NaNo Day 30 - The Wrap Up

So it's finally the end of National Novel Writing Month. If you saw my winning video clip, I am totally beyond happy with myself for pushing through 50,000 words in a single month. There were a lot of things I learned about myself and how to keep on writing even when I didn't feel like it.

And I totally ordered my winning T-Shirt!!!!

Number one thing I learned about myself: 

It takes 76 CUPS OF COFFEE TO WIN NANOWRIMO!!!

1) Planner or Panster? It turns out I just have to use whatever works each day! There is no magical method that I've been able to cling to yet. I outlined my story, did some world building, and simple character profiles before NaNo began.  It turns out that WHILE writing, I let myself be led by inspiration way off course. There are parts of my outline that were lost and character relationships that changed. There's no way I could have made it through November if I had clung religiously to my first outline; instead the story flourished as I went with the flow of things.

2)  Writing techniques! I probably tried every single one. I have a little purple notebook that I use during the mornings to jote down story notes and chapter points. I tried index cards. I tried writing in the morning, during the night. Forcing myself and being inspired. Using both music and silence to inspire me. I think I NEED to have variation every day for my writing to work.

However I think the technique I've liked the best is:  expanding bullet points! I'll write a general idea for a chapter, and keep adding bullet notes in-between my main plot points. By the time I have a list of 25 points, I've already expanded into a whole page of text. Most of the time that works for me!

3)  Word sprints are your friend! Before this month started, I didn't even know what a word sprint is. But now I feel like it's a very necessary exercise to get into the flow of writing during the day. Just give yourself a time limit like 10 minutes, and just don't stop typing. Let the words flow and keep your fingers moving. Not only did this start me into the habit of writing for the day, I created new story ideas that I loved! Try out writtenkitten if you want to challenge yourself to a sprint!

4)  Research about writing technique! No, authors are not just dropped from the sky, stuck at the computer, and magically type out an award-winning novel without any type of writing experience. It was really helpful to me to watch Youtube videos like: Katytastic's three act novel outline, Brandon Sanderson's lectures on fantasy writing, and reading essays on character voice.

5) Have a writing buddy! Any one that's followed my blog knows I've gone through this journey with writing twinsie, Valerie! She's been there to support me every day during November, through blogs, excerpts, advice, and just spending silly time on skype. Going through this contest with someone else is a sure way to stay motivated.

6)  Murder your internal editor! I cannot count how many times I just wanted to stop writing to go back and edit the chapters I had. The text was boring. Characters were left out. The plot was too obvious. And it was so hard to just keep writing when I knew what I had wasn't good. Luckily I learned about the strikeout and bracket tricks!

• Strikeout Text:  If you don't like it, strikeout the text you have as a visual reminder that you need to change it. BUT! Don't delete it. Keep the word count and just come back to it later. Maybe you will change your mind about it
• Bracket Tricks:  If you really don't know what to write, like dialogue, but can't think of anything witty to say, use brackets! Like [...she told a joke about cheese right here...]. It's a complete time saver, you know the plot, and continue the story.
• Comments:  This is an extra one if you're using Microsoft word. I will highlight some text and place a comment balloon over it if something needs to be changed for later. I use comments instead of brackets if that text is important to plot, or to keep those facts in mind for another scene. 

7)  Cooking dinner! Is usually impossible when you are writing. I was totally horrible with my eating habits in November, most of the meals coming from the freezer or the crockpot. Yay for chili! And hamburgers! Not to mention I think that my fiance and I went out to eat like....at least twice a week. I would totally advise tricking your friends into inviting you over during a write-o-thon and having them cook so you can keep typing.

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So the list of my invaluable learning experiences will continue to grow as I continue to write. Like I said, my novel isn't done yet. I probably have another 50% more text to write! WOO-HOO!

It's a good thing my December will also be mostly quiet, so I can concentrate on it. I'll let you guys know if I'll post more excerpts, because like #6, I can't start editing yet! I have like 5 strikeout paragraphs and like 30 bracket sections I need to fill in!!! :O

So! Time to keep writing....well....actually today, I'm just gonna chill with my coffee cup and some YouTube. I think I deserve a day of rest. Peace out!