We’re only days away from the big event, NaNoWriMo. We hope you’re ready! If you’re a writer who’s a little late to the party, no worries. Check out a few of our quick and dirty planning tips here to catch up. With busy lives, NaNoWriMo can be a challenge to take on, but not impossible! But as Benjamin Franklin said, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” So lets review some top tips for getting organized to tackle those words in November.
Here are 5 tips to streamline your life before NaNoWriMo:
1. Make a realistic writing schedule
The best way to avoid overwhelm is to be honest with yourself as you plan. How much time can you devote to your manuscript outside of school or work? What types of holiday plans do you have? Grab a calendar and jot down your prior commitments and allow yourself a few days to catch up should you fall behind on your writing schedule. Trust: you’ll be a lot less stressed if you think ahead.
2. Master a morning routine
Speaking of writing schedules, have you considered writing in the morning? Sometimes, we can get our greatest focus when we first wake. Everyone else is sleeping, the dog is chill. Take advantage of the peace and allow yourself to get into the zone. By the time everyone else wakes, you’ll have penned another 2k words.
3. Meal prep
Doesn’t matter if you’re a student or a mother of four, pre-planning meals is a game changer. Why waste 10-20 minutes trying to figure out what to eat—and another 30 cooking—when you could be drafting your masterpiece? Nah. Pick 1-2 days to prep some dishes. Grab your favorite crockpot recipes, make some sandwiches with a friend. The less you have to stress about while drafting, the better.
4. Make plans for breaks
As mentioned above, the holidays are coming up, and plenty of us have plans—not to mention some shopping to do! If you can, schedule one day off a week. I know that can seem impossible between Thanksgiving and there only being 30 days in November, but you’d be surprised how less can be more when you’re being realistic with your writing schedule. Give yourself some time away from your work and you’ll be that much more revved when you return to it.
5. Manage your social life
Don’t forget about your family and friends. The holidays are a wonderful time to catch up and bond with those we love. Don’t let your writing goals hinder that! Schedule some time to shop with a family member or make dinner plans with a friend. You can tell them all about your book as you chat, and work out some plot holes while you’re at it!
Conclusion
With a little planning, you can knock out every goal you set for November! Pick the best strategy that works for you and make your life a little less stressful. You might just discover some habits worth keeping as you continue on your writing journey. Inspired to get going on your draft? Check out some fun ways to track your progress during NaNoWriMo here.