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It's that time of year again when we warm up or pens and our hard drives and attempt to crank out as many words as possible in one month (or 50,000 whichever comes first). Last year I didn't actively participate, but I did, however, write nearly an entire novel during the month of November. I'm still trying to find a home for it. But that's neither here, nor there.

If you're participating in NaNoWriMo, put me down as a buddy. I'm JRMurdock. I'll reciprocate, of course. I'll be posting my progress on the podcast weekly (on Thursday) and I'll try to blog once or twice per week as NaNoWriMo goes on more to clear out any extraneous thoughts before I sit down to actually write.

Some quick tips for writing fast:

• Walk 10-15 minutes prior to sitting down and writing. This will give you some time to think about what you're going to write and how to work through a scene. It'll also get your blood pumping and provide your brain with much needed oxygen you need to think with.


• Eat light. Not only in quantity, but in content. Eat salads, fruits, chicken, or fish. Such foods will provide good blood flow and won't bog you down while you write.


• Write forward, don't re-write. Remember, you're going for quantity, not quality. This is a first draft so push ahead even if you think what you're putting down is utter trash. Keep pushing ahead and keep your eye on the end. Set a daily and a weekly goal for your writing and push to that goal. You can do it.


• Don't drink while you write. Alcohol slows down your mind. You don't need anything slowing you down at this point. Reward yourself with a drink when you're done for the day, but not before.


• Choose now what your prize will be. By setting a goal and a reward when you meet that goal will keep you pushing forward. Print a picture of what you want and keep that handy if need be. Put leverage on yourself if you don't meet your goals to ensure you keep going and don't stop mid-stream.


• Set your priorities. Before you sit down to watch the latest BSG, ask yourself if it's better to TiVo it and watch it later so you can get your daily word count out.


• Take care of yourself. Make sure you're eating right and getting plenty of rest. Don't sit up until 2a.m. trying to get ahead for the next day. You'll do yourself more harm than good if you're not getting enough rest and your word count will suffer for it. Make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep to perform at full capacity for the entire month.


• Take time out for your friends and family. It's hard to write in a vacuum. Take time each day to spend with your friends, your family, chat online, post, blog, etc. Getting your brain free of clutter will facilitate getting the story done faster.

I hope these quick tips help. Drop by from time to time and let me know how the battle goes. I'll put in little pep-talks in the podcast to help you keep going. Always remember, you CAN do it!