With NaNoWriMo in full swing, writing faster is a valuable skill. The good news is that it isn’t that hard to rack up words a bit faster than you usually do. Here is the first round of tips to get closer to that 50k word goal.
How to write faster:
Collaborate.
NaNoWriMo doesn’t forbid working as a team. Many writers do. Finding a co-author could help, so consider making it a month of collaboration. Even if you don’t use a co-author, think about finding a first reader to give you feedback and act as a soundboard. This works great if you aren’t sure where you story is headed or need inspiration to keep going.
Write without fear.
Say what you need to say. Write what is in you to write. Don’t censor your ideas, speech or story to fit in with what Great Aunt Margie would think or your pastor. Write the story you want to write no matter how scary. No one is looking over your shoulder. If you deem your story not appropriate for your public life, you could always pursue a pseudonym. Don’t let anyone curb your creativity, even the voice inside your head. Write what you must without judgment. If your story is G-rated, that’s fine too. You be you without censorship. Judgment will not only slow your pace but result in a weaker story. As Natalie Goldberg says, “Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”
Write every day.
Words accumulate faster than you think, plus you will get great practice. The more practice you get writing, the faster you will get. It’s like any activity: practice, practice, practice.
Use an outline.
Using an outline helps you write faster. It’s far easier to come up with words if you know where you are headed. You may not need a meticulous outline, but knowing your through line and scene goals will help. If you are spending half your time figuring out what to write next, you are thinking not writing. Try to plan your next day when you finish your current one. A quick sketch of what you want to accomplish next should be enough to eliminate the “Oh, no, what now?” panic.
Avoid editing as you go.
This one is obvious, but oh so hard to do. It is tempting to fix things that went before, especially if you change something in your daily writing and know there is an error in a previous chapter. But resist the urge to go fix it. Write yourself a note to fix it later and keep moving forward. It is more important for you to finish your first draft than it is to make it perfect. That is what rewrites are for. So take a deep breath and keep typing.
Use writing sprints.
Not only will sprints get you typing, but the enforced deadline forces you to focus, pushing on without reservation and without engaging your inner editor. This alone can boost your speed. Doing writing sprints also helps you practice writing faster. As they say, you fight the way you train. The same holds true for writing. Sometimes. If you practice writing faster, you will get faster. Most of the time. If you are doing writing sprints against another person or group, you’ll get the added bonus of tapping into your competitive streak, should you have one.
Do challenges on your own.
If there is no one doing a sprint or you don’t want to write against others, do a challenge on your own. See how many words you can write in five/ten/twenty minutes. Time how long it takes to get to the bottom of a page or to the end of a scene. Any challenge that focuses on time can help you move faster. Then try to beat your best time or word count.
Use targets.
Targets help keep you on track and gives you a goal to hit each day. They also provide a bit of pressure, which helps. There is nothing like crunching a deadline. Set a firm deadline and a specific goal (page number, word count, chapter, etc.), then hold yourself to it. Take advantage of that pressure that builds as you get closer to your deadline because sometimes that pressure can help get you over the line. Set a shorter time frame to hit your word count. Be creative. Some programs, like Scrivener, have built-in target trackers to keep you on track or you could use an app.
Get in the mood.
Mindset matters. If you approach your daily writing session as a burden, you will undermine your energy and focus. Instead try getting excited about the day’s goal and crushing it. Psych yourself up. Wake up your brain and get it ready for the challenge. Build some physical energy to put toward the page. Tell yourself that writing makes you a writer. Then sit down and be one.
Build a bridge to your next day’s work.
This is a great trick for helping you pick up where you stopped the day before. Think of it as a cliffhanger that makes you want to turn the page and keep writing. But, unlike cliffhangers in television shows, leave yourself clues for what comes next. Leave yourself in a place that is active and fun so you can tap into that energy as you pick up your writing the next day. This is your bridge back into your work.
Slow down.
I know this sounds like the worst advice (and contrary to the title of this blog), but slowing down can end up netting you more words. Often slowing down allows you to manage your story better and stay on track. By taking your time, you are less likely to write yourself into a corner or spend twenty minutes on a passage that doesn’t fit. It’s the old tortoise and the hare situation. This tip is particularly helpful for pantsers who aren’t as sure where they are going than plotters.
Set a routine for writing.
Make it a habit not only will it help you writing aspirations, but it will make it easier to sit down and write if it is part of your daily life.
Set up a reward system.
I’m not a huge fan of this tip because I write all the time and rewards are tough to come up with, especially ones that are healthy because rewarding myself with a latte every day isn’t good for me or my wallet. But I do like to set up bigger rewards, like finishing a manuscript earns me dinner out with my family or a weekend trip. Do what works for you. I prefer working toward a bigger motivation than daily ones, but maybe writing for twenty minutes so you can have a ten minute break to play a game does it for you. If so, come up with rewards that will help you reach your goals.
Write in a set place.
It’s tempting sometimes to write wherever you are even if that is curled up in bed. But it is easier to get into the right mindset if you are seated with proper posture at a table or desk. It helps wake the mind and body. It’s even better if you can set up a writing spot that is only used for writing. That way when you sit down, there is only one activity to choose. This may not be possible, but it is a great way to signal the brain that it is time to work. If you choose to work other places, try setting up a work routine that you can replicate in various places.
Go loopy.
Sometimes it’s easier to write when you have crossed that threshold from focused to goofy. This happens when I am tired. I find that setting a deadline late in the night helps me focus. I don’t recommend doing it often, but the occasional late night or all-nighter can boost your word count. It can also boost your need for an editor afterward, but since we aren’t worrying about editing now, it’s fine. Your only worry is to get words on the page. Being tired and a bit punchy may be just what you need. Hemingway said to “Write drunk, edit sober,” but I don’t recommend using that bit of advice.
Don’t play catch-up.
It seems like the only strategy when facing a huge challenge like 50k words in one month, but trying to catch up will only stress you out. Just write. Do each day as an independent challenge. Set a daily or session goal and make that your target. If you fall behind on your overall word count, it’s okay. The only important thing is that you keep writing. Don’t feel like you have to make up the missing words. Just keep going. You may not hit your monthly goal or win NaNoWriMo, but putting pressure on yourself is not going to help. A stressed writer is often a bad writer. Besides if you ease up on yourself, you might be surprised. If you are relaxed, you might get back to writing and have a day when the words flow out of you at a record pace and you’ll be ahead again. Let it happen naturally. Don’t stress. Just write.
Next week, we’ll explore more ideas for writing faster and reaching your goal of 50k by the end of November. In the meantime, if you need NaNoWriMo inspiration, visit their web site or stop by my page full of NaNoWriMo blogs.