NaNoWriMo Hacks
Writing a novel in 30 days is no easy task. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has been running since 1999 and even seasoned writers have trouble getting through it. That's why NaNoWriMo is just not for seasoned writers, but also for up-and-coming ones too! By following these NaNoWriMo 10 hacks you can get through this with your sanity intact! As a bonus, I’ve included a nonfiction outline guide and a fiction outline video to help you on your NaNoWriMo journey!
1. Write about something you already know about
If you are writing anything to do with something that relates to your own personal experiences, knowledge, or interests then everything will be so much easier for you because you'll have the ability to elaborate better on topics. This hack should result in smoother chapter transitions, characters being more fleshed out and dialogue being more realistic. NaNo targets 50,000 words so the more words you have from what you already know about means less time to write up a load of stuff that is either inconsequential or well-known.
2. Everyone needs a NaNoWriMo goal map
If you're going to fully immerse yourself in the NaNoWriMo challenge then do it properly! Make a NaNoWriMo goal map and hang it somewhere prominent. This way every time you look at your NaNoWriMo goal map, whether it's when writing or just daydreaming about your book, you'll be reminded of how close you are getting to your NaNoWriMo word count goal and this will motivate you to keep going when things get tough!
3. NaNoWriMo Commandments
There are NaNoWriMo commandments that NaNo veterans swear by. If you're not familiar with them then get familiar with them! Writing 50,000 words in a month seems like a steep mountain to climb, but if you commit to the process, you’ll be beyond pleased with the results by the end of the month.
Personally, I like these guidelines:
Thou shalt write every single day.
Thou shalt not edit thy work in progress (abbreviated to WIP) at any point during NaNo except when thy writing group/NaNoWriMo buddies tell thee to do so (further details on editing thy NaNoWriMo WIP will be given when editing thy NaNo WIP commences).
Thou shalt cherish and love the NaNoWriMo community and NaNo, and if thou has any questions about NaNoWriMo then thou shalt not hesitate to contact NaNoWriMo HQ immediately.
4. Plotting and Pantsing: pick one or the other
Plotters are writers who like having a basic outline of their NaNoWriMo WIP before they start writing. They don't write by the seat of their pants, but rather by using an outline so that they know what's coming next in their NaNoWriMo WIP. Pantsers on the other hand, just go with the flow and fly by the seat of their pants while writing up their NaNoWriMo WIP--they have no idea what's going to happen next in their NaNoWriMo WIP until they get there. NaNoWriMo allows you to be either a Pantser or Plotter, but not both because this challenge is daunting for a reason--so go with whichever style of writing you prefer and work on improving your skills by NaNoing even more in future NaNos!
5. Writing buddies are key
If done properly then half the NaNoWriMo battle has already been won before writing even begins. By forming or joining a writing buddy group that uses Discord or Skype then it's easy to comment on each other's NaNoWriMo WIPs, whether it be good comments like 'Wow! Great chapter! Keep going!' or bad comments like 'You wrote about something so mind-numbingly boring that it made me fall asleep.' NaNo buddies should be supportive, not critical. NaNo buddies are NaNo cheerleaders rather than NaNo bullies, so NaNo with a buddy or buddies!
6. NaNoWriMo gold badges don't mean anything
NaNo writers may earn the NaNoWriMo gold badge for 50k words written in NaNo, but unless these writers are using one of the NaNoWriMo hacks mentioned in this article then the content might not be gold--no matter how much gold leaf they have on them! So go and use all the NaNoWriMo hacks mentioned in this article because it's what will help you to become a NaNoWriMo badass!
7. Don't fall into the trap of 'I'll edit my manuscript later'
Staying conscious of this one will save you a load of time and make the editing process for your NaNo writing (or any writing) significantly more efficient. It takes most writers years to learn how to edit properly, so why waste months or even years on sub-par work that you could've done in under an hour? Just edit as you're writing it up through enabling editor in Word or use an extension such as Grammarly. Don’t obsess. You want to have these tools or apps activated to save you time and editing stress later.
8. Create a daily writing goal, but make it achievable
Aim to write the recommended 1,667 words a day on your book or whatever length of time you've chosen for your total daily word count goal--this may seem like a lot, but if you can't reach this then don't worry about it. Keep going until you do reach this target because even though I said aim high with reaching 50k in a month then adjusting your goal can sometimes be better than not writing at all.
9. I've completed my novel, but should I publish it right away?
There's no rule against publishing NaNoWriMo work before the edits are complete and after NaNoWriMo is over, so if you're dying to get your book out into the world then go for it! If however, you'd rather wait until you've done all the NaNo editing that's needed then don't let anyone pressure you into doing otherwise--it's your decision, not theirs. If the idea of getting feedback on your NaNoWriMo WIP makes you cringe then just wait until afterward when it's NaNo edited and NaNo published--NaNo feedback optional.
