Well hello! I hope your day is going just splendidly! 🙂 So, you’ve probably heard of and even participated in NaNoWriMo, a national writing challenge to write 50k words in the 30 days of November. Though obviously a huge challenge, there are a few ways you can make the goal become a reality. Which is what all of us want, right? 😉
I did the challenge for the first time in 2021 and even though I’m satisfied with the 47,000+ words I wrote, here are 3 things I’ll do differently next time to help me actually reach 50k. (Stick around till the end for the announcements!)
Write Each Day
Okay, you may say ‘duh,’ but seriously. I started off skipping Sundays then realized a lot of time could have been used during those quiet late afternoons for progress on my book. (Time I instead spent reading books or writing other things.) Next time around, I want to write each of those 30 days to make the most of it. There was one day I was glad I didn’t write, and that was because I was really drained emotionally and knew I needed to rest from writing to regain that energy. So besides that kind of situation, I’d tell myself to stick with churning out a few words EACH day.
This won’t apply to everyone because I’m sure there are some people who will want to take a break on Sundays, but for me, I write random things anyway, so it doesn’t really make sense for me to not write a bit more in my book on those days. Plus, it’s only one month; writing daily doesn’t (and dare I say, shouldn’t?) have to be something you stick with the rest of your life. 😉
List Specific Scenes Beforehand
Much of any Writer’s Block that happened had to do with what specifically to write next. I’d already outlined and had the emotional journey down, but how to convey that in actual, concrete scenes was a bit of an issue. Yes, most of the big, pivotal scenes I’d already envisioned and loosely outlined. But those connecting scenes I didn’t plan for. How to make them matter and each have a specific purpose, advancing the story. Now I think what I ended up with went well, but I would have gone wayyy faster if I’d previously listed all the scenes I could have thought of. Then I’d know how to get from A to B.
As a quick, maybe bad example, I mean I wish I’d listed scenes not necessarily in detail, but something along the lines of this:
A goes to B’s house and finds a hidden clue that gives her another side of the story. A is scared by the menacing ambiguity of the clue but becomes sure that she’s meant to follow this mystery.
See what I mean? Next time I’ll outline scenes giving the general premise of what will go on and how it affects the character.
Source Material
This goes with the latter point, but it’s still a bit different. For this, I don’t necessarily mean listing actual scene premises, but writing down any images or scene concepts that pop into my mind. I did some of this thanks to Abbie Emmons’ NaNoWriMo tips, and it turned out to be super helpful, but I’d tell my earlier self to do more because then I’d have so much more to go off of! Anything from snatches of dialogue from expressions to meetings between characters. Say, something like this (for a made-up fantasy book).
The night sky wept above me as the horse picked up speed. I drove my heels into its sides, which were lathered with sweat. Finally, I could see Mara in the distance. I squinted. Someone else was beside her. That’s not supposed to happen! I seethed.
Next time around, I’ll jot down more of these images that pop into my mind to refer to when actually writing.
Okay! Those are the three things I’ll do differently next NaNoWriMo! I hope you were able to get something out of it for yourself. 🙂 Comment below and let me know if you’re satisfied with your NaNoWriMo work if you did join in on the challenge! And can I just say that even if you didn’t reach the goal you had, you wrote, and in my opinion, that’s ALL that matters. You showed up and got words written. Reason enough to celebrate? Um, yeah. 😀
Agree? Disagree?
Announcement 1…
So. I hate the ads that pop up here on my blog. Like, hate them. So I’m planning to upgrade very soon – maybe even by tomorrow – so they will be gone forever. *sighs in anticipation* (Though my theory is that WordPress is secretly doing more ads than usual to get me to upgrade. 😦 ) When that happens, the blog address will change to sarainawhitney.com. Just letting you know.
*pretends I don’t regret launching the blog before upgrading so soon*
Announcement 2…
The January newsletter will be sent soon, so make sure you’re signed up for it so you don’t miss out on it! I’m so excited to share it with you!! 😀
Until next time, may you have a blessed week – and thank you so much for reading!
