How to Survive Your Third Week of NaNoWriMo

The beginning of the third week of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) feels like you’ve just reached the top of the mountain, and you’re gazing down at your final destination—the charming village in the valley below. Sure, you still have to descend the mountain; however, your body has gotten used to climbing and works faster and more efficiently. Plus, something about seeing the finish line in sight encourages you to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

At the midway mark of your novel, your protagonist should no longer react to things happening to him. Up until this point, he has resisted changing in order to get what he needs. Perhaps it is opposition to what he wants but doesn’t need. By the midpoint, though, your protagonist must become more active and take action. He doesn’t wait for the bad guys to come looking for him; he goes searching for them. He’s looking for answers and ready to kick ass.

By this time, you’ve grown more accustomed to writing several pages every day. If you find yourself in a rut, challenge a fellow writer with a word war. At a mutually agreed upon time, begin typing as fast you can until one of you reaches a mutually agreed-upon word count. It’s a fun way to get words down quickly yet it also helps you learn how to stay focused and move your story along without stopping to research implements of torture during the Middle Ages, which of the cast members of the Golden Girls are still alive, and how many number-one hits Michael Jackson scored in Bulgaria.

If you’re seriously behind on your word count, you’ll need to up your word count for the day. Take advantage of getting up an hour early and writing before your day starts, typing during your commute, and working on your novel during your lunch hour. Never let a conference call go by without getting a few extra words in because no one can see you, anyway. Don’t be shy about calling into work with a twenty-four brain tumor, either.

Sometimes, it helps to have a change of scenery. If you’ve been writing at home, grab your laptop and head out to a cafe or coffee shop. If you’ve been working at the same coffee shop, drive across town to a different one and work there. In doing so, you might observe someone or overhear a conversation that would make good fodder for your story. Even going to the same place at a different time of day can add a little novelty.

Most of all, do not delete, disappear down research rabbit holes, or give up. You can always insert notes into your novel to remind yourself to research details later.

Maintain a safe, steady pace as you head down to the village. The end is in sight, and you will soon celebrate with a yak milk martini.