For me, week two is a little less fun than week one. By this time, the novel starts feeling like real work, but it’s still going well. I’m usually a bit ahead on my word count, and things are coming along smoothly.
All the tips for week one still apply, of course, but I have a few extra as well.
- It’s easy to start losing momentum during week two. Maybe you decide to take a night off, or you don’t make your count a couple days in a row. Remember that week three is usually tougher, so do everything you can now to keep the words coming.
- Getting to know some of the people on the NaNo forums can be helpful, but it’s very tempting to spend too much time there. Limit your forum time to only AFTER you’ve gotten your word count for the day.
- Week two is when I start to have plot problems. Maybe a character goes her own way or disappears entirely. I’ve written someone into a corner and have no idea what to do. If you’re stuck on a plot issue, then feel free to skip it and work it out later.
- Here’s another trick I use for finding out what happens next. Step one, list your character’s three major personality traits. Next, list the traits OPPOSITE those. Finally, have your character react as if he possesses those opposite traits. Often real people do things that are out of character, so why not?
How is it going? Post a note below to let everyone know how you’re progressing.