But I plodded ahead. I was surprised to find that my biggest challenge was finding my writing rhythm.
How to Write a Novel in 30 Days (with Pictures) - wikiHow
I put on 10 pounds that month, but I wrote the story—all the way through to that ever-elusive ending. Sadly, there is no one-month path to publishing … NaNoPuMo, anyone? After that first year, I convinced a friend to join me, so I would have a partner to meet and write with in the daylight hours, far from food temptations. If I can do it, so can you! It helps to have a general idea of your story and characters before you begin, but once the clock starts, get cracking! You can fix it when you sit down with a smile to read your completed draft a month later, red pen in one hand and giant latte in the other nonfat, of course.
My first finished book is thanks to NaNoWriMo. The experience was a whirlwind of creativity, as I was forced to put aside my Inner Critic and Grammar Nazi a rowdy bunch that like the last word. By the end of the 30 days, I had a manuscript of which I realized I could only keep less than half, but that was OK.
I knew exactly how I wanted to edit my manuscript—and I did, over the next couple months.
Forcing yourself to write 50, words in 30 days is a bit like putting paint into a shotgun and pointing at a blank canvas. One day, though, I just felt the overwhelming need to start writing. What I did was write at every opportunity. My month-long power session produced far better work, and was the best thing I ever did with my writing.
Book in a Month: This book takes an interactive approach to help you complete your write-a-thon step by step, with expert instruction accompanied by spreadsheets to track your progress. First Draft in 30 Days: Includes worksheets, day-by-day planners and brainstorming exercises. Chock full of brain-stretching exercises, this book will have you running to keep up. Write Your Novel in a Month: This comprehensive guide embraces the process start to finish, from shaping your preliminary ideas to exploring next steps for your completed draft.
When I started getting serious about writing, one of the first things I did was seek out like-minded individuals. I love the idea of banding together with others poised for the same goal. Our competitive streaks help us shine. The trick is getting extra words in the bank early. Things always pop up as the month goes on. You will also be more burnt out by the end of the month, meaning that both the quality and quantity of your writing may suffer. Normally I edit my words in my head before the poor things can even get on my computer screen, so it was very freeing to just get it all out because of a deadline.
One month to create a story that had been brewing in my mind for years. And it was a challenge. I would berate myself every second I stared at that blinking cursor. It would be a half hour, an hour, as my eyes darted back and forth between the screen and the glow of the TV.
But I soon discovered that just typing away was the key. And out of the nonsense came a thoughtful sentence, and then another, and another. I had to sift through a lot of garbage to find a few treasures. But I found them. Read about them here.
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You know how they say you need to unplug? Turn off the TV, the iPhone, the Internet, all of it. If I needed a break I picked up a book. Every time I read, I got an idea for what to write next.
Write anything, write everything. Read what you love. And in the end know that you are a real writer.
30 Tips For Writing a Book in 30 Days
You always had a story to tell. And it may take longer than a month. But you can do it! My co-author Erin McRae and I wrote our first novel a 70,word gay romance in a month. Having each other as an audience kept us going, and wanting to be able to share it with others kept us going fast.
How to write a book in 30 days: 8 key tips
We did the next two drafts in a month each as well, and then submitted. Our book was published by Torquere Press in September, and the publisher has bought its sequel. Sharing it with others is your reward for the work. Also, if you do have a co-author, find one in another time zone! I was in Europe for my day job for a big chunk of our writing cycle, while Erin was in Washington, D.
With the six-hour time difference, one of us was working on the story at almost all times. I had fallen behind early with my word count, and then started obsessing with trying to catch up. An apt comparison is running, where one may set out to run four miles a day, but some days runs may be shorter or longer based on how the runner feels on the trail.
2. Learn about yourself.
I wanted to try to write the book in 30 days. My plan was 2, words a day minimum, and February was a great month to attempt such a feat, as it can reach degrees here in northern New York. Tim Lott, author of Under the Same Stars, on why he swapped a suit for a nice lunch and a nap. How to write the first draft of a novel in 30 days. Brainstorming your story ideas. Setting sketches and research strategies. Day 2 of your first draft: Welcome to day 3 of your first draft: Days 4 and 5: Eighty hours of writing over 30 days would mean spending an average of 2.
This is a lot when you have other commitments. Based on the amount of time you have available to write each day, adjust the length of your first draft until you have a word count you can achieve.
Writer's Digest Magazine
You can always expand during subsequent drafts. Or write your first draft as a brief, novella version. Start thinking about how you can make your word target attainable: Cut down time taken up by other tasks: Reserve time for each part of the writing process The different parts of writing a novel require different types of problem-solving.
Maintain a motivating reward scheme Create a reward scheme for yourself to keep yourself motivated. Maximize your commitment to your story and your word count targets by: Some ways to make it a game: Enlist a friend to join in the challenge: What does he discover? How does he react? Let images or music inspire you as you write Try to write as freely as possible to maximize your speed: How to write a book in 30 days: Make the font colour of your word processor match the background.
Only highlight and change the font colour back when you reach your target word count. Give yourself licence to be bad. On the subject of speeding up, use shorthand in places to keep up your momentum: To keep going at all costs: Fill in names of characters, places and other nouns with generic words and agonize over the right choice later e.