First Week of NaNoWriMo: so far so good

I expected to have a terrible first week of NaNoWriMo. But, fortunately, it all went well. So far, so good! I’ve been writing 2000 words per day, and I couldn’t be happier. However, I discovered that it isn’t that easy to keep up writing with a clear head. So, I came up with some ideas that might help you as well.

1. Get your coffee/tea game flowing.

I love coffee, so for me, it’s the perfect fuel for endless creation. I know other people like tea, so please change coffee with tea whenever you read it in this post. Although I usually end up drinking three to four cups of coffee a day, I’m going up to six. Don’t worry, from the third onwards it’s decaf (otherwise I wouldn’t be able to sleep). The target is to trick my brain into thinking I’ve got the unicorn juice to keep writing.

2. Use a spinner to calm anxiety.

I know this might sound weird, but having something next to you that lets you relax is paramount to make it happen. Anxiety can kick you hard, and it’s perfect for making you stop any other activity. My only way at the moment for coping is my spinner. (I also have a squishy toy, just in case.)

3. Give yourself half an hour of crazy dancing.

If you have a playlist for your novel, use it for dancing too. I found out that ideas come to my mind, and even extra scenes. Also if you’re not going to use them, take notes and keep them just in case. Dancing will make your body have some movement and be healthy too. Plus, music will enhance your imagination.

4. And finally: be ready to make mistakes.

Making mistakes might sound harsh, and it’s possible that you fear them. Don’t! Just keep writing your draft and keep the creativity flowing from your fingers. If you try to be perfect at first, you’ll cut your imagination short! If you keep an open mind, you’ll succeed. I’m sure about it. This mindset has allowed me to write 10K words during the first week!

I’m ready for next week! What about you? What have you discovered during this first week?