nanowrimo

[lizziebelle]

So, I've been thinking about doing NaNoWriMo this year. I attempted it once before, a few years ago, and didn't finish but it was good practice.

I have the time, I have the story, I just need the discipline. Depression has been kicking me in the arse lately, so a daily discipline would be a good thing, I think.

Any advice from those of you who've done it before? Helpful hints would be appreciated! Wish me luck!

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I have attempted it several times and the best I ever achieved as about 4 years ago when I produced 30k words on a brand new novel.

However, though I've never "won" NaNo, I have used it to boost my writing productivity by setting my own mini-NaNo goal.

You know your current energy levels and state of mind, but if you find that 1667 words per day is too demanding, do a half or quarter NaNo instead.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm not looking to "win," just use it as a tool to get writing. I'd be happy with half. :)

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

What helped me complete it the one time I tried (2012) was using Evernote as the app for writing. Since it syncs across all my devices (iphone, touch, Mac, PC) plus is available via web browser from any computer I always had it available to add a paragraph or two wherever I was with a little time on my hands.

The hardest part for me was to keep reminding myself NOT to try to edit anything I just wrote! If you want to make 50K the rule is "never erase, never go back and amend". This was so hard for me that I had to allow myself to use "strikeout" to draw a line through words *only in a sentence I just typed* if I wanted to type different words.

Also for the 50K goal:

- type out all numbers etc "Twenty Three" not "23"
- Adjectives are your word-count friend. You will be editing later anyway so don't worry if you use the same adjective twice in close proximity (or if you see that, do the strikeout and add a different one)
- NEVER ERASE anything you've written >;-0

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

Also, when I wrote I didn't keep it in all one file, just in case I fat-fingered something and lost it all! I wrote in blocks that I retained as separate files, and then copy/pasted into one large document that was just used to count the words to see how I was doing. Here's a screen shot of my NaNoWriMo Evernote folder:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2320179/nanoevernote.jpg

I recommend this method (plus keeping copies in various places) no matter what app you use for writing. Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

What helps me is not trying to cram all the words of the day into one writing session. I write a little bit here, a little bit there. It adds up.

Keeping the story as the guiding light, and not the number of words that need to be written, helps, too, I've found.

I'm waving ::pom poms: for you! Go! Go! Go!

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm trying not to get bogged down by word count. I'm more into getting a scene down than getting a certain number of words. :)