Many of us dream of writing a novel, but sitting down and doing it is a tricky thing. It’s one of those tasks that require a ton of commitment, and it’s hard to make time for it every day. Some writers swear by writing 500 words a day (here’s looking at you, Graham Greene), while I others swear by waking up at 5 AM and writing for three hours before heading off to their office jobs. And then some writers spend a comparatively short amount working on a novel–the first draft, at least. There’s a reason why National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) exists, and that’s because finally getting all that writing out of the way can be liberating.
It’s a huge challenge, but writing a novel in such a short time has several benefits, from writing it to not losing track of the plot because you’ve dawdled over it too long. And it is possible, however scary it sounds. All you need to is follow these tips.
Prepare with an outline–and world and character background
If you’re planning on writing an experimental novel, like Hunter S. Thompson or Don DeLillo, then writing a novel in a month isn’t probably the best idea. Complex novels of that kind take time and deserve to be written over the course of a few years. What does work as a novel that’s written in under thirty days (because you’ll need breaks every once in a while) is a novel that follows a classic shape. Maybe it’s a high school student whose aim it is to get her crush to invite her to prom, and ends up switching lives with the most popular girl in a Freaky Friday kind of situation. Or maybe you’re writing a fantasy story about a librarian who has to use his knowledge to fight off the bad guys in an alternate dimension.
Whatever your interest, you can see that these are simple stories, with simple story arcs. That doesn’t mean that your characters or setting have to be simple–after all, that’s one of the greatest joys of writing–but by outlining your entire plot beforehand, you won’t have to anxiously worry about where your story’s going when you’re writing 3,000 words a day. Just one example of a great structure you can use (chapter by chapter!) is this article from Writer’s Edit.
Additionally, think about how you’re going to make the world your novel is set in special. Even if it’s entirely based on reality, this is your writer’s version of reality. Make it your own. The same goes for characters. Make them special. Think about Harry Potter: even though it’s a simple story about good and evil, the magical setting and charming characters are what make those books worth reading. You fall in love with the world and the people. And as of earlier this year, 500 million books from that series have been sold.
Create a writing schedule and routine
Once you’ve decided what your novel structure is going to be, and how many total words you’re aiming for, it’s time to sit down and create a writing schedule. This is where you have to be realistic with yourself: How much time can you commit? Overcommitting to an impossible schedule is only going to stress you out, make you a terrible person whenever you’re socializing with anyone, and make it likely that you’ll give up on writing the novel.
At this point, you may realize that you need 45 days instead of just under 30. If so, schedule it that way. When you’re in interviews later talking about the success of your book, you can talk about how you chose to be realistic instead of impressive. So decide how many days a week you can commit to, and create a writing routine for each day. Find somewhere where you can sit down peacefully and write. Go on a run beforehand if exercise gets you creatively pumped.
Sticking to your writing schedule is the most challenging part of writing a novel in a short amount of time. On the bright side, however, the end is in sight–which is way better than many writers who’ve been struggling with the same novel for five plus years can say. Book sales went up 5 percent this year in the UK (as compared to 2017), so getting your novel written now that sales are up is a good idea.
Allow the book to sit for a while
Finally, once you’ve finished the first draft, let it go. Completely. You need to time away from it to read it again with a clear head and understand what needs fixing. Joining a writing group or enrolling in an MFA program to have it looked at by other writers isn’t a bad idea, either. At Brown University’s MFA program, you get a fellowship that covers tuition and health care and an additional stipend of $25,010 in the 2017-2018 academic year.
These are the best strategies for writing a good novel in one month. You have to think about it as a business, the same way an entrepreneur like Tom Zaccagnino spends a lot of time working on his real estate business. What challenges do you think you’ll face when taking on this project?
