How to Win NaNoWriMo While You’re Busy Running NaNoWriMo

We couldn’t make it through November without the help of our amazing, talented, and dedicated interns! Today, our Fall 2022 Editorial and Programs Intern Josie Gepulle shares some wisdom on how she made it to 50K while also working hard to help keep NaNoWriMo running:  

There’s a lot I accomplished during my time as a NaNoWriMo Intern. I found myself doing things I would’ve never thought I could do. I’m naturally a shy introvert, so could I really handle coordinating projects or running Virtual Write-Ins?

The answer is yes, I can do that, and so much more.

What really surprised me, though, was that I won NaNoWriMo for the very first time. I first learned about NaNo when I was around eleven years old, so what was different about this year?

How in the world do you win NaNoWriMo when you’re busy running NaNo itself?

Well, I can’t say I have the perfect answer, but these four things helped me a lot.

1. Take part in NaNo’s online events.

Maybe this is a little unfair, considering I was hosting Virtual Write-Ins. But whether it’s a VWI, Community Meetup, or even an Author Webcast, all these events helped me connect more with the amazing community NaNo has to offer.

My past NaNo attempts were pretty isolated and I was used to writing on my own.

I quickly learned, however, that writing with other people is the best thing in the world. Writers are strange and quirky, but we understand each other more than anyone else. We were able to support each other and give advice that genuinely helped.

There’s also so much community outside of these events too! Shout out to the DFW Rhinos Discord, where I did most of my writing sprints. Each sprint ended with congratulations from fellow writers.

Seeing everyone’s progress in real time is an amazing experience. It inspired me to keep writing too.

When I say any success during NaNo feels like a shared one, I truly mean it.

2. Consistency is the key!

As much as I tried to keep close to a daily word count goal, it was more important to write every single day. Building habits is hard, I’ll admit that.

I tried really hard for NaNo though. I did my best to write the same time every day, usually before work. Sometimes though, writing at night gives you the same feeling as writing an essay an hour before it’s due.

While my time of day wasn’t consistent, I quickly became accustomed to writing every single day. If I truly couldn’t sit down and write that day, I’d type one single word on my phone and count that.

Of course, I will always stress that you should be taking care of yourself first. If you can’t write every single day, that’s fine. Maybe you start by writing every two days or every week. If you can’t write at all, that’s cool too! You’re the one that matters first.

3. Be public about your writing.

Talk to your coworkers about your writing. Talk to your friends about your writing.

I made sure to put my word count in my Discord status and Twitter display name. Everyone was going to see my progress, even if they weren’t a writer.

I was very annoying about my NaNo project, yelling to my friends every time I reached a significant number. They didn’t mind though. They were glad to cheer me on.

The more people you tell, the more cheerleaders you have. Don’t underestimate the power of a cheer squad.

4. Return to your writing roots.

I’m very much aware that a traditional NaNo challenge involves coming up with a new novel idea. Except when you’re running around trying to prepare for November, prepping for a new novel can slip right out of your mind.

Initially, I was disappointed that I couldn’t work on a brand new novel.

Then I realized I had something I could work on. Something I’m very familiar with.

There’s a novel I wrote for my very first NaNo. I never finished it, but I’ve been revising the world and characters for years. I always thought the plot was too difficult for me and I wasn’t ready to write it.

I’ll be honest, I still wasn’t ready when I started writing that new first draft. I felt comfortable though, writing for old characters that I grew up with. The more time that passed, the more I started to enjoy the discovery process. You can do as much planning as you want, but you’ll still end up learning so much about your characters in the writing process.

Return to your old writing friends, the old ideas of your childhood, and maybe something will lead you to success.

I’m proud that this is the project that led to my win. Isn’t it poetic? To win NaNo with the novel that inspired you in the first place?

In a lot of ways, maybe these tips are for the super specific version of me that existed last month. Still, I hope they can help a little bit, no matter who you are.

I’m thankful for meeting everyone on the NaNo staff and for all the cool writers I got to interact with. NaNo is truly driven by the principle that every story matters.

I got to experience a few of those stories. I can’t wait to hear more. And dear reader? That includes yours.

Lots of love,
Josie

Josie Gepulle is a longtime NaNoWriMo participant and wrangler of characters that become just a bit too alive. She enjoys coming-of-age stories that bring magic to the mundane—sometimes literally! Outside of writing, she loves baking, analyzing media, and staring at hamsters. They’re also an artist and stop motion animator! Feel free to check out their newly created writing Tumblr (@josiewillwrite)  or art Instagram (@ubepengu.draws) for more shenanigans. Feel free to add them as a NaNo buddy as well!