Getting through National Novel writing month.
I heard that only 19% of people that try actually get through.
Not very good odds for the common person.
Well, I am not common.
I have written in National Novel Writing month for a total of 5 years. One year I skipped doing it, and one year I failed doing it. so over all, I have a 75% success rate. pretty good huh?
Well, here are some things I did to help me get through it-and some things I did and failed.
1. I don't have any idea of what I am doing. NO!
Don not do this! At least have characters, time period, and even main bad guy picked out. The first year I did this, and although I wrote it and got through, it was disjointed, and most was throw away. lots of rewriting. The second time I tried to do this I failed halfway in the month. running out of ideas of where the story was going. For the last two times I have written out a basic plot that I keep in a separate document. That is a simple guideline that I follow. such as: They go over to this town. They leave the town and meet this Character. Character has history that they don't know about.- alright? easy stuff like that goes a long way in the middle of the month when you have no idea where it is going
2. I have no idea how this is going. YES!
that's ok, just keep writing. just keep up on your word count. you can do it!
3. I don't think I am going to finish before I am done, so I am stopping. NO!
You keep writing, if you finish the book before the month is over then good for you! but chances are you will really need to some up in the end. trust me, as you write you get a lot more then you think.
4. I don't have the time anymore. NO!
No. Just no. You have the time I promise!
5. There is a National Novel Writing month book? YES!
this book is great to help you through, I just used it the first year, and I think this is all that is needed. but buy the book! it helps you so much.
6. Having someone you are accountable to? YES!
I know I said above that you would do it alone, but trust me, get a friend to text, or call you or something to make sure you are somehow.
I heard that only 19% of people that try actually get through.
Not very good odds for the common person.
Well, I am not common.
I have written in National Novel Writing month for a total of 5 years. One year I skipped doing it, and one year I failed doing it. so over all, I have a 75% success rate. pretty good huh?
Well, here are some things I did to help me get through it-and some things I did and failed.
1. I don't have any idea of what I am doing. NO!
Don not do this! At least have characters, time period, and even main bad guy picked out. The first year I did this, and although I wrote it and got through, it was disjointed, and most was throw away. lots of rewriting. The second time I tried to do this I failed halfway in the month. running out of ideas of where the story was going. For the last two times I have written out a basic plot that I keep in a separate document. That is a simple guideline that I follow. such as: They go over to this town. They leave the town and meet this Character. Character has history that they don't know about.- alright? easy stuff like that goes a long way in the middle of the month when you have no idea where it is going
2. I have no idea how this is going. YES!
that's ok, just keep writing. just keep up on your word count. you can do it!
3. I don't think I am going to finish before I am done, so I am stopping. NO!
You keep writing, if you finish the book before the month is over then good for you! but chances are you will really need to some up in the end. trust me, as you write you get a lot more then you think.
4. I don't have the time anymore. NO!
No. Just no. You have the time I promise!
5. There is a National Novel Writing month book? YES!
this book is great to help you through, I just used it the first year, and I think this is all that is needed. but buy the book! it helps you so much.
6. Having someone you are accountable to? YES!
I know I said above that you would do it alone, but trust me, get a friend to text, or call you or something to make sure you are somehow.