotted down ideas, and it's important to keep them all gathered in one place.

Normal Journal

I've kept a diary (on and off) since I was nine or ten. Again, if I don't write things down, then I won't remember them. And the last thing I want to forget is my own life, am I right? If you're one of those people who can keep a daily journal - like my good pal, Emma Watson - then more power to you. There are all sorts of ideas that can stem from your own observations.

FreeWrite Journal

This is where you just write down everything and anything, no matter how crazy it is. You just sit there, and log your time or your word count, depending on how you work best. It's amazing what you can come up with when you just allow yourself the time.

Ok, I hope this post was helpful. I won't lie to you. I'm half-sleeping as I write this, which if you think about it, just proves how awesome I think you are. Right? Right.

For more of my crazy ramblings, subscribe to the monthly Blots & Plots newsletter!

New Year, New Ink

photo copy 2

So about that novel… how's it coming? It's a new year everybody! Let's ring it in with pens in hand! Let me start by saying that traditionally, I don't believe in resolutions. By their nature, I feel like they're just set up for failure. I like to think of them more as goals. For instance, don't say "I'm going to lose weight this year," but instead say, "I'm going to get a gym membership. I'm going to eat less cake for breakfast." Things like that. Plans of attack, my friends. And a whole lot less cake.

So without further ado, I'm going to break some of my rules here and make my own somewhat lofty, somewhat concrete writing resolutions:

Writing Resolutions

So these may seem like the "I wanna lose weight" instead of the "Gym membership" example, but I think it's good to start big and narrow them down from there.

How is your New Year going? Keeping up with writing? I encourage you to create your own writing resolutions today! Feel free to share in the comments!