I’m getting a lot of readers who are revving up for ‘Wri-mo–as in NaNoWriMo, the November marathon of novel writing. I can’t think of a better way to get unstuck, go for broke and write-your-living-brains-out.

Writing Tip for Today: In a previous post we talked about some ways to prepare for the 50,000 word challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. Time, Speed and Story are vital ingredients to a successful month. Here are a few more tips:

Resist the Urge to Edit.

The biggest obstacle for many novelists is trying to ignore those urges to edit and edit and edit every sentence written. Not only does this slow you down, you are also missing great opportunities to let your creative energy loose in the story. No matter if you are a plotter or a pantster, most stories benefit from a little serendipity. If you begin to write with a destination in mind for your characters, you can still allow them to dictate some of their own actions. Nobody really understands why our subconsciousness nearly always has the freshest most original ideas, but it’s true for most writers. Pledge to yourself to resist that inner editor until you type “The End.” You’ll get a lot farther plus you may even be shocked by the depth of your own prose.

Lower Your Expectations.

During November your goal should not be to produce the great American Novel. Your goal is to finish a DRAFT of a novel. This means that the real work begins with revision. In the meantime, think about great artists you admire. These people usually did not throw some paint at a canvas and create an instant masterpiece. More often, years of training, apprenticeship or experimentation preceded the artist’s best work. The same principle applies to fiction writing. When you hit 50K, you’re liable to be holding a mess. It’s OK. It doesn’t mean you’re a lousy writer. It means you have work to do. See this is what separates the amateurs from the pros: The amateur finishes a draft and says, “Look what I did!” The pro finishes a draft and says, “Now I can get to work.”

Have a Little Fun!

During Nanowrimo, wear a silly hat!

Whether it’s your first or your fifth Nano, try to have some fun with it. Get a partner or hook up with the National organization, which provides encouragement, prompts and general cheerleading as you write your way to The End. Yes, novels are a lot of work to produce. Good or great novels are even tougher to pen. But if you participate in the November marathon, at least wear a goofy hat or a funny T shirt as you pound the keys. All work and no play makes John a frustrated writer.