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Why I’m Joining NaNoWriMo This Year (And My Top 5 Tips on How to Win)

Published October 26, 2019 | Last Updated October 29, 2020 By Nicole Bianchi 36 Comments

Closeup of typewriter keys
Photo by Camille Orgel on Unsplash

This is a post I first wrote in October 2016. Since I’m planning on participating in NaNoWriMo again this year, I decided to update and republish it. Are you joining in NaNoWriMo too? Make sure to get your invitation to my private Facebook group for writers!


November is only a few days away, and that means that National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo!) is nearly upon us.

If you’ve never heard of NaNoWriMo before, it’s a month-long event where writers challenge themselves to pen a 50,000-word novel (about the length of novels like The Great Gatsby or Fahrenheit 451).

The goal is to begin writing on the first of November and finish by midnight of November 30. You can plan and outline your story as much as you like beforehand, but the actual writing of the story can only be done during November.

Now, those are the official rules, but many writers adapt NaNoWriMo to their own goals.

Maybe you don’t want to write a novel, but you would like to write a nonfiction eBook or material for an online course or, say, a collection of blog posts that you can keep in reserve so you’re not scrambling to write a new blog post each week. Or maybe you want to begin publishing a blog post each day on Medium or you just want to challenge yourself to start a daily writing routine.

NaNoWriMo is a fantastic way to inspire yourself to make progress (or get started) on a writing project that you’ve been procrastinating over. There’s an energy and enthusiasm that you feel from so many writers around the world diligently working towards a writing goal.

I’ve participated several times over the years and completed the challenge twice, and it’s always been a fun and ultimately satisfying experience.

This year I’m adapting the NaNoWriMo challenge and planning to use the daily word count goal to make progress on several different writing projects.

If you’re planning on participating in NaNoWriMo next month too, here are my five tips for getting the most out of the challenge and “winning” on November 30.

These tips can help you work towards completing any writing project whether you are participating in NaNoWriMo or not.

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1. Focus on Writing Every Day

I don’t know about you, but writing 50,000 words in one month always sounds like a very intimidating goal to me. To make that goal a lot less intimidating, it’s important to break it down into smaller, manageable steps that you can accomplish each day.

That means just focusing on the daily word count goal of 1,667 words.

Of course, even that can be a tough goal. I’ll start NaNoWriMo with a burst of energy and excitement, but there’ll inevitably come the day when I’m struggling with writer’s block or I’m so busy I don’t want to make the extra effort to find time for fiction writing.

Big mistake. I find that when I miss even a single day, I begin to lose momentum.

The author account on NaNoWriMo displays a helpful graph that tracks how many words you have written each day and how many you need to continue writing each day in order to reach 50,000 words. When you miss a day, the daily word count quota climbs higher. It becomes tempting to just keep missing days and give up on NaNoWriMo entirely.

Instead, I tell myself to just focus on putting words on paper. Even if I have a day where I only manage to write one hundred words, it’s better than not writing anything at all. I will not fall as far behind, and I’ll be motivated to keep pressing forward.

The Victorian writer Anthony Trollope observed, “A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.”

(Bonus tip: check out my article here for the technique Anthony Trollope used to ensure he met his daily writing goal. If you’re not already writing daily, I recommend that you start implementing a daily writing routine in the weeks leading up to NaNoWriMo. And it doesn’t have to be a big word count goal. You can just start with 500 or even 100 words.)

2. Find a Partner to Keep You Accountable

My brother Michael has always joined me when I set out on the NaNoWriMo adventure. I think this is partly the reason why we both succeeded in completing the challenge several times.

Sometimes we compete against each other to see who can write more words in a period of 15 or 20 minutes. When one of us doesn’t feel like writing, we will encourage each other and cheer each other on.

If we’re writing fiction, we’ll read each other’s stories and suggest plot twists and new characters when one of us doesn’t know in what direction to take his or her story.

I have found that you are less likely to quit a project when you have friends working towards the same goals as you. Even if you are working towards different goals, you can all keep each other accountable, inspire one another, and encourage each other not to give up.

(Bonus Tip: If you’re looking for friends to cheer you on while you participate in NaNoWriMo this year, make sure to join my private writing group on Facebook. Click here to get your email invite.)

3. Formulate A Plan Before Setting Out

In 2013, I sat down in front of my computer on the first day of NaNoWriMo and had absolutely no idea what I was going to write.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I told Michael. “I don’t have any story ideas.”

“You can’t quit before you even try to write anything,” Michael told me. So after an hour long stare down with a blank Word document, I finally typed the first line of my novel. That first line ended up turning into a 100-page story.

This proves that it’s possible to write a novel (or a very rough first draft as I call my manuscript) without any prior planning. However, I ran into a lot of writer’s block when working on that story and almost quit NaNoWriMo entirely. I found that having a structured plan before you set out makes it much easier to work towards your goal a little bit each day.

Now when I jump into NaNoWriMo, I try to have the rough outline of a plot typed up before I begin.

If you’re working on a novel or a memoir, write up a rough plot beforehand. The Story Grid method and the Snowflake Method are both great guides for plotting.

