Keep Going Until the Actual End
11/27/18 • 5 min
Keep Writing To the Actual End
NaNoWriMo Edition.
This is day 27 of NaNoWriMo.
Every day is one day closer to the end. Even if you're diligently writing 1667 words each day to get to 50K, just being aware of where you are on this timeline can make you feel like it's already the end.
You may see your levels of motivation dropping slightly. You may find some other things to do instead of writing that seem very tempting. Or, if you're anything like someone we know, you may have done this before and you're tempted to give yourself an added challenge of waiting to the very last day to get in all of the words remaining, just because you're pretty sure you can do it.
You're likely aware that you won't be completely done with your story when you hit 50K. Here are some tips for writing to the actual end of NaNoWriMo.
But first. hit 'save' and check your writing posture. You're welcome.
TIPS
VALIDATE FIRST
If you've hit 50K before the last day of the month but still have some storytelling left, I recommend that you VALIDATE your word count first and then keep on writing.
You may discover there is lots more to your story to keep you going for many more thousands of words, and unless you keep writing you'll never know.
KEEP CALM AND WRITE ON
If you have not yet reached 50k and you're within striking distance you're going to hit a point where you start to struggle!write. You're so close to the end, and yet it seems like every word you write pushes the finish line further away.
You'll get there. Focus on your story, not specifically on crossing the finish line, and before you know it you'll reach the end of your scene as well as the challenge.
SLOW AND STEADY' APPLIES
You may know the story and moral of The Tortoise and the Hare.
Time is the tortoise and YOU are the hare.
The hare's problem in the story was that he got it twisted when he figured out he could finish the race later and relax first. Now, this is easier said than done but, writer, the best way to avoid this is to use the time you have left wisely.
Let's not get down to the wire where you HAVE TO write your absolute fastest in order to finish.
You can do this by calculating how many actual writing hours you have left before the end of the month.
Divide that by your normal writing cadence which you've determined in Episode 4 "Let's Catch up on your Word Count."
The number you have is how many words you'll need to write per hour.
If that number is lower than your normal writing cadence then you're golden! You still have a reasonable amount of time to finish. So keep on going. Just like the tortoise. I believe you can do this.
QOTD
Are you currently dealing with the battle of struggle-writing to the end of either NaNoWriMo or your story, or both? If neither, teach us your ways!!
That's all for today. Thanks for listening!
Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.
If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!
How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?
Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).
Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".
Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.
Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.
Keep Writing To the Actual End
NaNoWriMo Edition.
This is day 27 of NaNoWriMo.
Every day is one day closer to the end. Even if you're diligently writing 1667 words each day to get to 50K, just being aware of where you are on this timeline can make you feel like it's already the end.
You may see your levels of motivation dropping slightly. You may find some other things to do instead of writing that seem very tempting. Or, if you're anything like someone we know, you may have done this before and you're tempted to give yourself an added challenge of waiting to the very last day to get in all of the words remaining, just because you're pretty sure you can do it.
You're likely aware that you won't be completely done with your story when you hit 50K. Here are some tips for writing to the actual end of NaNoWriMo.
But first. hit 'save' and check your writing posture. You're welcome.
TIPS
VALIDATE FIRST
If you've hit 50K before the last day of the month but still have some storytelling left, I recommend that you VALIDATE your word count first and then keep on writing.
You may discover there is lots more to your story to keep you going for many more thousands of words, and unless you keep writing you'll never know.
KEEP CALM AND WRITE ON
If you have not yet reached 50k and you're within striking distance you're going to hit a point where you start to struggle!write. You're so close to the end, and yet it seems like every word you write pushes the finish line further away.
You'll get there. Focus on your story, not specifically on crossing the finish line, and before you know it you'll reach the end of your scene as well as the challenge.
SLOW AND STEADY' APPLIES
You may know the story and moral of The Tortoise and the Hare.
Time is the tortoise and YOU are the hare.
The hare's problem in the story was that he got it twisted when he figured out he could finish the race later and relax first. Now, this is easier said than done but, writer, the best way to avoid this is to use the time you have left wisely.
Let's not get down to the wire where you HAVE TO write your absolute fastest in order to finish.
You can do this by calculating how many actual writing hours you have left before the end of the month.
Divide that by your normal writing cadence which you've determined in Episode 4 "Let's Catch up on your Word Count."
The number you have is how many words you'll need to write per hour.
If that number is lower than your normal writing cadence then you're golden! You still have a reasonable amount of time to finish. So keep on going. Just like the tortoise. I believe you can do this.
QOTD
Are you currently dealing with the battle of struggle-writing to the end of either NaNoWriMo or your story, or both? If neither, teach us your ways!!
That's all for today. Thanks for listening!
Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.
If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!
How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?
Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).
Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".
Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.
Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.
Previous Episode
Crush Your Writing Goal Today
Crush Your Writing Goal Today.
This is the 26th day of NaNo. And today is the day that you realize that you are going to crush your goal.
Here are three ways you know you're going to crush NaNoWriMo.
Know that you've seen it happen.
- All around the world writers are placing their 50 thousandth word and zipping over the finish line. You know what to do. You want to do it. You've mentally worked it all out. At this point, writer, you're just following the proven playbook. And nothing's going to stop you now.
Know that it's a done deal in your mind.
- Visualization of your novel, your characters, and their quests. You know the result of the biggest challenges they've had to meet and overcome. It's all downhill from here.
Know that you are the hero of your own story.
- And that story is the journey through the challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. You have fought valiantly against the odds and persisted in keeping your focus and drive aligned to write, despite many distractions, some cute and furry and eager to lay across your keyboard. and others like hand cramps and neck aches to remind you that your writer posture could be better.
There's the saying, attributed to John Lennon.
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay. it's not the end."
if you have not achieved your goal by the end of this week, then your story is not yet over! Get ready for the epilogue and the sequel, where the hero vows to rise again to triumph victoriously in the next challenge that will change what the hero knows about the world, their focus in life and most importantly the hero (you).
I'm curious to know if you're feeling that rush to crush NaNoWriMo this week? Let me know in a comment on social media, referencing episode 26 and using #amadvox.
That's all for today. Thanks for listening!
Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.
If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!
How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?
Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).
Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".
Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.
Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.
Next Episode
Capture Your Creative Moments
Capture your creative moments.
Take a screenshot of your current progress on NaNoWriMo. It's good to have a photo of the finish line as well
If you're going to one last in-person write-in this month, take a photo with your write-in group or have someone take a photo of you in your best writing pose.
Look back at your progress this month and write down or record how you're feeling about the challenge and 3 things you've learned about yourself.
Be sure to congratulate the writers you've connected with throughout the last month. This can include those in your buddy list, in your home region on the NaNoWriMo site or in a Facebook group, and other online groups where you've found support while writing your novel this month. You can stay in touch throughout the year and support each other through the next steps.
Thanks for listening!
Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.
If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!
How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?
Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).
Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".
Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.
Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.
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