My NaNoWriMo Guide

Welcome to Rachel's guide to NaNoWriMo, aka a bunch of gifs and randomness that will hopefully make you laugh and keep your spirits up during this challenge. Some of this will probably be serious, but most more like guidelines anyway. Anyway, let's just get into it because I have words to write here people.

NaNoWriMo Prep (September-October)

Start by reaching September and panicking because you suddenly realized that NaNoWriMo is only two months away. Instantly start worrying about what you're going to write, what you're going to call it, and how the heck you're going to pull everything together in such a short time.

Or, alternatively, already have decided what you're going to write since last NaNoWriMo and then proceed with the other steps.

You'll probably calm down after that and start doing a little work. If you're like me, you will instantly create a battle plan outlining everything that you're going to do each week between now and November 1st for optimal prep time.

When October arrives, you're probably already halfway done your outline while everyone else is just starting to get ready. You may gloat a little now, but only a little. (You don't want to make enemies.)

Continue your pre-writing, outlining, creating characters and worlds. Make a Pinterest board and novel soundtrack, then make an epic cover and title for your novel and put in on every site you can think about. Only to be totally ready for NaNoWriMo. . . a week or more early. Dang it.

Kick back and relax because your work is done until November. Except now you have to figure out your actual life and how you're going to balance everything and don't forget to make special bullet journal spreads. Oh, and then remember that you signed up to make communion bread for the month of November too.

You, waiting for November to start

And then remembering how crazy it's going to be

Day One (November 1)

You're so excited, maybe you stayed up until midnight to write those first few words. Or maybe you had to go to work at 7 the next morning and there was no way you were staying up that late.

Either way, on the morn of November 1st, you excitedly get out your preferred writing supplies (notebook, computer, Scrivener), snacks, and drinks (probably tea or coffee) and sit down to write. Only to have no idea how to start your story. (Tip: try just writing once upon a time at the beginning to get the blank page out of the way.)

Spend the rest of the day writing at every chance. This is an excellent time to get in extra words for the rest of the month because you're probably excited and don't want to stop anyway. Go, little writers!

Week 1

You're excited. The novel is going great. Beginnings are exciting and fun to write. You get in lots of extra words every day and proudly post about your progress on the social medias. Enjoy the feeling (because it won't last).

To me, the best part of NaNoWriMo is watching your progress bar go up each day. It's such a cute bar graph. And looking at the stats. It's all so exciting.

Week 2

This week starts off great. You're still riding the high from week one and enjoying every second. Story revelations are coming right and left. New ideas occur to you and strange characters make their appearance. (Because you're nice, you let them stay.)

Surfing out of week one

But then you start into the middle and things slow down. By the end of the week, you may be in the mood to quite. 50,000 words seems like so many now and your novel isn't going the way you want and everything is dark and hopeless.

And then life/reality/hard part of your story hits

Week 3

You're slump will probably continue into the beginning of this week. Why is the middle so long? Why did I decide to do this? Why does my family think I'm crazy just because I spend four hours a day locked in my room? What happened to my life?

Don't give up, though. As you reach the end of week three, you'll start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You only have a week to go. Your story is heading towards its climax. Maybe you can do this after all.

The glimmer of light that starts to come through

Week 4

You're right there. Everything is coming to a head. Your writing increases again as you speed full on to the climax and the end of your story. This may also be the part where you realize you're coming up short in word count and start dragging things out or describing flowers for two paragraphs. Whatever it takes, right?

Getting up that final stretch

And then you're there. You cross the 50k finish line line the guy from Chariots of Fire. (You can play the song if you'd  like.) Verify your novel, print out your certificate, and crow to the world about how you did it. I shake you warmly by the hand.

Crossing that finish line

From me to you

How you feel when you're done (also, I need to find what this is from)

December

December 1st arrives, along with deep depression of not having anything to write anymore. It's over and it's kind of sad. But as much as you want to start writing again, or editing your story, resist. You'll burn yourself out. Maybe do some free writing or writing practice to keep yourself sharp, but don't stress too much. (And look forward to editing in January, after realizing what crap you wrote.)

Realizing November is over

What did you think? What's your biggest struggle with NaNoWriMo? Tell me in the comments.

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