#tiptuesday #4: Nanowrimo Survival Tips for Pantsers

Happy Tuesday! 

We're officially three days into Nanowrimo, so I thought I'd share a few tips (specifically for the pantsers out there). This is my sixth Nanowrimo and I've won them all, so I thought maybe I have some wisdom to share? Honestly, I'm not sure how I've won six Nanowrimos other than out of shear force of will. The thought of not getting to 50,000 words at the end of the month after committing to it kills me, so I always push through even when it's hard. 

But let's start with this first: If you don't know, there are three types of writers. Pantsers, plantsers and plotters. Pantsers are those of us who write by the seat of our pants. We jump in and just let the story happen without really planning or plotting anything out. The story takes us where it wants. Plotters are the opposite. They plan out everything before they write a single word of their WIP. Some plotters are meticulous and others have loose plans and worldbuilding notes and all that good stuff before they start. Plansters are between the two. They let the story lead them and jump in, but also aren't opposed to jotting down some notes and doing a little planning along the way. I think I've become more of a planster, but I do still consider myself mostly a pantser. So, this post is for you guys: the plansters and pantsers. 

• Tip #1: Create aesthetics/moodboards for your WIP. You're going to be working on this WIP religiously throughout this entire month and if you're anything like me, you might start to fizzle out around the start of the middle of your story. The idea is going to start to feel flat... maybe you've lost your passion for the story or your characters are being difficult. The best way to combat this is to keep that passion and excitement for your story afire (or to reignite it if you have to). One of the best ways to I've found to do that is to stretch your creative muscles beyond just writing. Do something creative and different that has to do with your WIP. Write a blog post complete with graphics and aesthetics for your WIP detailing the characters and what you were/are most excited about the project. Make aesthetics just for yourself or a Pinterest board you can come back to daily to reignite that passion and excitement and give you some fresh inspiration for the story. 
• Tip #2: In that same vein, make a Spotify playlist. I do this for every solid story idea I get that I plan to follow through on. It's one of the first things I do when I get a new story idea. I make a Spotify playlist full of songs that either remind me of the story, the characters or the overall vibe of the WIP and then I listen to it obsessively until (and even after) I finish the first draft. I listen to it when I'm doing classwork, when I'm sweeping, when I'm doing literally anything that isn't writing. I listen to it while I write the first draft, while I edit the first draft. Those songs and the overall vibe of the playlist becomes ingrained in my brain and keeps me thinking about it even subconsciously throughout the day. Listening to the playlist all day every day keeps me in the mood to write it and keeps me excited. It keeps me in the posture and mindset of the story all day long. 
• Tip #3: Find the time you write best and have the most energy. Lately, I've been falling short of energy in the afternoon. Mornings are my most motivated and energetic time of the day, so that's usually when I get classwork done. But with Nanowrimo and wanting to crush that 50,000 word goal, I'm going to be spending a little bit of my morning writing too, even if it's only a thousand words, I want to get in at least a little before or after I do classwork before the morning ends. 
• Tip #4: This one goes along with tip 3. Keep a schedule and a word goal in mind for the day. Pick a time of day and a word count goal for the day and get it done. Make writing a priority and make it a schedule and hold to it throughout November. Some days will be super busy or fall short of inspiration. You won't have time or energy... Write anyways. Write in any spare moment you have even if it's just a hundred words. You can always make it up the next day or over the weekend. 
• Tip #5: Most importantly: give yourself grace and have fun! There will be some days where it won't feel like fun. It'll be feel like a chore. Those days will be tough, but give yourself grace. There are other days where it'll be a blast to sit and write. Find joy in those days. 

So yeah, those are my top few tips for pantsers doing Nanowrimo. I hope they're helpful to you and give you some ideas on how to get through Nanowrimo when you're just jumping in with no idea what you're doing. Let the story carry you, let the characters lead the way. Push through on the hard days and have fun on the good days. Plot ahead when you can, whether it's just one scene ahead or a chapter ahead. Writing 50,000 words in a month is a lot of work but I know you can do it! We can do it! Let's crush that 50,000 goal this month!

Are  you doing Nanowrimo this year? What is your WIP about?