A NaNoWriMo Hack: Outpace Real Life

Need a quick NaNoWriMo hack? We’ve asked our Municipal Liaisons to offer their best tip for November success. First up? Walla Walla’s ML Kevin Dyer:

The single biggest stumbling block I see for writers on the path to a complete novel is missed days of work. Makeup work just has a way of never really happening, as much as we tell ourselves it will. 

For some writers, the easiest solution is to never miss a day. While that works for some, I’ve found a better way of ensuring completion. I don’t just meet my word count each day—I actively try to beat it.

Think of your word count not as a goal, but as a challenger, with a new rival showing up every day. Show those challengers who the boss is! Each time you sit down to write, aim to outpace your minimum goal for the day, because each time you do, not only are you getting closer to the final finish line, you’re also giving yourself a buffer for when real life comes knocking. Life happens, it’s inevitable, but by leaving your word count in the dust, real life never has to contend with the wonderful worlds you’re building.

Kevin Dyer plays way too much Magic: the Gathering, and when writing, loves to mix the genres of magical realism, fantasy, and horror. He has participated in NaNoWriMo since 2013, and is the Municipal Liaison for the Walla Walla region of Eastern Washington. You can find him posting infrequently on his website/writing blog, thousandwordsapicture.com.

Top photo by Flickr user Nick J Webb.