NaNoWriMo is the short way to say National Novel Writing Month, where people all over the world sign up to write 50,000 words in one month. When you sign up on the website, you start to receive encouraging emails, templates for success and are invited to virtual write-ins at almost all times of the day. Participation is free and opens new and seasoned writers to a large community of people all working towards the same goal.
I know what you’re thinking: There’s no way I can do NaNoWriMo. I can hardly keep our household moving in a normal month, between homework, work, and our social lives, and you want me to write 50,000 words?
I get it. 50,000 words is a lot. Writing 1,667 words a day can feel unachievable. It is very hard to prioritize your own personal writing when there are small humans to nurture. So I compiled a few tips to help parents who want to “win” NaNoWriMo and hit that 50k goal.
Over Plan, but Don’t Over Do It
Read all the prep for inspiration, but don’t try to do everything. When you’re a parent, the simpler and clearer your prep pages, the better. I watched hours of NaNoWriMo videos last year and took note of what might work for me. There are different writing templates for every different type of writer. Instead of cramming your notebooks full of outlines and plot points and character sheets you might use, just ask yourself where you find challenges, and how can you help yourself move past them.
For instance, in normal months I stink at meal prep, so that is a whole page in my NaNo journal. By preparing for meals in advance, I am able to take more time to write. I also like Neil Gaiman’s advice to keep a “compost” page, where I add thoughts on the project that might not make sense at the moment but could fester and grow into better ideas with time.
Make Your Goals Visual
You know those fundraisers that show you how much money has been raised in what looks like a laboratory tube? Get a big poster board. Make one of those. Have your kids decorate it and suggest reward tiers. Set a timer for your writing sprints and turn it into a cool ritual with your kids: The timer goes off, you celebrate with your kids by coloring your progress into the tube every day. Then they feel like they helped you toward your goal, too!
Be Consistent and Write Every Day
When people suggest a consistent time to write during NaNoWriMo, they mean that you need to sit down at your desk or favorite coffee shop at the exact same time every so you don’t get to bedtime, realize how tired you are, and just put off your word count until tomorrow.
I block off days that I just know my energy will be sucked away by the little gorgeous vampires known as my kids. Then I can see where I need to overcompensate on my word count. Understand know that your meaning of “consistent writing time every day” will be different than someone without kids. Don’t let that deter you. It may not be 5-7am, because you need every single second of sleep until it’s time to shove them into clothes and out the door to school. It may be at an indoor playground where you can jot down ideas while they play within your sights. Your writing time could be their homework time, or during an extended bathtub playtime. Even if you can’t complete your daily word count within that time, maintain the ritual for some consistency.
Use Apps to Write on the Go
Before my kids were in school, I couldn’t have an exact time every day. I knew that naptime was my golden hour, but that time of day varied a bit. Sometimes it was in the car, sometimes at home, and that is when a notes app on my phone is my savior. No matter where I am, I can write. I will add it to the manuscript at a later time but meanwhile, those thoughts can weave out of my head and into an auto-saved document. I also use dictation apps to get a lot of thoughts out of my head at once.
Make a Vision Board
Vision boards are popular for a reason. They should evoke a mood. You should get lost staring at them, understanding exactly how you want your readers to feel when they read your writing. Even with nonfiction, there is a journey through the chapters.
I highly suggest printing the images to give yourself a physical vision reference to carry with you when you need a jolt from poopy diapers to a fantasy world of your own creation. Don’t let your visions only live on a webpage, or you’re more likely to get distracted than focused when looking at them.
Get Away From Your Home Life
You need it. Attend writing groups to keep yourself accountable, or just have a standing date with a friend. If you aren’t going to fall behind on your word count goals, secure one day per week that you leave the house at an appointed time. Be clear with your partner or sitter that this time includes 30 minutes to shower, get dressed, and then leave the house. Beijing has a local NaNoWriMo group that stays pretty active during parent-friendly hours. Search “Beijing Writers NaNoWriMo” to request an add.
Have a “Shiny!” Collection
This is where you keep all those big and beautiful ideas that you must outline in detail right now or they’ll leak out of your head, never to be seen again. They aren’t directly related to your NaNo project, so they don’t count towards your 50k goal, but they’ll nag you until you write them. Nothing is a better procrastinator than a new idea. Dump it onto this page and get back to your word count.
Give Your Kids Their Own Related Projects
These include coloring pages, activities, problems in your project to solve or have them make their own book. I’ll print out maps of my worldbuilding and send them on a treasure hunt or fold some paper in half and ask them to illustrate their own story. When I’m at a break, they can dictate their book to me and voila! Your kids understand the gratification of finishing a project. Theirs might be closer to fifty words, but that’s still an accomplishment!
Four Eyes Are Better Than Two
Find a fellow NaNo parent buddy and set up a time to tag-team. I’ve seen parents do this at the playground so they can exercise, and it’s a great way to combine an accountability buddy with a babysitter. Indoor playgrounds work for this, too. One parent is on supervising duty while the other can run off to a café or finish up their word count in a corner.
The most important thing to remember is that your kids want you to succeed. They want you to be happy, and if you can explain why writing makes you a happier, better parent, they will understand the time you need, even if it is away from them.
KEEP READING: Meet the Author of Brandon Goes to Beijing – a Children’s Book That’s Breaking Cultural Barriers
Photos: Pexels, unsplash, Canva, Cindy Marie Jenkins
A version of this article originally appeared on The Writer’s Atelier blog in October 2019.
