What’s up, writers? ‘Tis the season for fast drafting! That’s right. It’s time for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), where we writers plug in and pen 50k words in 30 days. Are you up for the challenge? If so, we’ve got a few helpful tips to help you meet your goal this November.

Here are 5 ways to nail that 50k word count:

1. Stick to the plan

That’s, if you have one. If not, no worries! You can still make one, If you followed last month’s Mega Preptober Series,you should have a nice outline and a few character development sheets on-hand. But as you’re sitting down to start that new draft, you might be thinking up all sorts of new ideas. Don’t change anything yet—no matter how tempting! For now, stick to your plan as best you can and focus on making it to the end. Minor revisions are fine—add them to your revision plan—but major storyline and character arc changes will only hold up your drafting process.

2. Write anytime, any place

Utilize spare moments throughout your day to write, whether it’s on your phone, in a notebook—that sweet voice note app you just had  to download. However you can get in words, do it. Changing locations can also help keep the writing process fresh. Show up an hour before that coffee meeting at the café or stay an hour late at the office to work on your draft in peace. All those extra minutes add up!

3. Check in with partners

Checking in with writing buddies is a great way to stay accountable and keep up with your word count. Send a daily email or post your progress on social media to let others know how you’re doing. It’s a great way to encourage one another and will keep you pumped as the days go by.

4. Use timers

Timing yourself is sure to help you stay focused. Implement techniques like the Pomodoro method—25 minutes of focused writing followed by a short break—to enhance productivity. And don’t forget to take a longer breather every now and then.

5. Don’t look back

Focus on getting words down rather than perfecting them as you write. Editing can come after completing the draft. You can use placeholders, highlight what you want to change, keep a chart to jot down your revisions. Just keep going.

Conclusion

With a few good strategies, you can win NaNoWriMo this year! It’s not about perfection, just consistency. Looking for a few more tips to help you win NaNoWriMo? Check out our next installment on winning NaNoWriMo here.