Saraina Whitney 
Oh, you’re so right about those connecting scenes! I’ve had so many of those that just end up deleted because I’d written them, but they didn’t really do anything for the plot besides get me from point A to B in a roundabout way. 🙂
Lovely post! 🙂
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Yes, exactly!! Those scenes can be so tricky sometimes. *shakes head at them* 😀
Thank you!!! 🙂
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Great tips, Saraina!
I didn’t do NaNoWriMo, mainly because I was already ridiculously busy, but I feel like those insights would go well for writing anytime!
I tend to hit a block like when you described, I don’t know how to get from point A to point B, it’s frustrating because I am a Pantser by nature, and outlines don’t work well with me (found that out the hard way, lol). But I can see how writing down the little things that come to mind can help during those moments!!
Thanks for the post!!!! And I can’t wait for your newsletter!!! So excited!!! XD
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Thank you, Louise!!! :)) I totally get it! Lol I’m secretly relieved to know I’m not the only one that has problems with how to get from A to B! Yeahh, I’m more naturally a Pantser too – my NaNoWriMo book was the first one I ever really outlined, so that was quite an adventure to say the least. I hope you try writing down those little things that come to mind, and hopefully it will be helpful! 🙂
Thank YOU so much for reading it!! 😀 (Aww I’m so happy to hear that! Can’t wait to send it out!)
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Great post! Having a few scenes outlined in advance really helps me avoid writer’s block!
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Thank you!! 🙂 Yes, having that is really so helpful!!
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Those are great tips for NaNo next year!!! And wow!!! You did so well! Over 47,000 words is awesome!!! We are so looking forward to getting the newsletter!!!
Awesome and extremely helpful post! Especially for us since we entirely pants and wing everything…lol…
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Aww, thank you so so much!!! 😀 ❤ So glad it was helpful! Lol yes… I think pantsing has an advantage to it that outlining everything doesn't, since you can let yourself go down rabbit holes and find so many unexpected ideas!
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Of course!!! Super!!! Yeah, there is that….and the getting sidetracked by said unexpected idea which turns into a book of its own…hahaha…we never know what our brains are going to concoct next…lol…
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Oof yes lol… that is so true too!! 😀
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I’ve never done NaNoWriMo, but those are great tips for your own goals!! (And yes, Abbie Emmons!! She’s a favorite vlogger of mine. ;)) And ooh, thanks for the announcements!! I can’t WAIT to get that newsletter!!!!!!!! 😀
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Thank you!! (Ooh yes, same! She’s been really helpful in my writing journey! ;)) Aww thanks!! (Not more than I can’t wait for your own!! *winks* 😀 )
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Awesome tips! And over 47,000 words is impressive, great job!! I’m a pantser, but I’ve been outlined my current WIP, which has been…interesting XD. That’s such a good idea to write down whatever scenes come to mind (especially since I write my scenes all out of order)! And I’m SO excited for your newletter!!!
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Thank you so much, Ava!!! 😀 Ooh, that’s cool!! XD Go you! It was the exact same for me when I did NaNo because I’d never outlined anything before. Definitely an interesting experience. 😉 (Aww so happy to hear that!! I’m excited to send it!)
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Congrats on reaching 47,000 words, Saraina! That’s really impressive! And thank you for sharing these NaNo tips!
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Oh thank you!! 😀 Sure thing, it was super fun to write!
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Ooooo these are some SUPER awesome great tips!!!!!! I did NaNoWriMo this year and it was… well, pretty bad. *cough, cough* But in my defense, I wasn’t doing well emotionally and mentally because of life problems and I just couldn’t get into my novel no matter what I did, soooo yeah. If I do NaNoWriMo again, I DEFINITELY plan to write every single day too! I think that’d help a lot. (Also, GIRL, 47K is a LOT OF WORDS!! YOU DID FANTASTIC!!!!!! *throws out confetti* And all the announcements sound SOO exciting!!!!!)
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Thank you!!!! Oof yes, I totally get that. There have most definitely been times when I just can’t really get into writing because of my emotional state and there’s nothing I can do about it. At least you can kinda always tell when you can’t get into writing because of what’s been going on in life VS just being lazy and not determined enough to write. YES!! I think so too. (Ahh, thank you SO much!!)
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