πŸ’œ Rep search entry πŸ’œ Hi @fairyloot! I’m πŸ’œ Rep search entry πŸ’œ  Hi @fairyloot!  I’m Millie- a 16 year old book worm (with parental permission!) juggling study (English lit) and working my way through piles of books.  I’m forever raving about my favourite book of all time: The Night Circus. Some of my other favourite fandoms are Caraval, Song of Achilles and TID.  Your boxes are so gorgeous and of such good quality- @fairyloot was actually the first book box I ever got! For that reason, I’m always checking when the next rep search is coming around so I’m so excited!  I love interacting with my friends and followers here and unboxing on my stories is usually the highlight of my day!! I also enjoy experimenting with reels so I could showcase your products in some extra fun ways!!  Thank you so much for this exciting opportunity ✨  #fairylootrep2021  #bookrep #bookrepsearch #booklover #bookworm #bookish #bibliophile #booknerd #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookblogger #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me a book (or bookish item) ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me a book (or bookish item) you bought only because of Bookstagram!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I got the Stalking Jack the Ripper series because of Bookstagram and I loved it so much! Also ACOTAR, which was so worth it πŸ’•  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #readersofinstagram #simplemoments  #bookstagrammademedoit
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some books/ series you D ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some books/ series you DNFd  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I was talking about this in my blog post today but I definitely think there should be less stigma around dnfing!  Some books I’ve DNFd over the last year are The Lost Book of the White, Belle Revolte and Deeplight 😭 maybe I’ll finish them one day πŸ€”  #aestheticpost #amreading #bookbookowlbookmarks #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #bookgram #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite s ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite series!!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I love the Caraval series, The Infernal Devices, Narnia, ACOTAR, SJTR and loads more I can’t think of right now!! And of course, Folk of the Air!!,  #aestheticpost #amreading #thecruelprince #folkoftheair #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram
ππŽπ“πƒ- what’s on your tbr for this mo ππŽπ“πƒ- what’s on your tbr for this month?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’ve just finished the Shadow and Bone series so I’m hoping to read Six of Crows in March! I also want to finish off The Selection series 😁  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #tbr #marchtbr
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite t ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite things about spring!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I asked this on my story today so I wanted to continue it here!!  Some of my favourite things about spring are the flowers, the lambs and the warmer (and longer!) days ✨  #aestheticpost #aquietmoment #spring #springiscoming #springflowers #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #beigeaesthetic #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #10kaccount #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- have you seen the new Grishavers ππŽπ“πƒ- have you seen the new Grishaverse trailer?? What did you think of it?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m reeling right now, and I’m about to watch the live chat back but i cannot wait!! I’ve nearly finished S+B and then I need to read Six of Crows before April!!  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #amwriting #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #ofsimplethings #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #malandalina #sixofcrows #shadowandbone #leighbardugo #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- how are you doing? Really? 𝐀 ππŽπ“πƒ- how are you doing? Really?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m doing ok at the moment- I’ve been feeling quite down and out of control recently but I feel like things are looking up 😊  I want to know how you’re truly feeling (you can dm me if you don’t feel like leaving it in the comments)  #aestheticpost #amreading #aquietmoment #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments  #mentalhealth #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite s ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite series!!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m currently reading the Shadow and Bone series (on book #3) and I’m really enjoying it!!  I also love ACOTAR (but I still haven’t read the new one πŸ™ˆ), Noughts and Crosses, ToG and Caraval! πŸ’•  And speaking of Caraval, this gorgeous bookmark from @bookbookowl is probably my absolute favourite out of my collection! Isn’t that quote just so perfect?? You can use my code WANDERING15 on the whole range of bookmarks!!  #aestheticpost #amreading #bookbookowl #bookseries #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bibliophile #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #hyggebookstyle #readersofinstagram #pinterestinspiration #shadowandbone
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Writing · October 29, 2020

How to Build a Consistent NaNoWriMo Schedule

Last year, almost Β½ million writers took part in November National Novel Writing Month, and this year’s challenge is set to be just as popular.

The goal of the challenge: to write 50,000 words (roughly the length of a short novel) in just one month.

81% of people have said they would like to write a book, so it’s no surprise that NaNoWriMo attracts so many hopefuls. However, less that 20% of NaNoWriMo participants reach their goal each year.

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Whether this is your 1st or 30th NaNoWriMo, 50,000 words is a difficult goal to achieve without strategies for managing your time and staying consistent.

How to Outline a Novel

How to Draft a Novel

How to Win NaNoWriMo

A recap of NaNoWriMo…

What is it?

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, which takes place in November. If you aren’t familiar, NaNoWriMo is an organization that pushes writers to write 50,000 words throughout the month of November.

Do you get a prize for winning?

The main prize is the satisfaction at having written a (nearly full-sized) novel- that’s no easy job! Many writers find NaNoWriMo helpful to kick-start a first draft and help push past the fear of getting started.

And don’t forget- Nanowrimo isn’t always just for fun! Check out these best-selling books who wrote their first drafts during NaNo sessions:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Build a consistent habit

The truth is that you just won’t feel inspired every single day. If you want to reach the 50,000 goal regardless, you need to build a water-tight routine.

