If you’re looking for tips and tricks to win NaNoWriMo this year, you’re looking in the wrong spot. I haven’t won in years. But I will tell you what I’m planning on doing this year. Writing a lot more than I have in the past.

I won NaNoWriMo once. I wrote V&A Shipping during November at breakneck speed. It was that speed, I think, that made the book as good as it is. I had an idea of the story in my head and just went for it. It flowed from my finger tips like water. But why did it?

I had been writing a lot of short stories that year and a couple novellas. I had been writing a LOT that year. I think total that year I wrote over 250,000 words. I was writing in spurts and putting out a lot of work. I was happy with much of it, not so much with quite a bit. Regardless, I was writing.

This year coming into NaNoWriMo I’ve been tracking my progress. I’ve written nearly 400,000 words so far this year. I plan on not just hitting my 450,000 word goal I set at the beginning of the year, but surpassing it. I’ve been able to do this by tracking my progress. Tracking my words. Posting my journey for others to follow. I’ve had a great time with writing and I’ve treated it more like a part time job than a hobby I can just do whenever. It wasn’t easy, but I made writing one of my many priorities.

Another thing I made a priority this year is to read more. I’ve read dozens of blogs, online comics, books, books, you name it, I’ve probably been reading it. This has not only fueled my writing, but helped me to think about things I’m putting in my WIP.  It’s helped me think about things happening, events that need to occur, scenes I need to include, foreshadowing I need to include, how characters need to develop. Reading helps a lot while writing.

Something else? My typing speed has increased throughout the year. I used to type fairly quickly. I’m a touch typist. Writing as much as I have this year means I can touch type even faster. On last check I was tpying just over 70 WPM. That’s based on a test that has me typing special characters, words I don’t know and things like that. I’m sure while I’m working on my WIP I’m typing far faster than that with fewer errors as I type.

Finally communiction is key. I’ve communicated with the wife and My Favorite Daughter that I want to write a lot this year. They’ve given me their blessing and their understanding. Sure I still get interupted from time to time, but they understand what I’m trying to do.

So it’s been a good year for me so far. I know I’ll succeed in NaNoWriMo this year because I’ve made it a goal. I took steps throughout the year to be prepared for this. I’ve done everything I could to make sure I can complete my 50,000 words in November. Will I? Will some distraction occur that will prevent me from getting it done? It’s possible. I’ve done all I can to be prepared short of taking the Month of November off.

One thing I didn’t mention. I wrote 5444 words yesterday. I did this and I completed the new Angry Birds Seasons levels. All of them. Three stars. I wasted a LOT of time yesterday that I could have been writing. I waste a lot of time and I’ve still written 400,000 words this year. I’ve just wasted less time then I normally do. I have no excuses for not completing my NaNoWriMo goal.

I’d better get to finishing Of Gnomes and Dwarves Book I so I can be ready to start V&A Shipping Book II.

Until Tomorrow!

WOO WOO!