NaNoWriMo Survival Tip #2 : So you’re losing inspiration– here’s what to do next
Following our first NaNoWriMo Survival Tip, this week we are looking at staying inspired. It’s almost inevitable that at some point this month, whenever you sit down to write, you just can’t get the right words out. For writers participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), this creative block can be especially frustrating if you are shooting for a first draft completion date of November 30th. But don’t fear, because today, we have a variety of suggestions to rekindle your inspiration and get you through the month.
Journaling:
Our first piece of advice is to grab a brand-new notebook or a wreath of paper. Whether you keep it with you while you’re on the go, or you prefer to leave it on your nightstand, the key element here is feelings and frequency. When you can, at least once a day, write down small instances from your daily life that stir up big emotions. For some, it’s helpful to carry the notebook wherever the world takes them, so they can jot down information as it unfolds. For others, it’s a nice way of unwinding by reviewing their day. Either way you choose, it’s a grounding method of reflection and, as a result, strengthens your writing skills through observation and contemplation.
Another way of using journaling is by documenting your dreams when you first wake up. This helps you stretch those muscles of translating vivid scenes onto paper. This can be used in world-building and, as you might suspect, making characters’ dreams more realistic. By encouraging you to write first thing in the morning, it can help keep your mind on track for writing. This way, you may find yourself having an easier time sitting down to work on your book.
Pinterest:
Our next suggestion is to use Pinterest. Similar to Instagram, Pinterest is a social media platform where users can post photos, drawings, or anything else in that vein—but the difference is there are no captions or comments. What you can do is save specific posts to a “board,” which is a folder you create to categorize your feed. This is extremely beneficial for authors because it allows you to look for scene inspiration without trapping you down the rabbit hole of mindless scrolling, consuming empty-calories-stimulation. Many authors who use Pinterest like to create boards for each chapter or arc in their work, while others find it useful to make one big board to capture the big picture. Another way you can use boards is to bring your characters to life visually, which can aid you in writing about small humanistic details such as smudged mascara, stray hairs falling from a loose updo, or bloody chapped lips. By remembering to focus on little identifiers, your characters leap off the page and into the room with you.
Music:
Another thing many authors do is to shuffle play their entire library of music and sit until inspiration strikes. This can be useful, but if you’re in a time crunch, try this. Intentionally search for artists that fit the vibe of your story, then scroll through their discography for the right songs that remind you of your characters. Then, create a playlist for each of the characters so you can have a go-to when writing with that specific one. Another way you can use this method is by repeating the first step, then looking for songs that make you think of scenes from your book that you’ve either already churned out or that you have yet to write. This can help train your brain to associate certain songs with your book, and eventually, whenever you put on those playlists, you’ll subconsciously be eager to write by conditioning your brain to focus based on auditory cues.
Now that you’ve got some more NaNoWriMo tricks up your sleeve, you can grind out more of your story, armored against writer’s block. We strongly suggest taking a look at our post about one of the biggest mistakes an author should avoid here. You can also check out our other services, such as manuscript evaluations, book publishing, or simply contact us.
