We are over halfway through National Novel Writing Month. How are you? Are you where you thought you’d be? Are you where you wanted to be? Do you know why or why not?
To write 50,000 words in a month is a tremendous challenge, and as with all challenges, there are lessons to be learned from the way you plan ahead (or not, in the case of pantsers) and handle what life throws at you.
But NaNoWriMo isn’t just a challenge—it’s an experience you share with thousands of other novelists. Listening to or reading about how others are coping can not only reaffirm that you’re not alone in your struggles, but also lead you to having epiphanies about your own writing life. That’s part of the reason why the NaNoWriMo forums exist, after all!
With that in mind, here are a few pearls of wisdom picked up this November from some members of the Writer’s Atelier team.
“More than anything, NaNoWriMo is always a reminder of the importance of routine. I get so caught up with life, I often use it as an excuse to not write. I don’t think I’m alone on this. Sometimes, it probably isn’t possible to write, especially in extreme circumstances. But in many cases, we can get writing done by simply making the time and prioritizing it. NaNoWriMo reminds me that routine is essential to both mastery of craft and happiness.”
— Racquel Henry
“Not every scene you wrote is going to make it into the book—and that is okay. Everything you write is helping you figure out your characters and the direction of the story you want to tell.”
— Paige Lavoie
“Tracking your time changes everything. By the end of November, I’ll know what time of day I feel the most ready to write and how long my writing sprints should be for maximum effectiveness. Perhaps more importantly, I’ll also know when and how long I should rest to reduce stress and avoid burnout. As I’ve learned this year, I’m no good to anyone—or to myself—when I’m running on fumes.”
— Megan Fuentes
If you haven’t already, we at Writer’s Atelier encourage you to take the time to reflect on what these past couple weeks are trying to teach you. Consider journaling about the highlights and lowlights you’ve had so far during your NaNoWriMo journey. If you have a critique group or are in our free online community, start a conversation about struggles, successes, and what could be gained from living through them. Maybe what you have to say will help someone, and maybe you’ll find a little help, too.
And if you have any lessons you’d like to share with our blog readers, please drop them in the comment section below!
