NaNoWriMo Tip #1: Read Two Years’ Worth of Advice in a Single Post

By Jason Boog 

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) launched today as writers around the globe try to write a 50,000-word novel draft in a single month.

To help the GalleyCat readers taking this challenge, we will be offering one piece of NaNoWriMo advice every day this month. Last year, NaNoWriMo writers wrote a collective total of 3,073,176,540 words. The writing marathon has generated 90 published novels, according to the organizers.

Our first tip is simple: follow our advice from the previous years! Since 2011, we have collected 60 pieces of advice for marathon writers. You can explore all those writing tips below–tune in tomorrow for some fresh advice.

 

30 National Novel Writing Month Tips from 2011

1. Write in the Cloud

2. ‘Don’t Finish.’

3. Cliche Finder Stops Cliches Before They Start

4. Take the Fantasy Novelist’s Exam

5. Use a Name Generator

6. Seek Library Write-In Support

7. Consult Role Playing Game Plots

8. Best Pandora Stations for Writing

9. Use the Brainstormer App

10. Dictate Your Novel Draft

11. Use Foursquare for Inspiration

12. ‘Failure Instructs the Writer’

13: Use the Online Graphical Dictionary

14. Write ‘TK’ for Missing Facts

15. ‘Everyone Has a Certain Amount of Bad Writing to Get Out of Their System’

16. Use a Plot Diagram Tool

17. Test Your Characters

18. Use the Reverse Dictionary

19. Use Correct Writing Posture

20. Start a Writing Bible

21. ‘It’s Not a Sprint, It’s a Marathon’

22. Use Your Smartphone for Novel Writing & Editing

23. Turn Your Computer Into a Typewriter

24. Use Write or Die for Motivation

25. Relax with a Literary Drink

26. Browse BibliOdyssey for Inspiration

27. World of Warcraft Procrastinator Support

28. Request a Free Book Cover

29. Lulu Titlescorer Tests Your Title

30. Share Your Final Sentence

 

30 National Novel Writing Month Tips from 2012

1. Read 30 Tips from Last Year

2. Use the Reference Desk

3. Type a Poem

4. Make a Mind Map

5. Reward Yourself

6. Seek Figment Support

7. Download Seven Free Writing eBooks

8. Get a Literary Butt-Kicking

9. Write What You DON’T Know

10. Fight a Word War

11. Write in the Same Place

12. Download the Free Writing Cheatsheet

13. “Obvious to you. Amazing to others.”

14. Listen to Spotify: NaNoWriMo Tip #14

15. Take the Random Cliche Test 

16. Consult a Plot Doctor

17. Fix Your Computer Screen Color

18. Join the Typewriter Brigade

19. Fill Out a Character Chart

20. Meet Your Deadline with Kittens

21. Use the Symbolitron

22. Make a Spreadsheet

23. Explore the World with Globe Genie

24. Write with Your Neighbors

25. Try Communal World Building

26. Write by Hand

27. Adopt an Idea

28. Explore the Onomatopoeia Dictionary

29. Swap Your Novel

30. Keep Writing Every Day