If you’re working on a nonfiction eBook, plan out your table of contents.

If you want to write a series of essays or blog posts, come up with a list of titles. I wrote this article about how to come up with blog post ideas.

Having an outline doesn’t mean that you must follow it to the letter, but it does mean that you will have a nice roadmap to follow and will have a better chance of avoiding writer’s block because you will have a general idea of where your novel is headed.

(Bonus tip: choose a story idea that you love and are excited to start working on. That passion will help you keep coming back to the keyboard.)

4. Write First, Edit Later

NaNoWriMo is a fast-paced project. If I went back each day to edit and rewrite passages, I’d never finish the challenge on time.

Normally, I like to take things a bit slower and not write at such a breakneck pace. But this often means that I get caught up with plotting my stories and am afraid to start writing until every plot point is just right.

I love NaNoWriMo because it forces me to overcome my perfectionism and procrastination. It lets my creative brain have free rein without being inhibited by my inner editor.

It’s quite a noble goal to want to do things to the best of our ability, but often perfectionism can prevent us from ever getting out of the starting gate. NaNoWriMo has taught me that if you want to accomplish your goals, you need to be courageous, you need to banish procrastination, and you can’t be afraid to make mistakes and reach the end of the month with a very unpolished first draft.

(Bonus tip: Try to end your writing sessions in the middle of a scene. Ernest Hemingway once advised, “The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel you will never be stuck.”)

5. Never, Never, Never Give Up

You can’t win NaNoWriMo if you quit. Even if you skip one day or three, don’t get discouraged. Just head back to your desk and get back to work.

You’d be surprised at what you are capable of when you refuse to give up. There’s a psychological term for this: grit.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grit is  “firmness of character; indomitable spirit.” More specifically, it’s the quality of persevering towards long-term goals no matter the obstacles.

From my personal experience, it’s been the days when the word count seemed insurmountable, that it seemed impossible that I would ever catch up and finish the novel in a month, that I found I had the most inspiration. Those were the days that the words seemed to flow without any prompting.

By setting a daily writing goal for yourself and refusing to quit, you will develop endurance and discipline. You will discover the grit that you never knew you had. You will discover that you have an incredibly huge reserve of creativity, energy, and determination than you could ever have imagined.

And regardless of whether you end up “winning” NaNoWriMo, that’s something to be proud of.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Make sure to get your invitation to my Facebook group for NaNoWriMo writers!

If you’ve participated in NaNoWriMo in the past, let me know in the comments if you have any additional NaNoWriMo tips and please share this post with a fellow writer that you would like to inspire.

I write these posts for free. If you find them helpful and would like to support the blog, you can buy me a virtual coffee here. Thank you!

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Comments

  1. Kate Findley says

    November 4, 2018 at 6:10 pm

    Great tips! Right now I’m focusing on making final edits on my novel, but if I did do NANOWRIMO again, I’d definitely do an outline and make a commitment to sending my book to an editor immediately after finishing it. The times that I did participate in the challenge, it honestly didn’t do much for me because my “novels” (if you could call them that) were a complete mess that I never looked at again. But if I knew that my work was actually going out into the world and people would be reading it, that would be a much bigger motivator than meeting a word count. That’s why I like your Facebook group because it encourages me to keep putting out work on a consistent basis!

    Reply
  2. John DiCarlo says

    November 2, 2018 at 8:15 am

    Very inspirational Nicole. Thank you. You have a knack for not making mere mortals feel like monumental failures.Very true about accountability. Because I spend most of my time alone I fear that I am morphing into Travis Bickle in my drive for accountability! And I love that Trollope quote.

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    October 20, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    Great tips, Nicole! Thanks for posting & organizing these ideas for the rest of us. I’ll be joining Nano for the first time this year. Looking forward to December 1, and counting some small wins.

    Laura
    midnightsermons.com

    Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    October 10, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    Goal luck with your goal, Nicole! Maybe I’ll attempt this one year 🙂

    Stephanie
    lifestylebystephanie.com

    Reply
  5. Chloe says

    October 31, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    I honestly wished I had these tip when I first tries Nanowrimo as a teenager. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 31, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Chloe! 🙂 Hope you will try it again!

      Reply
  6. Katie Gannon says

    October 31, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Great tips Nicole! I’m looking forward to NaNoWriMo this year 🙂 Good luck with your goal!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 31, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      Thanks, Katie! All the best with your writing too! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel says

    October 30, 2016 at 11:39 pm

    Good luck dear Nicole. I hope you will emerge successful in Nano wrimo

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 30, 2016 at 11:43 pm

      Thanks so much, Resh! 🙂 I am looking forward to it.

      Reply
  8. MaryEllen Miller says

    October 21, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    I wish you the best of luck on NaNoWriMo! To me it is too daunting of a task but I love your tips and maybe next year I will feel up to the challenge.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 24, 2016 at 12:53 pm

      Thanks so much, Mary Ellen! 🙂 Yes, it is a bit daunting, but a lot of fun too. My plan is not to take it too seriously this year. It’s definitely worth joining in at least once.

