NaNoWriMo and the Student

Some people wonder if it's possible to write 50,000 words while being a full-time student. It is -- but it is hard. In '06, as a senior in high school, I was taking a full load of classes and working part-time, but despite all that I was doing, I blame my failure to finish on a combination of senioritis and general laziness. In '07, I was determined to succeed. Two failures in a row is just embarrasing ;). It's determination that's really the key. A handy trick is to find someone else who is writing, and try to beat their word count every day. For example, if a writing buddy writes 2000 words in one day, try to write 2001. Stay above 1667 words a day, and you'll be golden!

Editing has no place in NaNoWriMo. Really. I know, I know, editing is important. Save that for NaNoEdMo (known to the common people as March.) Editing takes up far too much time when you're busy with schoolwork and general life duties, and all spare time should be dedicated to writing.

It's okay, if you're struck by writer's block, to skip a scene or two. If you have an idea for something that will happen in the future, go for it, and fill in the blanks later. Some writers may say this is a bad idea, but it works for me. Sometimes writing a future scene helps me to figure out what to do to get me there. If you're really stuck, try it. Just don't forget to fill in the missing pieces.

If you work hard enough, and budget your time carefully, you'll be fine. Don't let your schoolwork slack, though. Most professors don't understand when you say, "But it's NaNoWriMo!" (But hey, maybe you can convert them to the challenge. Then they may understand.)