Today’s the last day to reach your writing goal for NaNoWriMo. Whether you reach the goal or not, you should congratulate yourself for attempting to write a novel. That’s an achievement worth applauding. Regardless of your word count, what do you do after NaNoWriMo? The best advice I can give you is …
Nothing
At least for now. I’ve complained long and loud about NaNoWriMo being in November because, for Americans, it’s a tough month to devote to writing with Thanksgiving waiting near the end. But it may be a better month that I’ve ever realized because December follows it. With all the holiday activities demanding your attention, December is the perfect time to do nothing with your manuscript. Romantic suspense author Di Ann Mills calls this hiatus “cooking time.”
Don’t look at the manuscript again until at least January 2. You’ll come to it with new eyes. Sections you thought brilliant may seem merely flat now. Or a scene that was particularly tough to write may read much better than you hoped.
Now that you’ve let your story sit and have reread it, it’s time to …
Edit, Edit, Edit
Everybody needs to edit their manuscripts and often pretty heavily. Some newbie writers believe the first draft is the best, but I’ve never written anything that didn’t improve from a second, third, or twentieth review.
Since editing is so important, I had planned to feature this subject in December and wrap my blog’s theme for 2023, “The Journey of a Book”. But Christmas is interfering. I think more readers will be able to learn from my posts on editing in January after all the hoopla of the holidays.
So for December, my theme is Christmas writing prompts and reposting the most popular posts from the seven years I’ve been blogging. Come January, we’ll be ready to tackle editing. If you’d like to catch up on the themes from this past year, follow the links listed below.
Knowing how to take a break during NaNoWriMo is critically important if you’ve hit writer’s block and want to hit your word count by the end of the month. Your break can come in two ways–you can take a break from your novel and deliberately take actions to reignite the creative spark. Or you can take a break and deliberately take actions that have nothing to do with your story. Either approach will work.
Reigniting the Creative Spark
When your inspiration runs dry, you can take actions that you think will prime the pump of your imagination. Since I’m a mystery writer, I might review interviews I’ve already conducted with law enforcement and legal professionals, google new questions that have popped up since I began writing, or consult books I own in this area. I might reread my favorite mysteries to see if I can learn something new about plotting, setting, structure, or how to handle characters or dive into writing books and study any of those techniques.
Make a Clean Break
But maybe what you need is a clean break. That might sound crazy when you have a 50,000 word count to achieve, but trying to run a marathon without any fuel is crazy too. I’ve also thought it was crazy that this writing Olympics takes place in November. NaNoWriMo was created by an American, and he should know that only December is a busier month in our country. But the fact that Thanksgiving forces most people to take a break from their regular schedules can work in your favor if you’ve hit a wall of unproductively in your novel.
If you have to take off from writing for the holiday, make a clean break. Don’t do anything writing related for a day or two, which should be easy if you’re attending or hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. Force yourself away from your pen or computer. Try not to think about your novel at all.
Or you might try this approach. If I’ve run into a scene going nowhere, I tell my brain what the problem is and then stop thinking about it. Very often, ideas will begin to bubble and then rise to the surface. I’m not sure how this works, but I’ve had a lot of success by turning my brain loose from my conscious efforts.
After your clean break, you may be surprised at how eager you are to get the words flowing again. And at how easily they flow.
It’s been awhile, but I’m glad to introduce a new author to you here at JPC Allen Writes. Angela D. Shelton writes YA dystopian novels and is here with her blog post. “Unleash Your Story: Join NaNoWriMo 2023.” Take it away, Angela!
November is here, and with it comes an electrifying opportunity for aspiring writers around the globe: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2023. For those unfamiliar with it, NaNoWriMo is an annual, internet-based creative writing project that challenges participants to pen a 50,000-word manuscript in just 30 days. Yes, it’s a marathon of creativity, and the goal isn’t just to write; it’s to ignite your passion for storytelling.
If you’re sitting on the fence, wondering if this is for you, let’s dive into why NaNoWriMo could be your gateway to a newfound love for writing.
Unleash Your Creative Potential
NaNoWriMo is more than just writing; it’s about unleashing your potential. You have a unique voice and perspective that the world needs to hear. This event provides a structured yet liberating platform to explore your creativity. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progression. Let your imagination run wild!
Join a Supportive Community
Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but not during NaNoWriMo. You’ll be part of a vibrant, supportive community of fellow writers, all embarking on the same journey. This community offers encouragement, advice, and the kind of camaraderie that keeps you motivated.
Embrace a Challenge
NaNoWriMo pushes you out of your comfort zone. The challenge of writing 50,000 words in a month may seem daunting, but it’s incredibly fulfilling. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with dedication and a bit of time management.
Discover Your Voice
As you write, you’ll discover your unique voice. NaNoWriMo encourages you to experiment with different styles and genres. It’s a time to explore and find what truly resonates with you as a writer.
Achieve a Tangible Goal
At the end of the month, you’ll have a manuscript. It’s a tangible achievement that serves as a testament to your commitment and creativity. Whether you choose to pursue publishing or keep it as a personal accomplishment, you’ve created something remarkable.
