For thousands of writers around the world, November is all about NaNoWriMo: the online challenge to write a book in a month. It’s a great way to get the creative blood pumping, connect with other writers, and get those words – all 50,000 of them – down on the page.
But what if NaNoWriMo isn’t for you? Not everyone has the time, the inclination or the focus to write 1,600 words a day for a month, and if you’re at the editing stage, perhaps it’s not the ideal point to launch headlong into a new project. But you could still harness the momentum NaNoWriMo sparks in the writing world, by tackling your own month-long project which stretches your creativity. To help you, here are ten things you could do instead of NaNoWriMo, including some top tips from bestselling authors.
1. Dust off an old manuscript.
Set aside the month to revisit something you have already written, and look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. Perhaps you have a long-abandoned work-in-progress, or maybe a completed novel tucked away in a drawer. Spend November carrying out a structured edit, taking a week in turn to tackle major issues such as style, language, plot and pace. By focusing on each area separately you’ll be able to look objectively at your work, and come out of the month with a polished product of which you can be proud. Maybe then you’ll be ready to send it out into the big wide world.
2. Author’s tip: Veronica Henry
‘We have much to learn from Hollywood about storytelling, and a lot of the tricks can be employed when writing a novel. Pick thirty films you have never seen, preferably in your own genre, watch one a day throughout November and analyse each one, asking yourself questions while you watch. Are you drawn in from the very beginning, and if so why? How are you made to care about the characters and what happens to them? How is the story paced – is it fast and furious, or more measured? How does the tension build? Can you see the end coming a mile off, or is it a surprise? Is there a theme running through it that holds the story together? Was the story ultimately satisfying? By the end of the month you should have a stronger understanding of what makes a tale compelling and how to handle narrative structure.’
3. Change your perspective.
Have you ever thought about what your story would be like if you had written it from first person perspective, instead of third? Don’t just wonder – do it! Rewriting a central character’s perspective can change the shape of the entire novel, breathing new life into something that was starting to lose its way. Spend November experimenting with each of your characters to see how the
story changes, when told from their point of view. Try writing the same scene from several viewpoints, then read them aloud – or ask a writing buddy to read them – and assess their impact.
4. Author’s tip: C L Taylor
‘Are you up to date with the bestselling novels in your genre? Take the opportunity to find out why they’re so popular and read them with an analytical eye. What keeps you reading, and why? Or maybe use November as an opportunity to read the classics you’ve never got round to reading before. Learn from the greats, especially those who write in a different genre. Why have their stories stood the test of time? What themes do they explore? What about reading as research? If your next novel involves a point of view or a structure you’ve never used before why not ask fellow readers to recommend novels to you that demonstrate skill in those areas. Again, read them analytically to see why they work. And if you think they don’t work you can still learn from them. Why did they fail? Read to research, read to inspire yourself and read for pleasure. What better way to spend 30 days?’
5. Research.
Sometimes research can be as much fun as writing the novel, and it’s often hard to know where to draw the line. Whether you’re traipsing along to the British Museum, interviewing brain surgeons or simply clicking your way around the Internet, fact-finding is an essential – but time-consuming – business. Setting a time limit will help you stay focused, and come December you’ll be ready to get down to the serious business of writing. Spend the first week planning your research: work out which professionals or case studies you’ll need to speak to, make a list of questions to ask, and set up meetings for later in the month. Next, use your local library to gather together all the books you’ll need, and set aside dedicated reading time. Finally, take a field trip! Even if you can’t visit your chosen setting in person, use Google Street View to take a virtual trip around the area, until you know it as well as your own back yard.
6. Author’s tip: Ben Hatch
‘Keep a diary for a whole month. Don’t think too much about it; just write for 45 minutes every day about something that has happened to you. Go to a cafe and do it – get out of the house. Remember that quote: “Keep a diary and one day it will keep you.” I did that when I was 21 and ultimately it turned into the bones of my first novel that I wrote 10 years later. The trick was that I was writing but I was kidding myself I wasn’t. Recording real events and conversations helps to give you an ear for dialogue, and what’s strange is even though you will not aware of it, over time the diary will naturally describe the outline of a story. Before you know it – you’ve got a book.’
7. Plan your next book.
One of the most common reasons given by non-NaNoWriMo-ers is that they can’t write ‘off the cuff’. If you’re a planner, then November is the perfect time to get your notes in shape ready to start writing at your own pace. Assuming you already have the germ of an idea, spend the first week brainstorming scenarios and sketching out the basic outline. In week two, you’ll need to flesh out that outline to add conflict and sub-plots. Spend the third week working on characters, including the creation of back-stories and motivation. Week four can be spent writing a detailed chapter breakdown based on your outline. By the end of the month you’ll have everything in place to prevent writer’s block.
8. Author’s tip: Julie Cohen
‘Instead of racking up the word count, take some time not to write. Last November I’d just finished a novel and sent it to my editor, two days before I went on writing retreat with a group of authors who were all on deadline. It was a wonderful atmosphere to work in, and the other authors spent their time typing and drafting and writing thousands of words. While they were being
productive, I went for long walks. I took naps and I read books and I pottered in the kitchen. I carried a notebook and a camera wherever I went, to record ideas, but otherwise I didn’t write a thing. Actively not writing can be just as productive as sitting down and getting the words on the page. We’re often pressed for time, and obsessed with our stories and deadlines, and snatch every opportunity to write. Sometimes this means we forget that our writing comes out of real life. Authors need time to reflect, to recharge. We need to read and watch films and do exercise and go places and spend time with family and friends. We need to unbend our spines and look around us. We need to remember that living is more important than writing. After my non-writing retreat, I had not one, but three new story ideas. By mid-November, I’d started writing again—refreshed and inspired.’
9. People-watch
If you’re a writer, you’re probably already people-watching, but dedicate November to taking it to a whole new level. Take buses you wouldn’t usually take, or stay on-board for a stop more than you otherwise would. Pack sandwiches and head for Crown Court to spend a day watching a trial. You
might have no interest in writing crime novels, but whole lives are played out in courtrooms and you’ll soon see that truth can be stranger than fiction. Visit parks, hover outside hospitals, or take a trip to an airport or train station to witness some emotional reunions. Each evening, write a brief pen-picture of someone you’ve met, seen or overheard that day: jot down what they looked like, what they wore, how they spoke, and any mannerisms you noticed. When you’re back in the writing saddle, this ‘little black book’ of cameos will provide you with a perfect reference book for characters.
10. Author’s tip: Dan Waddell
‘Writing is a solitary act. We spend most our days wrapped in our thoughts, wrestling with plot problems and obstacles, all while trying not to eat a whole packet of biscuits or watch daytime TV. Often our only human contact is with the postman or fellow timewasters on Twitter. In this isolation, it’s easy to let a writing problem become a crisis and see no way around it. Which is why it’s essential to have a break from writing, find a friend and tell them about your book. It’s funny how often talking about your plot, or simply verbalising any problems, can spark ideas. The twist for my first crime novel came to me during a conversation with a friend. I was taking him through the plot when the
idea suddenly came to me. Had I been sat at home, staring at a screen, eating biscuits, it would never have happened.’
Make the most of the month -however you choose to spend it!
This piece first appeared in Writing Magazine, November 2013.