Want To Win NaNoWriMo This Year? 7 Tips On Writing And Productivity

Ready to take your writing seriously? Getting ready for NaNoWriMo and need some writing and productivity tips? 

I had a demanding day job when I did NaNoWriMo in 2009, but I was committed to the writing, so I got up every weekday at 5 am before work to get my words in.

Those words became the kernel of Stone of Fire, my first novel, and that month of writing changed my life. Now I have 15 novels and if I can do it, you can too!

Here are some tips and useful books that might help along the way.

(1) Schedule your writing time

“You need a schedule to help you manage your time, to acquire discipline, and to meet deadlines. Once you become adept at your business, you will know how many hours something will take.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Time Management

When people ask for tips on getting their book written, my number one tip is to schedule time for writing as you would schedule any other appointment.

Do you put your gym class into a calendar? Children's party? Doctor's appointment? How about your day job – does that have a clear start and finish time?

You need to take your writing time as seriously as any other appointment, so get out your calendar right now and put in the hours you need to get the writing done this month.

(2) Organize your writing

“The program is so versatile, it can be customized to work almost any way the individual can think of … Sure, there are other novel organizing software programs out there, and most of them work pretty well, but none of them I've tried (and I've tried a lot of writing software) comes close to Scrivener in terms of robustness and versatility.” Michael J. Carlson, The Unofficial Scrivener Workbook

I wrote that first novel using MS Word and it was so difficult to keep track of the story. I've never written completely in order and it was hard to move everything around in one big file.

When I learned about Scrivener, I jumped straight in and have used it for every book since. I love being able to move things around, as well as keep my research in one place, color-code andmy chapters and add notes into the Inspector about conflict, cliffhangers and more.

(3) Structure your story so you can write faster

“The problem in pantsing is, unless you're really intuitive to the direction the story is going and needs to go, the story can wander all over … This can be a problem when you get to the middle or the end of the book and you find that the book is sagging in the middle or has no clear resolution or satisfaction in plot or character.” C. Michelle Jeffries, Story Structure and Master Chapter Outline Workbook

One of my lessons learned during that first NaNoWriMo was discovering that stories had a structure, and if you understood structure, you could plot a book and write it faster. Learning about ‘scenes' was revolutionary for me and when that clicked, I was able to structure and finish the story.

(4) Write compelling characters

“Readers of fiction want one thing – a powerful emotional experience. They want and expect to be someone else temporarily. They want to feel something for the characters in whom they are investing their time and attention.” Michael J. Carlson, Hurting your Characters

Readers remember the characters they love.

They might not remember the details of plot or setting, but if a character resonates, a reader will devour everything they are in. This is why so many authors write long-running series, and why TV has some shows that go on for many years.

There are many ways to make your characters compelling – from using bonds of love with family, friends or animals, to sending them on an impossible journey, through to giving them a fatal flaw in personality, or even a physical wound. You need to dig deep into yourself and your own experience to bring your characters alive – or you can learn from other writers and do research. That's the fun part for me!

 (5) Look after your physical and mental health while you're writing

“Think about running. You don't start off running 5K the first time you get off your couch … Writing is the same way. You must train for it.” Leah Cutter, The Healthy Professional Writer

Writing is surprisingly tiring – both physically and mentally. Even if you're used to working in front of a computer for hours, pulling ideas from your brain and making decisions for your characters can be challenging.

Timed writing sprints are a great way to get your words done. Schedule your time slot as above, then set a timer for 15-20 minutes. Write for that time, and then take a physical break.

That means you need to get up, go for a walk, stretch, do some squats or press-ups or whatever floats your boat. But look away from the computer and move your body.

Yes, you can write your book while in pain … but you don't have to.

(6) Consider co-writing and collaboration

“It can be an amazing learning experience to understand the inner workings of another writer and find techniques that will benefit your own work.” Kevin J. Anderson, Writing as a Team Sport

I used to be super-protective of my writing, afraid to let anyone else see my first drafts. I thought that co-writing would somehow dilute my creative process and after all, as an introvert with my own business, I don't play well with others!

But then in 2015, I co-wrote Risen Gods with J. Thorn, and we did Sacrifice together with two other authors in early 2017, plus I have 3 other co-written books under my (secret) sweet romance pen-name, plus The Healthy Writer coming out for Jan 2018, co-written with a medical doctor. I am definitely hooked on co-writing and it will be an increasing part of my business over time.

(7) Value what you write

“When you start thinking of your writing as a business and a retail store, it really is amazing how clear some basics about writing become.” Dean Wesley Smith, The Magic Bakery

You might feel that what you write during NaNoWriMo (or any other time) is a pile of crap.

Don't worry, this is normal and almost all creatives suffer from self-doubt and imposter syndrome. (See The Successful Author Mindset for more on this topic.)

I'm plagued by it as much as any other writer and from all accounts, it doesn't stop even when you're super successful.

But if you can work through those mindset issues, produce a quality product, value your work, and repeat the process, then you can make a living with your writing – if you want to.

Please do leave any questions you might have about writing, productivity or NaNoWriMo in the comments below. Happy writing!