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How to Write Your Novel in a Month

Write Your Novel in a Month? You can't write a novel in a month. Don't tell that to the over 21,000 people from around the world who did just that last November in the 2008 NaNoWriMo

Things You'll Need

  • November's calendar cleared so that you can write 1667 words daily
  • a computer you have access to using daily
  • The will to write your novel in the month of November
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Instructions

    • 1

      Divide each of your chapters into scenes. Visualize the scene as it occurs and write down what you see.
      * Divide your chapter for the following day into scenes the night before so that you'll be able to use your subconscious mind during your writing-down time (AKA sleep) to work on your next writing session.
      If you get stuck and don't know what to write next, ask yourself how you can make the situation worse for your characters and write your characters in that situation. (Just don't kill them all off so you have no one to write about.)

    • 2

      The second thing you need to do is to clear your November schedule of as much other activity as possible. Most people have a job and unless you decide to take a vacation during that month, you won't be able to remove work from your schedule but try to avoid other commitments. Make your appointments for January. (December is too busy too.) For more ideas on how to clear your schedule read my article How to prepare for a Successful NaNoWriMo in the resource section of this article.

    • 3

      Now that you're committed and you've set aside time to write in November and you've done some other preliminary activities, you're ready to write in November. November first this year is on a Sunday so instead of sleeping in that day, get up early and begin writing. If you have an outline, divide your outline into thirty sections or chapters if you will. Decide what you are going to include in chapter one and write at least 1667 words for chapter one. Write it straight through. The key here is not to get it perfect just get it written. Once it's done, you can enjoy the rest of the day knowing that you've started your NaNoWriMo out strong.

    • 4

      Day two repeat the activity of day one. Continue through each day of the month.

    • 5

      Around about week two you're going to hit a wall. Don't be surprised when you do. Everyone does. Just keep writing even if you think what you're writing is garbage. It could be garbage and even if it is, write through it because once you do, you'll find yourself entering new areas of your writing skills that you never knew were possible because you're pushing yourself beyond your normal walls. Remember, don't try to edit now. December and beyond is for editing. You just want to get your first draft written. Converse with other Nano-ers on the website.

    • 6

      If you're like most people, in the third week you'll start to come into your own. You'll start wondering why you had trouble in the second week. You're starting to build momentum toward the crescendo in the fourth week.

    • 7

      During the fourth week you'll be flying through to finish your book. As you get closer to the 50 thousand word count, you'll be excited. You did it! You wrote a novel in a month. You're a winner! Your name will be added to the official NaNoWriMo winners list. Everyone who finishes 50 thousand words in the month is a winner.

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