Nanowrimo Prep: Give Yourself Permission to Do This

It’s almost time for Nanowrimo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. This “event” is to help encourage writers to get the novels out of their heads and onto the paper (or computer screen, I should say) in just one month’s time. If it sounds crazy, it kind of is… but it is also really amazing motivation to write the stories that have been swirling around in our heads.

The goal: at least 50,000 words in one month. Sounds daunting right?

But as with any goal, you just need to break it up into smaller chunks, aka, at least 1,600 words a day. That’s still quite a bit, but it IS doable… if you’re willing and ready.

I’m not going to go into all the prep of Nanowrimo. There are plenty of articles all around the web for that (like this and this). But I will share some of my favorite writing advice, and it’s a good reminder especially with Nanowrimo right at our doorsteps.

For starters, writing is all about mindset (which is why I’m sharing this post here on Oops & Daisies). A few months ago a friend and critique partner of mine challenged me: write every day, no matter what… but, and this is the really important part, give myself permission to write really really badly. It didn’t matter how terrible the words were, as long as I wrote.

In other words, it’s about showing up and just starting. It’s about not worrying what the words will look like once they’re written down. It’s about writing, day in and day out, and getting into the habit of showing up at the page, no matter what.

When you show up, words happen. Stories happen. And in the process you’re getting over the fear of the blank page. It takes the pressure off writing something and getting it just right on the first try, because — reality check — there’s a reason that we edit. The first words a writer writes are never what ends up in the book. (And in my case, I have two novels that probably won’t ever see the light of day, at least not in their current form).

This is absolutely key to Nanowrimo. With a big lofty goal of writing at least 50,000 words in one month, you need to show up, day in and day out. Sure you can do Write Ins around the country, where you get “caught up” on word count, but if you don’t keep showing up and keep writing, it’s going to get harder and harder to meet those goals. (So true in so much of life, isn’t it?)

Okay, so let’s say you’re showing up to the page day in and day out, and you’re giving yourself permission to write terribly. I bet you can guess what’s going to happen. You’ll write some pretty crappy stuff… but you’ll also write some pretty remarkable stuff too. You’ll also get the story that’s been jostling around your head onto paper and you’ll start shaping it into something amazing. And that wouldn’t have ever happened if you hadn’t shown up at the page, day in and day out.

So for all of you doing Nanowrimo this year, go forth, and write terribly… I can’t wait to read what you’ve written, but not until the second or third draft. That first draft, the one where you give yourself permission to write terribly, belongs to you and you alone.

*****

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