Editor’s Desk: NaNoWriMo 2011

If you’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo, it can seem a bit overwhelming the first time you do. But don’t let that stop you. There’s a lot of great things about entering NaNoWriMo that you may not have considered:

Writing a Novel. You’ll get to try your hand at writing a novel. Even if you don’t complete a novel, you can challenge yourself to hit a higher word count than you have in the past.

Support from other writers. Many writers join in this big crazy adventure. Some writers on the NaNoWriMo forum have completed NaNoWriMo many times over and will be happy to give you advice on your novel.

Building new friendships. Hanging out with other writers is great fun. You can exchange ideas, brainstorm, or just act silly around people who understand the writing bug.

Plus, there are fun comics like the one below….

If that’s not enough to convince you, this edition of Today’s Teen Writer is jam packed with cool and exciting articles like The NaNoWriMo Survival Trick and 15 Tips To Keep You Motivated Through NaNoWriMo. Plus, there are even new writing prompts! What are you waiting for? Jump in!

Be Daring,

Editor Deb

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15 Tips to Keep You Motivated During NaNoWriMo

One of the hardest things to do, during NaNoWriMo is stay motivated. It’s easy in the beginning of a project, but long work hours and little human contact, can make writing seem well, daunting.

To keep the writing blues at bay, shake up your routine! Try something new. Dive in, head first. Here are fifteen tips to help you do just that!

  1. Change your location. Literally. If you write somewhere noisy, try writing somewhere quiet and vice versa.
  2. Write at a different time of day than you normally do.
  3. Take a day off. Do nothing.
  4. Visit your local bookstore or library. Sometimes writers just need to refuel.
  5. People watch. Find an unoccupied space in your city or town and watch the people that go by for an hour. (Be sure to bring a notebook and pen!)
  6. Ask for someone’s life story. Often times, hearing someone else’s life story can spark an idea or connection that we hadn’t considered.
  7. Set a timer and write for ten minutes. You’re not allowed to stop moving your hand.
  8. Just do it! The best piece of advice I ever heard on the topic of writing was “Writing begets writing.”
  9. Take a step back and ask yourself, “Are my short-term writing goals tying in with my long-term writing goals?”
  10. Read in genre that you normally don’t. For instance, if you read romance, try horror or science fiction.
  11. Take a trip. By car, by train—doesn’t matter. While you’re on the trip, turn to the passenger nearest you and make up a different life for yourself.
  12. Take a class on a subject you’ve always wanted to study further.
  13. Buy yourself some new writing supplies. How about a funky pen you’ve always wanted? Or that notebook that’s four dollars that you keep passing by?
  14. Take up a new hobby. One you wouldn’t normally explore.
  15. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Make conversations with people from other walks of life. Experience life through a new perspective!

But more than that, have fun. Experiment. Try new things. And don’t be surprised if somewhere along the way, you find inspiration.

Debra WeissDebra Weiss, editor of Today’s Teen Writer, is a twenty something writer living on the East Coast. When she’s not at her desk, she can usually be found at her local Wal-Mart, searching for the perfect notebook.

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The NaNoWriMo Survival Trick

Sometimes I look at healthy people with wonder (and yes, OK envy). I will never understand how it must feel to have so much energy all the time. I can barely remember if I brushed my teeth this morning let alone anything important like what I had for breakfast (I’m going to say Cheerios because that sounds healthy). Continue reading →

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