As you embark on your NaNoWriMo journey, let me introduce you to an inspiration: Rise of the Y. This young adult dystopian novel is a testament to the power of creativity and perseverance – the same qualities you’ll harness during NaNoWriMo.
Rise of the Y is set in a world where the unexpected has become the norm, and survival is a daily challenge. It’s a story of resilience, hope, and the indomitable human spirit. Vivid storytelling and richly crafted characters are sure to ignite your imagination and fuel your writing journey.
Summing it up
NaNoWriMo is an incredible opportunity to start your writing journey. It’s a chance to tell your story, join a community of like-minded individuals, and discover the joys of creative writing. And as you write, remember the world of Rise of the Y and how I brought my vision to life. It’s your time to shine, to write, and to rise!
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your laptop or pen, join the NaNoWriMo 2023 challenge, and start writing the story that only you can tell. Who knows, this time next year, we might be talking about your novel!
Tales of Courage, Love, and Faith from the Cattle Fields to the Battlefields.
Angela D. Shelton, a recipient of the 2023 Christian Indie Awards in the young adult category, enjoys writing stories in both young adult and romance genres. When she’s not working in healthcare accounting, she’s busy with her husband, Tom, taking care of their small cattle ranch in Georgia.
Angela finds creative fuel in her day-to-day life, from working on the ranch to learning from Tom’s background in military and law enforcement. This comes to life in her series, Collapse, which follows a family in a small Georgia town learning to adapt and thrive when faced with global challenges.
Her latest project, The Y Chronicles series, takes readers on a journey through a dystopian Atlanta, Georgia. Angela’s writing, influenced by her own experiences and observations, aims to offer more than just a good story—it aims to create a world readers can truly lose themselves in. Whether tackling themes of resilience, romance, or rebellion, Angela hopes her stories touch the hearts of those who read them. Connect with Angela at her website,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon,Goodreads, Boobkbub, TikTok, and YouTube.
Should you let your imagination soar for NaNoWriMo? This is a crucial question if you are participating in the writing phenomena.
Haven’t heard of NaNoWriMo? It’s short for National Novel Writing Month. Writers commit to write 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November. (Short rant: why November? I just learned that the founder is from San Francisco, so he knows how crazy November is for Americans. I had a Canadian writer say it’s not great for them, either.)
Whether you let your imagination soar depends on how you want to accomplish your 50,000-word goal.
For the Plotter
If you are a plotter, then I’m sure you’ve been preparing for the writing marathon for months now. You have outlines, character arcs, character biographies, and various kinds of research. If you want to reach your goal, stick to you plan. Only veer from your preparation when you find yourself running up against writer’s block. Even then, just take short, side trips from your planned route so you don’t get lost on tangents and lose sight of your goal.
For the Pantser
Pantsers write by the seat of their pants. I’ve also heard this kind of writer called a Discovery writer. ( I learned this term from my oldest who is taking a college composition course). If you are this kind of writer, you may have outlines, arcs, and all the rest. Or you could have just a vague idea of what you want to write. Either way, a Pantser isn’t tied to any prepared material or thoughts. As this kind of writer writes, the process itself uncovers, or discovers, what the story is about.
If you’re a pantser, then by all means, unleash your imagination during NaNoWriMo. As you work to discover your story, don’t be afraid to wander far into the realm of endless possibilities.
For Me
I’m a bit of both kinds of writers, which I believe a lot of writers are. As I mull over my next story, I spend a lot of time creating outlines, usually on a calendar, so I know what action takes place on which day. But as I come to write the story, I realize that some of the ideas in my head don’t work as well on the page. Or at all. That’s when I board the ship named “Discovery” and set sail for the far shore of my imagination.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? What kind of writer are you–plotter, pantser, or a mixture of both?
Congratulations! You’ve finished NaNoWriMo. Now what?
Whether you reached your goal or not, any attempt a writer makes to work on his or her art is an achievement. But now that it’s over, what’s the next step? Although my attempt at NaNoWriMo last March didn’t accomplish what I hoped, I do have some advice for whatever shape your story is in, come December 1.
Let It Go
At least for awhile. I’ve always bemoaned the fact that NaNoWriMo is held in November. But the one advantage of doing it in that month is that December follows it and everyone is usually so busy in December that a writer really doesn’t have time to keep working on a novel started in November. And that’s perfect.
I’ve found that once I finish a story, I need to let it sit awhile without looking working on it at all. Times vary. Some writers need to leave it alone for only a week, others, a month.
For my latest short story, I worked on it over several months and then submitted it. Of course, after I let it go, an idea for improving the next to last line came to me weeks later. So I contacted the editor of the anthology. She said she hadn’t started editing yet, so if I had changes, I should go ahead and make them. As I dug back into the short story, I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly it read. Except for one part, which didn’t make a whole lot of sense. So I changed the next to last line and the dialogue in the scene that didn’t make sense. Stepping away from it for several weeks helped me see where the story needed work.
Edit, Edit, Edit
January will probably be a good month to bring your NaNoWriMo novel into the light and see how it looks. Now is the time to edit. No one writes a perfect first draft. If you haven’t edited a fiction story before, ask for advice from writer friends, check out writing blogs, borrow writing books. Editing will only improve your novel, and your want your novel to be the best it can be.