      Reply
  9. Sheila Jo says

    October 17, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    This will be my second nano. Didn’t “win” last year, but felt that my 35K was respectable for a rookie attempt. Going for a win this year…

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 17, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      35K is very impressive, Sheila Jo. All the best this November! 😀 Would love to see you in the Facebook group if you’d like to join.

      Reply
  10. Nikki says

    October 17, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    This is my first time doing NaNoWriMo. I’m excited and terrified, lol. I have a few novels in progress, but have yet to finish one. I have an idea for the story for NaNo and I’m hoping this will push me to finally finish at least one novel and maybe I’ll go on to finish the others too! I don’t have anyone to partner with, but I hope to find someone soon!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 17, 2016 at 1:40 pm

      That sounds exciting, Nikki! 🙂 All the best with it! If you’re looking for NaNoWriMo friends, I’d love to see you in the Facebook group I just set up. There’s a link to it in the post.

      Reply
  11. Natalie says

    October 17, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    For the last few years I have been consumed with academic writing, and sporadically participated in Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) in November, yet was always frustrated at not being able to do NaNoWriMo. Being free of any academic commitments this November, I’m really hoping to give it a go! Thanks for the tips and encouragement.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 17, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      Hi, Natalie! Thanks so much for your comment. The first year I won was the year right after I graduated college. I was so happy that I finally could take part in NaNoWriMo. And it was so much fun. Hope you are able to participate this November!

      Reply
  12. Aisha says

    October 17, 2016 at 10:38 am

    Oh my goodness I’d never heard of this before but I am ABSOLUTELY going to do it. Thank you so much for sharing and providing great tips as well!!!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 17, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      So excited to hear you are joining in too, Aisha! 😀 Would love to see you in the Facebook group if you’re looking for NaNoWriMo friends.

      Reply
  13. Patty says

    October 17, 2016 at 10:37 am

    I’ve loved nanowrimo for years. I won one year but probably should try it again this year!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 17, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Patty! 🙂 I find NaNoWriMo less stressful now that I’ve already won in the past. This time I’m just going to focus on using it to reach my daily writing goals. I think it will be even more fun. If you try it again this year, I’d love for you to join us in the Facebook group. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Dave says

    October 16, 2016 at 4:22 am

    Never give up is the truth! My wife tried last year for the first time. She got off to a decent start then lost her pace and fell waaaay below the suggested word count. With less than a week left, I think she was at 11K words.

    Then she said, “No, I am DOING this.” And she cranked out the rest of the 50K in the course of the last four days. I am extremely proud of her effort.

    Better to have failed in the attempt than to have succeeded in surrender.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 16, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      That is a fantastic story, Dave! That is so inspiring that your wife was able to come back and win. Thanks for sharing! Love your last line. So true!

      Reply
  15. AH says

    October 15, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    Write first, edit later is the whole point of Nanowrimo. Thanks for an awesome post! I’ll be working on my story which I’ve started a while back.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 15, 2016 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks for reading, Amina! 🙂 Hope NaNoWriMo goes well for you!

      Reply
  16. Sean says

    October 13, 2016 at 8:28 am

    Hi Nicole,

    I’ve considered doing it for a few years now but have never taken the plunge. And I’ve been writing far less these days to top it off. Maybe this is just what I need to get going again…

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 14, 2016 at 12:09 am

      Hey Sean,

      I’ve missed your posts! Yes, NaNoWriMo is a fantastic way to get back into the rhythm of daily writing. It’s worth signing up on the website just for the author account where you can track your writing stats for the month.

      Reply
      • Sean Hogue says

        October 16, 2016 at 2:46 pm

        Thanks Nicole,

        I’m going to sign up for the account like you suggest. I’ve been taking some classes by correspondence which takes up my writing time these days, but I’m going to make an effort to fit it in again.

        S.

        Reply
        • Nicole Bianchi says

          October 17, 2016 at 12:46 pm

          Sounds great, Sean! Hope it helps you reach your writing goals.

          Reply
  17. Ellen Read says

    October 12, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    Great tips Nicole. Good luck with it. xx I don’t think I could commit to it this year as I have just finished my novel and I’m in the publishing process now. Then I need to concentrate on marketing.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 13, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      Thank you, Ellen! Yes, it is a big commitment. All the best with the publishing of your novel! Looking forward to reading it. 🙂

      Reply
  18. Janice says

    October 12, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Great tips. I can’t even remember how many times I started NaNoWriMo and didn’t finish. I’m gonna try again this year. See you there!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 12, 2016 at 8:35 pm

      Thank you for your comment, Janice! All the best with NaNoWriMo this year! 🙂 Would love to see you in the Facebook group if you’d like to join.

      Reply
  19. Trenara says

    October 12, 2016 at 4:15 pm

    definitely sharing this with my daughter, she is a writer thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      October 12, 2016 at 5:21 pm

      Thank you, Trenara! I hope she finds it helpful. 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Nicole! I help creatives, business owners, and writers take their writing and copywriting to the next level and grow their online audience. I’m also a published writer of essays and short stories. As a Christian, I seek to follow in the tradition of artists like Johann Sebastian Bach, dedicating all my work Soli Deo gloria.
Find out more about me here.
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“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
– Psalm 45:1

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