The Ultimate Writing Challenge
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenges writers to produce 50,000 words in just 30 days. That's 1,667 words per day, every day, for an entire month. It sounds daunting—because it is. But hundreds of thousands of writers have crossed that finish line, and with the right preparation, you can too.
Whether you're a NaNoWriMo veteran or attempting it for the first time, these ten tips will help you write faster, stay motivated, and actually finish your novel.
Before November: Preparation is Everything
1. Build Your Story Bible in October
The writers who finish NaNoWriMo fastest aren't necessarily the fastest typists—they're the ones who know exactly what they're going to write. Spend October building a comprehensive Story Bible with character profiles, location details, and plot points.
Use Scripio's Story Bible feature to create detailed character sheets, map out locations, and timeline your plot. When November hits, you won't waste precious writing time figuring out your protagonist's eye color or the layout of the magical academy.
2. Create a Loose Outline
You don't need a detailed scene-by-scene breakdown (unless that's your style), but knowing your major plot beats will keep you moving forward when inspiration flags.
At minimum, know your beginning, your midpoint turning point, and your ending. Having these anchors helps you write toward something concrete even on difficult days.
3. Tell Everyone You Know
Public accountability is powerful. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers about your NaNoWriMo commitment. Post about it on social media. The mild social pressure of having people ask "How's the novel going?" can push you to write on days when you'd rather binge Netflix.
During November: Staying on Track
4. Write at the Same Time Every Day
Habits reduce the mental friction of getting started. If you write every morning at 6 AM, your brain will eventually expect to write at 6 AM—no willpower required.
Many successful NaNoWriMo winners wake up early to get their words in before the chaos of the day begins. Others write during lunch breaks or after the kids are in bed. Find your time and protect it fiercely.
5. Use Word Sprints
Word sprints are short, timed writing bursts—typically 15 to 30 minutes—where you write as fast as possible without stopping to edit. They're incredibly effective for building momentum and hitting daily targets.
Set a daily word goal in Scripio and use the statistics dashboard to track your progress. Watching that progress bar fill up is surprisingly motivating.
6. Embrace the Terrible First Draft
NaNoWriMo is not the time for perfectionism. Your first draft is supposed to be messy. Give yourself permission to write placeholder descriptions like [INSERT BRILLIANT METAPHOR HERE] and move on.
Remember: you can't edit a blank page. Get the words down first; make them pretty in December.
7. Build a Buffer Early
Life happens. Thanksgiving dinner needs cooking. Kids get sick. Work emergencies explode. If you can write 2,000+ words in the first week, you'll build a buffer that protects you from falling behind later.
Aim for 2,500 words on weekends when you have more time, so weekday shortfalls don't derail your progress.
When You're Struggling
8. Skip Ahead When Stuck
If you're struggling with a particular scene, write a different one. Your novel doesn't have to be written in order. Jump to an exciting scene, a dramatic confrontation, or even the ending. You can connect the dots later.
9. Use AI as a Creative Partner
When you're stuck, AI writing assistants can help you brainstorm ideas, suggest what happens next, or even write a few sentences to get you unstuck. The goal isn't to have AI write your novel—it's to use it as a creative springboard.
Scripio's AI suggestions can help you push through difficult passages without breaking your flow. Sometimes just seeing a possible direction is enough to spark your own ideas.
10. Remember Why You Started
Around week two or three, most writers hit a wall. The initial excitement has faded, the finish line seems impossibly far, and the couch looks very comfortable.
This is when you need to remember why you started. What story are you burning to tell? What characters are living in your head, demanding to be written? The middle is always the hardest part—but every published novel got through it somehow.
The Math of NaNoWriMo
50,000
Total words
1,667
Words per day
~6-7
Pages per day
~200
Final pages
At an average typing speed of 40 words per minute, 1,667 words takes about 42 minutes of pure writing time. Factor in thinking, pausing, and minor editing, and most writers need 1-2 hours per day to hit their targets.
After You Win
Congratulations—you've written 50,000 words! You have a complete first draft (or most of one). Now what?
First, celebrate. You've accomplished something most people only dream about. Take a few days off. You've earned it.
Then, let your draft rest for at least two weeks before revising. You need distance to see it clearly. When you return, you'll be ready to transform that rough draft into something polished.
Whether this becomes a published novel or a learning experience, you've proven something important: you can write a book. Now go do it again.
