It's October 1, 2016 -- thirty days until the beginning of National Novel Writing Month. This year, I'm going to try and write the first draft of a 50,000 word thriller in 30 days. Zowie.
It's not like the world stops for NaNoWriMo each year. Work still has to be done. The trash still has to be taken out. Plus, the holiday season is in full swing by mid-November. With it, one of my two favorite holidays of the year: Thanksgiving!
To meet this deadline, 1666.67 words have to be on paper (or screen) each day. Every day. If you don't want to write on Thanksgiving Day, then you need to add those 1666.67 words to another day in the month.
To help keep me on track, I'm working with an outline this year. I like it. I'm having fun with the planning and after all, fun is the point.
NaNoWriMo Tip No. 3: You Are Going to Make a Big Mistake
Thing I need to remember: I'm going to make mistakes. Maybe some big mistakes. And that cannot stop me because I'm under the gun here.
If you are taking part in National Novel Writing Month, you are going to make mistakes, too. We've all got to remember that this is okay. We're aiming at a first draft.
I love this quote from Teddy Roosevelt (see the image below). I have this attached to my outline to remind me not to feel like I have to stop if I realize mid-way through the process that I've forgotten my victim was already married back in Omaha or that the one-armed man was left-handed.
And something that really helps me?
Watching The Big Sleep with Bogie and Bacall, in a screenplay by William Faulkner, and reminding myself that no one knows who killed the chauffeur. Mistakes are made.
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