Only an an unstoppable killing writing machine will find success from NaNoWriMo.

You need to obsess.

You need laser focus.

But most of all, you need a secret weapon...

This post will replace your normal, boring human feet and replace them with a set of iron clompers.

With these, you will stomp all over NaNoWriMo like it’s made of bubblewrap and empty eggshells:

1. Block out at least 2 hours. Every. Day.

Guard this time like a bull dog. On canine steroids. Who subsists entirely on the meat of “people that interrupt writers.”

If you’re think writing ~1700 words in two hours is too hard - I promise you can do it.

Go read #4 in this post. It will allow you to finish your word counts every day with no stress.

2. Write as early as possible

Just… trust me on this one. This will work wonders for your writing. If you can get 1000 words done in the morning, 677 at night is NOTHING.

There’s a reason why most of the famous authors talk about writing in the mornings. 

3. Failure Should be Part of Your Plan

Let's say you finish your words in two hours every day. That means NaNoWriMo will take you about 60 hours of work.

That is a lot of chances to mess up.

Don’t be afraid to fail. So what if you missed one day? JUST KEEP WRITING.

Even if you miss one week, keep going.

…even if it is your last day of Nano and you haven’t written one damn word. Just. Keep. Writing.

If you can feel a “failure day” coming up try to pre-write. It’s taxing, but [I couldn’t think of anything, so insert your own incredibly inspirational and unforgettable message here].

4. Tell Your Internal Editor to STFU

Nano is the one journey where it is about the destination.

Your goal is only fulfilled once you get there. Stop caring so much about what you write. Let it flow through you like hate flows through a Jedi-turned-Sith-because-he-forgot-his-mom-on-Tatooine-or-whatever.

HateNaNoWriMo.jpg

And by hate, he means words.

If a word pops into your head, and it makes sense AND it adds something to your story - write it down. Write down all of your ideas - yes, even the shitty ones.

You can pare down the resulting inky, overgrown bonsai tree later.

5. Have Fun, Damn it!

NaNoWriMo is a carpal-inducing, posture-ruining, coals-under-your-feet experience.

The least you can do is smile. Enjoy your imagination and be glad you are finally making serious progress. 

Remember the Rule of Cool if you get stuck: if it’s awesome, stick it in your book. Write about things you want to read.

"What if my cool idea doesn't make sense?" So what? You’ve got all of next year to scribble edits and tear out the bad pages and stuff them in to your mouth like some half-crazed primal ape.

Hey! Done reading? Tell me below what YOU do to succeed at NaNoWriMo... 

Also, go add me on Camp NaNoWriMo. Username: PSHoffman