Saturday, October 18, 2008

Secret Weapons for Nanowrimo

While some of our Nanowrimo virgins are doubting their ability to write 50,000 words in a month, I'm here to assure them it's more than possible...with the Nanowrimo secret weapon - Word Sprints (or if you're feeling competitive Word Wars).

Sometimes writing 1,667 words each day can seem like a mammoth task and easy to put off and put off until you've reached the end of the month and you've got a huge number of words to write to catch up. So here's how to write, write fast and forget about the word count goal.


We run word sprints every day on the hour and half-hour on the RWA Nanowrimo group. Anyone is welcome to start the thread (I rarely start sprinting until night-time due to that day job that gets in the way of everything). For a word sprint, you choose whether you write for 15 minutes or for 30 minutes, and during that time you WRITE AS FAST AS YOU CAN! You will be suprised how much you can write in a short period of time. In fact, you may find that you can meet your daily quota with just two half hour sessions in a day. Then at the end of the time, report your word count back on the thread. There may be others cheering you on, there may be others sprinting as well. If you wish, you can then have a friendly word war to see which of you can write the most words in the agreed period of time.
I use a Talking Alarm Clock for my word sprints. At the end of the time, the wizard says Well Done and plays a song for me. You can download him here:

I have a few extra weapons for Nanowrimo in case inspiration strikes at times when I'm not in front of the computer.


For the middle of the night inspiration, I have my special pen and notebook sitting on my bedside table:


And now I have my new (old) Alphasmart which I have fallen in love with. (Sorry Sandie)



Plus when we move into our new building at work, I am claiming this room as my own.
It's actually 'The Quiet Room' as opposed to the Dr Phil or Oprah room or cricket room depending on what time of the year it is. I can guarantee that Alphie and I will be spending my teabreaks and lunch breaks in here during November.


So those are my secret weapons. Do you have any Nano secret weapons to share?


BTW, tomorrow we start HUNK week on the blog and just to get us in the mood, I have searched my photo archives. Enjoy!





I'll be back next week for Saturday Spunks with photos of inspiration for my hero Dylan.

6 comments:

Mon Wood said...

Words sprints sound good, Di! I'll see if I can give them a shot.

My secret weapon is my iPod. It gets me relaxed and occasionally I hear a word or phrase in a song that gives me inspiration.

Oh, and chocolate. Tim Tams do the job!

I'm looking forward to my blog entry on Monday. I just HAVE to google for hunky images to go with my 'Monday Manfest'. Lol.

Mon Wood said...

Words sprints sound good, Di! I'll see if I can give them a shot.

My secret weapon is my iPod. It gets me relaxed and occasionally I hear a word or phrase in a song that gives me inspiration.

Oh, and chocolate. Tim Tams do the job!

I'm looking forward to my blog entry on Monday. I just HAVE to google for hunky images to go with my 'Monday Manfest'. Lol.

Mon Wood said...

oops! sorry, don't know what happened there...

Sandie Hudson said...

LOL Mon, you crack me up.

I'll be up early to do word sprints during November. I'm not expecting to get a lot of sleep. Just as well I have a few US buddies to do word sprints with in the early hours of the morning. LOL.

Love you pen idea Diane, I may have to buy one of those. As for the Alphie, well that has to wait until I have my money saved for the conference. My lappy will have to do for the time being.

Great post. I'm looking forward to hunk week. WOOHOO all those fine male bodies we'll have to look at, Lord where the hell did I put my fan? Hehehe.

See ya.
Sandie.

Anonymous said...

Lacing up the runners now. What? Oh, not that type of sprinting. Oh, well, at least I'll be ready to run when Sandie gets the whip out. LOL
RC

Natalie Hatch said...

Tim Tams\will go straight to your thighs! Reach for the celery instead, though it doesn't taste the same. I found that during June I put on weight. Why? Because my butt was planted on my chair. I'm trying to rig up my laptop to my treadmill so I have to walk and type at the same time. I could do 500kms in the month just by that (think how good my butt would look then lol)