Tips for National Novel Writing Month

Robert Jeschonek, based in Johnstown, is an award-winning writer whose fiction, essays, articles, comic books, and podcasts have been published around the world. He joins Dawn and Sarah in the studio to offer tips to aspiring authors during National Novel Writing Month.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

NaNoWriMo Facts

    November is National Novel Writing Month
    Started in 1999 with 21 participants and 6 winners
    2011:  256,618 participants and 36,843 winners
    Many winners have been published professionally

NaNoWriMo Rules

    Goal: Finish a 50,000-word novel
    Approximately 175 pages
    Upload it at www.nanowrimo.org
    Deadline: Nov. 30 at Midnight

NaNoWriMo Necessities

    Word processor, typewriter, pad and pencil
    Family buy-in
    Progress tracking tool: spreadsheet, etc.
    Caffeine!
    TIME
    Calculate daily word count
    Set up a daily schedule
    Post it
    Stick to it

Tips for Aspiring Authors

Golden Rules

    Butt + chair = novel
    Move around regularly, keep blood flowing
    Stay off the Internet!

Already Started?

    Keep on pushing
    Write past the "hate it" stage 
    Shake things up 
    Don't create a monster!

Not Started Yet?

    Don't panic!
    Set an accelerated schedule
    Idea prompts
    Start typing, even if it's just a few words

Free Yourself

    Kick out the doubters
    Trust the process
    Dare to be bad
    Have fun!

Remember!

    Your goal is to FINISH, not win a Pulitzer Prize

Everyone Wins

    Even if you don't finish, you're a winner
    Trying = victory
    Finish the book in December
    Try again next November


Learn more about National Novel Writing Month.

Learn more about Jeschonek or visit Pie Press Publishing.

Learn more about Jeschonek's latest book "Resist the Red Battlenaut".

Find Jeschonek on Facebook as Robert Jeschonek

Follow Jeschonek on Twitter as @TheFictioneer

Find Jeschonek's videos on YouTube at TheFictioneer Channel