Novel writing | Writing events | Creative writing

NaNoWriMo — What to Expect?

The worldwide novel writing event is just about to start again. How should you prepare?

For many of us, November is NaNoWriMo month — the time that authors worldwide attempt to write a novel of at least 50,000 in just one month. I say more about it here:

When I say novel, let’s be clear about one thing… people use this event any way they want. Some write novels, some short stories, some plays. Those who have a work in progress may use ‘NaNo’ as a prompt to get things finished or edited. There are no strict rules, but a lot of peer support.

Last time, I wrote many of the ‘Primatria’ game-stories that you can find on Medium:

Still, the initial idea is all about novels. And novels don’t write themselves. They take dedication, effort and (ideally) a bit of planning.

As such, if you want to succeed at NaNoWriMo (to ‘win’ as the event organisers call it), it makes some sense to use October to think ahead. Here are seven author tips to get you ready for the big push.

1. Get those word counts up.

When I first started NaNo, an important part of my prep was to count how many words I could write in an hour. Having figured that out, I reasoned, then getting 1666 in a day (every day for a month!) was just a matter of math.

It wasn’t quite that simple… But let’s face it — nobody has time to spend all day at the computer screen. And as time has moved on, I have honed my ability to write quickly and accurately, making use of rapid bursts of writing called sprints. I share my techniques here: Successful Writing Sprints.

2. Plan your setting

Is your novel-to-be set in a dark and gloomy future, a shiny and high tech space station, or a world of legends and subtle magic…? How do money and communication work in the setting? Are there key organisations and factions to know about? Is there an afterlife, and if so, how does it work?

For many writers, especially those working in the fantasy, post-apoc and sci-fi genres, these are critical questions. And help is at hand! Jay C Wells did a great job of outlining the world-building side of planning in a series of articles that you can find via this list: Jay’s Preptober Prompts.

3. Know your characters

According to legend, the maxim ‘Know thyself’ was carved into the Temple of Delphi, in the time of the Ancient Greeks. Well, in creative writing, perhaps the key maxim should be know thy characters. Character-driven fiction leaps off the page and grabs readers by the heart. It also excites agents and publishers.

Therefore, give some thought to who your characters are, and what they want. They need to feel real, not cardboard cutouts. Ulf Wolf explains their importance here, with many quotes from legendary writers. And as you begin to craft your NaNo cast, check out the following technique for sketching a character in words: What is a Pen Portrait?

4. Plot… or not!

Are you a plotter, carefully working out every detail of your novel’s intricate plot in advance? Or a ‘pantser’, flying by the seat of your pants, confident that the ending will reveal itself when you get there?

Some writers identify strongly with one extreme or the other. However, a compromise position is possible, and is sometimes known as PLANTSING. I’d recommend H.R. Parker’s reflection on moving from pantser to plantser: Embrace the Write Way: Transition from Pantser to Planster and Craft Novels with Precision.

5. It’s all about the words.

When you are in the thick of NaNo, you’ll be too busy hammering your keyboard to stop and think much about creative writing craft. All the more reason to pre-load with some insights during October!

Ulf Wolf has done a marvellous job of breaking down the nuts and bolts of writing. What makes some stories really sing, from the ideas down to the sentences? Check out Ulf’s stories on nouns, verbs and adjectives for starters.

6. Boundless ideas

You are going to need a lot of content to write an entire novel. Things can’t come easily to your protagonist, and the main character is going to need to be supported by a full cast, with settings and events galore.

To avoid things getting repetitive, you could really benefit from a writing prompt or two, sparking off your inherent creativity. And there are plenty to be found here on Medium! Check out this Writing Prompts category, with contributions from J.C. Lovero, John Fanidis, Jay C Wells and myself.

7. What if I get stuck?

It’s great when you start NaNo, of course, as with any new project. With nothing but potential to consider, the world is your oyster. You type away furiously, drink lots of caffeine, dreaming of writing the world’s most successful novel…

But then, whether it’s day 5, 10, or beyond, you’ll probably hit a rut. “I’m stuck! My story sucks!” That kind of thing…. It’s time to check out a great guide by Alec Zarenkiewicz: Helpful Techniques for Artists Who are Stuck.

Thanks for reading! As you can see from these examples, there are lots of useful stories about the craft of writing at The Fiction Writer’s Den. Click the ‘Writing Craft’ tab at the top to find more.

Enjoyed what you read? You can find a list of my fiction and poetry here, and my articles about creativity writing and author skills right here.