Fast fiction

How to Write a Novel in 30 Days

The NaNoWriMo tradition

Noveling isn’t for everyone. It takes a set of specific attributes to be able to write a novel within a month. Basically, you need to be fast, productive and have a high word-per-minute count. Unless you’ve been training for this your whole life, it might seem like an impossible feat. But with the right tools and techniques, you can do it.

Here are the basics of how to write a novel in 30 days using the principles of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). These tips are designed to get your mind in the correct headspace so that when November comes around, you’ll be ready to tackle this massive undertaking.

Decide on a genre and premise before the month begins.

This is the most important decision of the entire process. You need to know what type of novel you’re going to be writing when you start. This will inform all of your other decisions throughout the process, so it’s important to get this right.

You can decide on a genre based on what you’ve written before. Or, if you don’t have any prior experience with creative writing, pick a genre that you’re really interested in. You can always switch it up if it doesn’t work out.

The second decision you need to make before November begins is your premise. Your novel’s premise is the underlying concept, or general idea, of your story. It’s the big question that you’re trying to answer through your novel. Try to keep it simple. Pick a premise that is easily understood and relatable to a wide audience. It should be something that you’re personally passionate about as well.

Morning ritual

A morning ritual can help set yourself up for a productive day. But, it can also help get you into the right headspace to write your novel. During the month of November, instead of writing your normal morning ritual, focus on getting yourself ready to write your novel.

What does this look like? Anything that will help you get yourself into a productive state of mind. Some people prefer a certain drink to set the tone, or a certain song to get them in the mood. Others prefer to meditate or journal to clear their mind before beginning their writing day. Whatever works for you is what you should do. Just make sure that you do it every single day, without fail. This is crucial to getting yourself ready to write a novel in just one month.

Pick your writing tools

This may sound silly, but it’s important to pick the writing tools that you’ll use for this project ahead of time. This will help you to avoid unnecessary distractions and keep you on task. You have two main options here: choose one or a combination of both. It all depends on what works best for you.

Journaling — Journaling is an excellent tool for helping you organize your thoughts and channel your creativity. This is important when writing your novel because you’ll need a lot of both to reach your goal. While you can journal on paper, many people prefer to do it digitally. There are a variety of journaling apps available, so you can pick whichever one works best for you. Neil Gaiman uses a Moleskine and a Lamy 2000 fountain pen; why argue with success?

Computer — A lot of people prefer to write on their computer. This is because it offers a lot of flexibility, both as a writing tool and as a way to organize your novel’s content. Computers are great for easily reorganising your content as you go to help you stay on track. They’re also great for using word-counting software to keep you on task. Me, I use Scrivener. If I want to write notes or character outlines or rearrange my chapters or just copy and paste a map or an image, Scrivener swallows it all. Or I can focus on nothing but a blank screen to pour the words out onto.

Establish a rhythm

There are a couple of ways you can achieve this, but the general idea is the same: start writing with momentum. During this month, you should be writing every single day. You don’t want to take days off, because you’ll lose your momentum. Plus, during National Novel Writing Month, there is no time off. Every day is an important day, and every word you write counts.

So, you want to establish a rhythm that you can grow in and expand off of every day. There are a few different ways you can do this. You could pick one or two days that you write the most and make those your regular writing days. Or, you could schedule a certain amount of words each day and try to stay consistent.

Networking is key during this month, so connect early!

This sounds weird and unromantic, but it’s important. Start building your networks now. Get to know the NaNoWriMo regional leaders early. They are the perfect people to reach out to for this month. You can even use the forums to create your own little writing groups.

Find a writing partner and vow to help each other reach your word count goals. Having someone to turn to in times of doubt or indecision will help you stay focused and get more done. It’s also a great way to make new friends and talk to people who are going through the same thing you are. They can offer advice and help you stay motivated throughout the month. And, you can do the same for them.

Don’t be afraid to ditch things that aren’t working.

This is probably the most difficult thing to do during this month. But, it’s necessary if you want to be successful. There will be times when you hit a roadblock. There will be times when you aren’t sure what to do next. There will be times when everything you write feels forced and terrible.

You have to be willing to ditch things as they become dead ends and don’t serve your story. You don’t have to follow a rigid outline and write everything that you’ve planned ahead of time. This month is not about having a masterfully crafted story. It’s about getting the words down on paper. It’s about getting a novel written.

Confidence is more important than skill level.

This is another difficult thing to do but also important. If you feel like your writing isn’t as good as it should be, you need to let that go. You need to tell yourself that your words are good enough. You need to trust your own instincts.

Don’t be hard on yourself if something doesn’t work out the first time. Or the second time. Or the third. Or the tenth. This is normal. Everyone has to go through this process, even the most experienced writers. If you have a section that isn’t flowing or a character that isn’t working, don’t be afraid to scrap it. It’s better to take a small loss and move on than to keep trying to force something that isn’t coming naturally.

Conclusion

Writing a novel in 30 days is a massive undertaking. But, it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a writer. It’s a great way to test your limits and expand your creativity. This is a serious commitment, but it’s also a lot of fun. And, at the end of the month, you’ll have a completed novel that you can be proud of. It’s a great way to establish yourself as a writer and gain some confidence in your own abilities.

Duncan Klein via Writesonic

The article is generated by AI. There’s literally a mountain of advice online. Surprise, surprise, people have written books about writing books at high speed. Like this one: No Plot? No Problem!

It’s all pretty much the same really:

• Plan before November
• Start writing on 1 November
• Don’t stop until 30 November
• Edit afterward

Fifty thousand words is all you need, that’s not even two thousand words a day and the quality doesn’t matter at all. Once you finish, that is one huge psychological hurdle leapt over; break out the bubbly.

What’s that? Yes, I thought the “Pick your tools” section was a little weak. I added a few lines. For the record, I use both a Lamy 2000 and Scrivener though not both at once, obvs.

My links above are affiliates. Buy a subscription through this link and Writesonic will flick me a couple of dollars. Use AI wisely; these things are not quite dependable enough to rule the world. Just ask Siri! Buy a fountain pen via Amazon likewise, but I’d actually prefer you visit your local pen and paper shop; those places are just full of writing love!

Carmellita gives us some things — meaty, crunchy, thoughtful bites — to chew on. Read the story, and then read it again with your mind awake.

Suma Narayan reviews a book of poetry. Yeah. a few words arranged artfully, you might say, I’ve read a million of them and I flip over the page.

Suma quotes a few and they are the very soul of poetry: a few lines encapsulating a moment in the heart, telling a tiny story with exquisite grace. This is a delight to read. Do it now!

Valorie Lasley gets more out of Quora than Medium. I know the feeling. Quora has short and pointy pieces. You are sure to find something you disagree with and let the writer know where they lurched off the rails. Or find something to agree with. Medium is more polished but banal pieces. Meh done nicely. Maybe I should start offending my readers. Thanks for loading me up with that idea, Valorie!