Write at the same time each day

50,000 words is approximately 1,667 words a day, and this builds up quickly if you fall behind. For this reason, it’s important to take time (even just 5-10 minutes) to write every day, if possible.

Carve out a block of time (depending on which time of day you work best) to focus solely on writing, and make it a priority.

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Before you mark in 2-hour writing sessions, studies show that writing in short bursts can increase creativity and productivity. Before NaNoWriMo starts, take some time to work out whether you work better writing for longer chunks of time, or if shorter sprints suit your writing pattern more.

Write in the same place

The key to building a habit is consistency. If you normally write at your desk, use that space for every writing session.

Similarly, if a particular playlist motivates your writing, listen to it before every writing session. If you usually drink coffee whilst writing, use the same mug for writing session. Setting up mini routines like these help you to β€˜put on your writing boots’, making it easier to start writing.

Make a plan

To hit your goal, you’ll have to write 1,667 words a day- this is especially difficult if you don’t have a plan for the month.

Preptober

Even the most ardent pantsers (someone who does very minimal outlining for each novel) can benefit from some preparation in the month leading up to NaNoWriMo.

If you’ll be starting a novel completely from scratch, here are some important things you could include in your prep:

  • World-building: where and when is the novel set? Is there a magic system? What are the politics like and is there a government? These are all questions you need to ask yourself when building up a picture of your world. Other important points to include are the geography of the world, its history and technology (this especially applies to sci-fi). You could even draw maps for the specific places important to your characters.
  • Character profiles- depending on how much depth you like to go into before beginning will determine how detailed these are. Some things you could focus on are physical description, background, hobbies, hopes/ fears. These are the key questions to consider: what are the characters’ wants/ needs? What are the characters’ motivations and how will they have changed by the end of the novel? What are the stakes for the characters?
  • Storyline- it’s much easier to face the task of writing a novel if you have a basic outline of each scene. Begin by jotting down any scene ideas you have on post-it notes or in a notebook. You can then decide which of these to keep and reposition any that don’t fit properly. Write up the ideas into a document or notepad, and flesh out any parts that need extra development/ additional scenes. Now each of the scene has a general outline, you can add in changes to characters’ environments, conflict and tension, and any subplots you want to include. Read through your storyline to ensure pacing is even, and that goalposts are in the proper places.

Check out my full post for how to outline a novel here.

Prepping yourself mentally

October isn’t just about preparing your idea to be turned into a novel. Writing every day for a month isn’t something you can just jump into, especially if you’re having to write around a job or additional duties.

Plan out your writing time as if you’re going to be ill for a good chunk of November- this way you won’t end up feeling overfaced, and ready to throw in the towel before even starting.

The first few days of NaNoWriMo will be full of adrenaline, with the idea fresh in your mind. Utilise this by getting ahead with your words– this will come in handy later on in the month if you hit a writing block and fall behind.

Block distractions

The average user spends almost 2 hours on social media every day; convert some of that scrolling time to writing by turning off any digital distractions. If just having your phone in the same room as you is tempting, try some of these tricks:

  • Turn the Wi-Fi off whilst you write
  • Install an app like Forest to help block distractions.
  • Close all browser tabs on your laptop, except the ones needed for writing
  • Remove any devices from the room altogether.

Let your family and friends know when you will be writing- if needs be, put a sign on your door or writing area.

Ensure your writing environment is clutter free at the end of each session- an organised space aids an organised mind.

Mute your inner-editor

Even with all outer distractions removed, getting started (and keeping going) is difficult, especially if you’re critiquing yourself as you go along.

The main focus on NaNoWriMo is quantity (50,000 words!). You can rewrite your draft as many times as you like after November ends. This means writing without looking back, and without editing as you go along.

If you find this difficult, try dimming your screen, or changing the font colour to white. This physically ensures that you can’t edit as you go along.

Take regular breaks

A month sounds like a short time to write 50,000 words, but it can feel long when you’re writing every single day.

Avoid burnout by scheduling frequent breaks into your writing schedule. This will also increase your creativity when you come back to writing.

Try to have fun

Writing 50,000 words is going to be miserable if you don’t love the project you’re working on. Spend the weeks leading up to NaNoWriMo getting excited about your project- this will make it a lot easier to sustain for 30 days.

Remember- NaNoWriMo is about the process as much as the end product. Focus on your love of writing and the fun of creating a story; November will be over before you know it, and you’ll have a complete draft before you.

Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo this year? I’d love to hear your experience and know whether you have found this tips helpful. Let me know in the comments below or connect with me directly on any of my social medias.

