Post by wingch on Sept 8, 2010 7:44:54 GMT -5
This I got from a member on Nanowrimo Young Writer's Program. Thank you Elly!
2nd week Nano blues? Try these tips!
-Use your favorite scent or candle.
-Decide if you focus best with full-blown distractions like music and tv or total silence. Then, adapt to your surroundings by sitting inside if you can focus with what is called "distractions" by others or sitting outside on a quiet, peaceful morning if you like total silence.
-Try your best.
-Write, write, and write some more!
-Watching tv shows, reading books, etc., will most likely inspire you to write.
-Take a jog around the block or take a warm shower/bath.
-Relax.
-For hand cramps, press your hand firmly against the inside of your knees. I learned this from someone on NaNo.
-Surf around on the forums when you want to think about NaNo but not your story.
-When you feel courageous, take a dare from one of the NaNo'ers.
-Encourage others and you will be encouraged.
-Find a great writing buddy on NaNo and perhaps in real life.
-When your main character writes something, make it long.
-Writing about something you're familiar with or something that's going on in your life and fictionalizing it by making up characters really helps. I can keep going for hours because I'm writing about things that happen in my life and making up characters based on my friends. It helps a lot. -This tip is from rainy'smybaby.
-Wear your favorite color, or have your favorite color by you. Notebooks that look nice as well as serve a purpose are a great pick-me-up for the roughest week of Nano yet. Red is a great, can't-go-wrong color because it resembles passion- you know, passion for writing? Hint, hint. :-)
-Just write. Tell yourself that you have GOT to get 1,000 words before 2:00. And then meet your goal! Reward yourself for those "major milestones" by getting a sundae at the ice cream parlor, or maybe some new pens.
-Use Write Or Die. It really works! Just try it. The website is: www.writeordie.drwicked.com If you find that it doesn't work, then sit down and tell yourself to write until 2:00.
-Decide on an appropriate period of time, and a good time of day. If you can sit down and happily write for an hour without taking a break, then certainly go ahead and do that! But most of us can't write for such a long time without taking a break. So decide on an appropriate amount, like 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or anything in between. Also, pick a good time of day. Night owl? Write at 8:00 P.M. or later. Early bird? Write in the morning.
-Take a bubble bath. Don't forget about yourself during Nano. If you're stressed, then relax. Either take care of yourself or your story falls apart because you're too stressed.
-Outline it. Outlining may help you get the basic story ideas you want.
-Doodle. Many people feel the need to doodle when they brainstorm.
-Eat snacks. You can't novel on an empty stomach. Make sure healthy snacks (nuts, trail mix, peanuts, rolled up ham, and cheese) are beside your sweets and candy.
-Close all internet windows. If you're prone to getting distracted by Facebook or the Nano Forums, then tell yourself that you can't get online until you're satisfied with your word count for that day.
-Cut out distractions. Some Nano'ists have noisy siblings or noisy neighbors. So go ahead and ask your sister to turn her music down. Ask your brother to play outside. Or just go somewhere quiet to write.
-Add new characters. Whether it be a spunky girl from New Mexico named Felicity or a businessman from Arkansas, new characters can spice things up.
-Add a twist. But make sure they relate to your basic idea or outline.
-Use a pen name. I heard a good tip from a fellow Nano'er - pick three letters that spell something out, like KOW or LUV. Then fill in the letters with some great names. This will probably boost your ego, writing under Katherina Manchez, rather than Jane Smith. Oh yeah, and by the way, feel free to use the name Katherina Manchez.
-Make sure you're having fun. If you don't have fun in Nanowrimo, you might as well not do it. Nano is NOT pure work, it's supposed to be fun, too!
-Try to balance out Nano with other activities. Don't write for hours on end without breaks. Take a break. Go shoot some hoops, skateboard, rollerskate, or pursue other interests.
-Decide how many words per day you are capable of writing. If your word count goal is 50,000, then write about 1,667 words a day. If you're doing 45,000, then do 1,500 words per day. Here's a chart.
Goal- Words per day-
120,000 4000
100,000 3334
75,000 2500
50,000 1667
45,000 1500
40,000 1334
35,000 1167
30,000 1000
25,000 834
20,000 667
15,000 500
10,000 334
8,000 267
5,000 167
4,000 134
3,000 100
Oh yeah, and happy writing!