10. Don't forget to have fun
Don't worry about how fast you're writing, but rather the quality of your words, so feel free to express yourself. Get everything bottled up within you onto those pages and worry about the fine-tuning afterward. If you’ve been reading this far, then you obviously have a book inside of you that is dying to come out! Enjoy this process and know you are not alone.
Below, I've included a nonfiction outline to help you in case you're going this route for NaNoWriMo. If you'd like the fiction outline version, check out this video:
Nonfiction Outline
Book Content Overview
Answer these 6 questions, then fill out a section of the introduction, outline, and conclusion. Try to include at least 3 sub-points for each chapter.
• What? What is the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader?
• Where? Where does this concept, topic, or idea, apply?
• Why? Why does this matter?
• Who? Who is this for, or who is involved?
• When? Is there a concept of time involved?
• How? Ask yourself how will this happen?
Title
Write a list of book titles based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
Sub-Title
Write a list of book sub-titles based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
Book Description
• Write a summary of a book based on a concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
• Write a call to action to buy this book.
Introduction
The Hook
• Write a compelling personal story based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
• Write a shocking fact based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
• Write an uncommon belief based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the reader.
Pro Tip: Personal stories, shocking facts, and options contradictory to popular belief are great ways to hook a reader.
This Book Is For You...
• Write a paragraph about who this book is for.
• Write a paragraph about who this book is not for.
Pro Tip: Call out internal desires and remove present pain, then expand.
For example:
• Are you tired of ...
• Do you want more ...
• Are you ready for ...
Skeptics Read This...
• What would a skeptical person say about this concept, topic, or idea
• If you are concerned X - the answer is Y
Pro Tip: This is for objection handling. Call it out here and address the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the skeptics
• This book is still for you even if X, Y, Z
How This Book Is Different
• What are 3 ways this book is different?
How To Read This Book
• How should I read this book based on the concept, topic, or idea?
Pro Tip: Give your readers direction
My Story
• Imagine someone asking you to sell them on the opportunity of publishing your book.
• Why should they believe in you?
• Have confidence and clarity that you are on the right path and communicate that accordingly.
Pro Tip: Sell them on 3 things:
• Right opportunity? (book)
• Right person? (author)
• Right time? (them)
"If not this, then what? If not you, then who? If not now, then when?"
Creating Your Rapid Outline:
Use this section for rapid-fire brainstorming, then come back, organize, and insert in a logical order based on the flow of the book.
Write a book outline based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
Chapter 1: Problem you are solving.
• Ask yourself: Why is it important to solve this problem?
• Write a problem we are solving based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Write an introductory paragraph about the biggest problem relating to the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Write a chapter outline based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
A)
B)
C)
• Write a chapter conclusion paragraph with action steps based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
Chapter 2: History of the problem
• Ask yourself: Where did it all start? Where are we now?
• What's the history of the problem we are solving based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Write an introductory paragraph about the problem history relating to the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Write a chapter outline based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
A)
B)
C)
• Write a chapter conclusion paragraph with action steps based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
Chapter 3: Your Method for Creating this Change
• Ask yourself: Why is your method different?
• Write a paragraph about the unique method for solving the problem based on the concept, topic, or idea in the content brief
• Write a chapter outline based on the concept, topic, or idea above
• Write a chapter conclusion paragraph with action steps based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
Chapters 4–9: Additional Steps For Creating Change
• What do we need to do first?
• Second?
• Third?
Pro Tip: Rinse and repeat for each chapter, modify the commands based on the concept, topic, or idea based on the content overview.
• Write a story based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Introduce the topic of this chapter.
• Write a chapter outline based on the topic of this chapter.
• Write a chapter conclusion paragraph with action steps based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
Chapter 10: What the Future Holds
• What is coming in the future based on the concept, topic, or idea in the content brief.
• Write a story based on the concept, topic, or idea you want to relate to the readers.
• Introduce the topic of this chapter.
• Write a chapter outline based on the topic of this chapter.
• Write a chapter conclusion paragraph with action steps based on the concept, topic, or idea above.
Conclusion
• 5-7 answers you covered in the book.
• Summarize the concepts covered in each chapter based on the content brief.
Next Steps:
• Thank the reader.
• Write a call to action for the next steps.
Research and Resources
• List all the tools needed for the journey.
If you’ve found this guide and tip sheet helpful, be sure to subscribe to my channel MB Dallocchio for more writing tips and free workshops! Thanks for stopping by, and happy NaNoWriMo to you!
