livewritedream:

With NaNoWriMo just around the corner, (just a little over a month!) we decided to create a post with all the information you need to learn about, live with, work through, and survive NaNoWriMo.

• What is NaNoWriMo?
  National Novel Writing Month is a yearly event that takes place in November, from the first through the thirtieth. During the event, writers from all around the world sit down at their computers, typewriters, and notebooks and attempt to write a 50,000 word novel, series of novels, or even work in totally different projects (thus becoming a ‘Nano Rebel’). There are very few rules, but there are some.
• Does it cost?
  No. Nano is a program ran by a nonprofit organization that runs on donations and sales made in their merch store.
• Who can do it?
  ANYONE. Seriously, anyone from ages 5-105 can participate. Along with NaNoWriMo, which is for anyone ages 13 and over, there is something called the Young Writers Program. This is a variation on the classic Nano specifically designed for children! It can be for a single child, or set up by a teacher for a class. The word count for YWP does not have to be 50k; it can be set at anything they please. 
• Are there prizes?
  While there are no prizes given officially by NaNo, many of the sponsors give special offers to those who make it to 50k. Go here to learn more about that. 
• How did Nano start?
  -A young novelist by the name of Chris Baty in July of 1999 gathered 20 of his buddies and decided to write novels to, as they put it, ‘make noise’. They wanted to be heard. (Not to mention the fact that they believed novelist got more dates than non-novelists.)
  -By the second year, there was a website and and an email sent out to Baty’s friends and family. 140 people participated, and 21 passed the finish line.
  -The third year was the the year the dam broke. 150 people were expected to sign up for the event. Instead, 5,000 did. Baty blamed it on blogging, which makes sense. The word of mouth (or blog) is a powerful tool.
  -In the coming years, they hosted more and more servers, lost the website, brought it back from the dead, got an office, and got a steadily climbing number of participants. In 2006, they created the official nonprofit organization. After countless hours agonizing over a name, Baty decided upon ‘The Office of Letters and Light’, describing it as, “like a little glowing governmental bureaucracy staffed by elves.”
  -Over the next few years, they rolled out more programs like Script Frenzy, the ‘write a 100-page screenplay in a month’ event, and ‘Camp NaNoWriMo’, in which participants set up camp and have 2 chances to write a 50,000 word novel in the summer. (The first year, the events took place in July and August, and the second year’s took place in June and August.)
  -At the end of last year’s Nano, however, Chris Baty officially stepped down as executive director to pursue a life of traveling and writing and general awesomeness. The position was transferred to Grant Faulkner. Baty still holds the position of Board Member Emeritus.

Now that you know about NaNoWriMo’s guidelines, information, and history. Let’s move on to: Survival!

There are a few different types of Nanoers. There are those breeze through the event as if it’s nothing, well surpassing the goal of 50k in half the time. There the ones who struggle here and there, but generally make it by the end of the month with a few thousand word cushion. And then there are the ones who trudge through the month, clinging on for dear life to the hope that maybe, just maybe, they can make it. Sometimes they win, oftentimes they don’t, but by the end of the month they realize they’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Because who doesn’t love a good emotionally draining, mentally taxing, and physically painful month of writing and testing their endurance?

Here are some things you can do to get through NaNoWrimo with relative ease:

• Know what you’ll be writing
  Don’t start Nano without any idea of what you’ll be writing, and don’t even start with a little bit of an idea. Know your characters, know your opening, conflict, and closing. You don’t need a scene-by-scene ready, but do know the base of your novel. If you want to get more specific…
• Outline
  Like I said, you don’t need a scene-by-scene, but a chapter-by-chapter outline will help greatly come November 1st. This is how I personally write my outlines:
  
• Converse with other writers
  While writers can be introverts by nature, it’s good to not hole yourself up and isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Even if you’re just talking to writers on the computer, fellowship with others will help you keep your sanity in check. Most utilize the Nano Forums.
• Remember your every day tasks
  It’s important to remember the important, non-writing things. Like family, school, chores, work, and feeding the dog. You don’t have to necessarily not write specifically to spend time with family, but remember to prioritize. Family is important. Their the ones who put up with your craziness. Make a list before Nano starts of the things you must do daily (other than writing), prioritize them, and then figure out a way to fit them all into the day without interrupting your writing too much.
• Stay focused
  All too easily, the big picture can become blurry as we focus in on the one certain thing in front of us. Don’t forget your goal. However, don’t let the big picture scare you away. Try to find that happy medium.
• Chocolate. Caffeine and chocolate.
  Does this need explaining? Be sure to stay stocked. (Oh, and maybe some real food would be useful. Wouldn’t wanna, y’know, die.)

Lastly, be sure to keep in mind:

• Just because you didn’t win, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t accomplish anything.
  
• It’s a program, an event… Not necessarily a competition. Don’t let the success of others get you down.
• Don’t be a sore winner. No one likes those.
• Encourage yourself and others. Nothing beats a friendly pep talk from a fellow writer. 
• Have fun. It’s what it was created for. (Well, that and getting more dates.)

Anything to add? Questions or comments? Direct them to our askbox! :)

As always, thanks for reading!

-Laikyn

Links:

NaNoWriMo
Script Frenzy
Camp NaNoWriMo
Young Writers Program
Office of Letters and Light