2nd week Nano blues? Try these tips!
-Use your favorite scent or candle.
-Decide if you focus best with full-blown distractions like music and tv or total silence. Then, adapt to your surroundings by sitting inside if you can focus with what is called "distractions" by others or sitting outside on a quiet, peaceful morning if you like total silence.
-Try your best.
-Write, write, and write some more!
-Watching tv shows, reading books, etc., will most likely inspire you to write.
-Take a jog around the block or take a warm shower/bath.
-Relax.
-For hand cramps, press your hand firmly against the inside of your knees. I learned this from someone on NaNo.
-Surf around on the forums when you want to think about NaNo but not your story.
-When you feel courageous, take a dare from one of the NaNo'ers.
-Encourage others and you will be encouraged.
-Find a great writing buddy on NaNo and perhaps in real life.
-When your main character writes something, make it long.
-Writing about something you're familiar with or something that's going on in your life and fictionalizing it by making up characters really helps. I can keep going for hours because I'm writing about things that happen in my life and making up characters based on my friends. It helps a lot. -This tip is from rainy'smybaby.
-Wear your favorite color, or have your favorite color by you. Notebooks that look nice as well as serve a purpose are a great pick-me-up for the roughest week of Nano yet. Red is a great, can't-go-wrong color because it resembles passion- you know, passion for writing? Hint, hint. :-)
-Just write. Tell yourself that you have GOT to get 1,000 words before 2:00. And then meet your goal! Reward yourself for those "major milestones" by getting a sundae at the ice cream parlor, or maybe some new pens.
-Use Write Or Die. It really works! Just try it. The website is: www.writeordie.drwicked.com If you find that it doesn't work, then sit down and tell yourself to write until 2:00.
-Decide on an appropriate period of time, and a good time of day. If you can sit down and happily write for an hour without taking a break, then certainly go ahead and do that! But most of us can't write for such a long time without taking a break. So decide on an appropriate amount, like 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or anything in between. Also, pick a good time of day. Night owl? Write at 8:00 P.M. or later. Early bird? Write in the morning.
-Take a bubble bath. Don't forget about yourself during Nano. If you're stressed, then relax. Either take care of yourself or your story falls apart because you're too stressed.
-Outline it. Outlining may help you get the basic story ideas you want.
-Doodle. Many people feel the need to doodle when they brainstorm.
-Eat snacks. You can't novel on an empty stomach. Make sure healthy snacks (nuts, trail mix, peanuts, rolled up ham, and cheese) are beside your sweets and candy.
-Close all internet windows. If you're prone to getting distracted by Facebook or the Nano Forums, then tell yourself that you can't get online until you're satisfied with your word count for that day.
-Cut out distractions. Some Nano'ists have noisy siblings or noisy neighbors. So go ahead and ask your sister to turn her music down. Ask your brother to play outside. Or just go somewhere quiet to write.
-Add new characters. Whether it be a spunky girl from New Mexico named Felicity or a businessman from Arkansas, new characters can spice things up.
-Add a twist. But make sure they relate to your basic idea or outline.
-Use a pen name. I heard a good tip from a fellow Nano'er - pick three letters that spell something out, like KOW or LUV. Then fill in the letters with some great names. This will probably boost your ego, writing under Katherina Manchez, rather than Jane Smith. Oh yeah, and by the way, feel free to use the name Katherina Manchez.
-Make sure you're having fun. If you don't have fun in Nanowrimo, you might as well not do it. Nano is NOT pure work, it's supposed to be fun, too!
-Try to balance out Nano with other activities. Don't write for hours on end without breaks. Take a break. Go shoot some hoops, skateboard, rollerskate, or pursue other interests.
-Decide how many words per day you are capable of writing. If your word count goal is 50,000, then write about 1,667 words a day. If you're doing 45,000, then do 1,500 words per day. Here's a chart.
Goal- Words per day-
120,000 4000
100,000 3334
75,000 2500
50,000 1667
45,000 1500
40,000 1334
35,000 1167
30,000 1000
25,000 834
20,000 667
15,000 500
10,000 334
8,000 267
5,000 167
4,000 134
3,000 100
Oh yeah, and happy writing!