NaNoWriMo: What works and what doesn’t
Ten Things that Worked:
- Finger foods and booze: Casillero Del Diablo merlot, in tulip wine glasses; vegetable party trays; Reese’s mini peanut butter cups; Starbucks Doubleshot canned coffee drinks; mini pizzas
- Being nocturnal
- Techno
- My starry fingerless writing gloves
- Checking the NaNoWriMo forums
- Large supply of votive candles: candlelight was vital!
- Wordcount goals calendar and foil star stickers to mark my progress
- Christmas lights around my desk
- Old “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” episodes: the absurdity suited my mood
- Writing chapters in any order I wanted, skipping around
Ten Things that Didn’t Work:
- Staying awake during the day
- Trying to cook meals
- Not “nesting” before NaNo: bills, homework, housework, laundry and groceries were a constant distraction; better to have them done beforehand
- “Rewarding” myself with treats—I work better with immediate fuel, not delayed gratification
- Chatrooms: too much of a distraction
- Writing to a timer: too much pressure
- “Inspiration” novel: got sidetracked rereading it
- Trying to go to football games, or socialize with people NOT doing NaNoWriMo—it’s like a one-month cult!
- Only meeting writing buddies towards the end; next time I’ll kickoff with some
- Giving a damn about the trivial gets hard, when you’re immersed in your bliss.






