It has been a couple of weeks since I completed my third NaNaWriMo. Once again, I was glad I did it. I confess I am still working on the same novel, but it has now started to take proper shape.
For this year, my goal was to perfect the messy Act 1. In practical terms, I wanted to end the month with 10 decent chapters of more or less 2500 words each.
During Preptober, I took stock of the situation. A lot needed to be expanded, changed, removed. I mean, a lot. All sorts of problems. Crucial chapters needed to be created, including the most important of all, Chapter 1. But I had a plan, and I can work with a plan.
I am proud to say I’ve written around 15k new words and edited around 30k (over and over) during the month. Act 1 looks much better now.
But, despite being my year 3 on NaNoWriMo, I am still learning how to make the most of the challenge. And I think a way to understand what worked and what needs to be improved is to spend some time evaluating my process and achievements. So, repeating what I did in 2021, here is what I learned from doing NaNoWriMo in 2022:
1 – It’s OK to be a rebel – I was concerned and even embarrassed when I decided I was going to edit my old novel instead of writing something new. I almost didn’t sign up for NaNoWriMo. But then I heard of this NaNo Rebel thing. It wasn’t just me. I was good to go. 🙂
2- First in-person meeting – With the end of the lockdowns and other Covid restrictions, I finally got the chance to go to an in-person NaNoWriMo meeting. It was encouraging to mingle with other people going through the same challenge.
3 – Testing Discord – I’ve also been a bit more active on the Discord channel this year. But I still have a lot to learn about it. To be honest, I find all those channels and threads a bit overwhelming. But I’ll keep trying.
4 – Beginnings are the worst – No joke, the first days were hard. It’s a talent to be able to sit and write regardless of feeling tired or uninspired. The good news is that it all got easier from day 4 or 5.
5 – Following other people – Watching videos covering other writers’ journeys was a great way to stay motivated. Sarra Cannon’s NaNoWriMo Diaries were my favourite.
6 – Preparation is key – This year, I already had my workbook done. My Preptober was mostly about creating visual aids and scene cards. They helped me a lot to visualise the story and characters so I could work on them in a more organised way.
7 – The physical pain is real – Once again, the extra typing hours forced me to deal with back and hand pain. I need to do better about it next year. Maybe some yoga and stretch exercises in October 2023 can help.
8 – Accepting my limits – I’ve realised that 20 intense days is all I can do. I keep going, but my energy is down after it. I am considering doing double shifts on weekends next year so that I can reach my target before 30 days.
9 – Rewards are essential – I confess that, on many days, I only got work done because a Lindor Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle was waiting for me after the required daily word count.
10- Less is more – I cut my screen time even more. November was almost a zero social media month. It was also light on world news consumption as it affects my creativity.