In: Writing · Tagged: book writing tips, how to write 50000 words, how to write a book, nanowrimo, nanowrimo prep, nanowrimo writer, preptober, write a novel, write every day, writer, Writing, writing advice, writing consistently, writing goals, writing routine, writing tips for beginners

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You’ll Also Love

A 2002 survey found that 81% of people in America want to write a book (imagine how many people in the world that is!), so why haven’t they? The simple answer is because writing a book is no simple task. Breaking the process into small, bitesize chunks makes it a lot more manageable. So here is my beginner's guide to writing a novel.How to Write a Novel: a beginner’s guide
How to Craft Complex Characters
7 Tips to Catch up With NaNoWriMo If you’re anything like me, you were overflowing with inspiration at the start of NaNoWriMo, but after the first few days of consistent writing, life got hectic, and writing took a back seat.7 Tips to Catch up With NaNoWriMo

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Hi! I'm Millie, an avid reader, blogger and bookstagrammer from the UK. You can usually find me buried in a book or stressing about my recent writing project. Here on the blog, I also share tips and strategies on posting, taking pics and engaging on bookstagram and building a book blog

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πŸ’œ Rep search entry πŸ’œ Hi @fairyloot! I’m πŸ’œ Rep search entry πŸ’œ  Hi @fairyloot!  I’m Millie- a 16 year old book worm (with parental permission!) juggling study (English lit) and working my way through piles of books.  I’m forever raving about my favourite book of all time: The Night Circus. Some of my other favourite fandoms are Caraval, Song of Achilles and TID.  Your boxes are so gorgeous and of such good quality- @fairyloot was actually the first book box I ever got! For that reason, I’m always checking when the next rep search is coming around so I’m so excited!  I love interacting with my friends and followers here and unboxing on my stories is usually the highlight of my day!! I also enjoy experimenting with reels so I could showcase your products in some extra fun ways!!  Thank you so much for this exciting opportunity ✨  #fairylootrep2021  #bookrep #bookrepsearch #booklover #bookworm #bookish #bibliophile #booknerd #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookblogger #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me a book (or bookish item) ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me a book (or bookish item) you bought only because of Bookstagram!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I got the Stalking Jack the Ripper series because of Bookstagram and I loved it so much! Also ACOTAR, which was so worth it πŸ’•  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #readersofinstagram #simplemoments  #bookstagrammademedoit
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some books/ series you D ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some books/ series you DNFd  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I was talking about this in my blog post today but I definitely think there should be less stigma around dnfing!  Some books I’ve DNFd over the last year are The Lost Book of the White, Belle Revolte and Deeplight 😭 maybe I’ll finish them one day πŸ€”  #aestheticpost #amreading #bookbookowlbookmarks #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #bookgram #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite s ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite series!!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I love the Caraval series, The Infernal Devices, Narnia, ACOTAR, SJTR and loads more I can’t think of right now!! And of course, Folk of the Air!!,  #aestheticpost #amreading #thecruelprince #folkoftheair #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram
ππŽπ“πƒ- what’s on your tbr for this mo ππŽπ“πƒ- what’s on your tbr for this month?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’ve just finished the Shadow and Bone series so I’m hoping to read Six of Crows in March! I also want to finish off The Selection series 😁  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #tbr #marchtbr
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite t ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite things about spring!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I asked this on my story today so I wanted to continue it here!!  Some of my favourite things about spring are the flowers, the lambs and the warmer (and longer!) days ✨  #aestheticpost #aquietmoment #spring #springiscoming #springflowers #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #beigeaesthetic #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #10kaccount #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- have you seen the new Grishavers ππŽπ“πƒ- have you seen the new Grishaverse trailer?? What did you think of it?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m reeling right now, and I’m about to watch the live chat back but i cannot wait!! I’ve nearly finished S+B and then I need to read Six of Crows before April!!  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #amwriting #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #ofsimplethings #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #malandalina #sixofcrows #shadowandbone #leighbardugo #pinterestinspiration
ππŽπ“πƒ- how are you doing? Really? 𝐀 ππŽπ“πƒ- how are you doing? Really?  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m doing ok at the moment- I’ve been feeling quite down and out of control recently but I feel like things are looking up 😊  I want to know how you’re truly feeling (you can dm me if you don’t feel like leaving it in the comments)  #aestheticpost #amreading #aquietmoment #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments  #mentalhealth #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite s ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite series!!  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I’m currently reading the Shadow and Bone series (on book #3) and I’m really enjoying it!!  I also love ACOTAR (but I still haven’t read the new one πŸ™ˆ), Noughts and Crosses, ToG and Caraval! πŸ’•  And speaking of Caraval, this gorgeous bookmark from @bookbookowl is probably my absolute favourite out of my collection! Isn’t that quote just so perfect?? You can use my code WANDERING15 on the whole range of bookmarks!!  #aestheticpost #amreading #bookbookowl #bookseries #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bibliophile #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookflatlay #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #hyggebookstyle #readersofinstagram #pinterestinspiration #shadowandbone
ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite a ππŽπ“πƒ- tell me some of your favourite authors 😁  π€πŽπ“πƒ- I love Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus is my favourite!). I also really like Philip Pullman and Carlos Ruiz Zafon (and of course Cassie Claire!) ✨  #aestheticpost #amreading #alwayscozyforeverbooks #averybookishpost #becauseofreading #bookgram #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookblogger #bookfeature #bookishlove #bookphotography #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookstagramuk #cozyvibes #favouritebooks #hyggebookstyle #ofsimplethings #neutraltones #readersofinstagram #simplemoments #pinterestinspiration #authorsofinstagram #favouriteauthor

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