Pep Talk Week #4: Victory Is Yours

Congratulations to the victors of JuNoWriMo! You have all won a significant victory, no matter what your final word count totaled. Why? You stepped out of your comfort zone. We recognize all kinds of creative growth at JuNoWriMo. This is true of both the traditional goal and Rebel goals. Whatever you’ve spent the month working on is important to you or you wouldn’t have prioritized the time to spend on it. Since the purpose of JuNoWriMo is to help writers, all kinds of accomplishments make up your victory! 

If you wrote one more paragraph than you have done before, that’s a victory. If you created an outline or a character profile for the first time, that’s a victory. If you looked at your project with new eyes in any way this month, that’s a victory. Signing up for JuNoWriMo and committing to challenging yourself in whatever form that looks like to you… that’s a victory in any case. 

     I want to share a little personal advice from my own trial-and-error process of creative writing. Do not let this month’s growth stagnate. I absolutely love writing in JuNoWriMo with all of you. Somewhere in the midst of the creative high of June, I always promise myself to continue my daily writing habit even when the month is over! I’ll be totally honest… Most of the time, I don’t do that at all. 

When the Facebook group posts are over and there are no more Sprints or overall group excitement, I tend to fall back into my occasional writing slump. My biggest piece of advice and challenge to all of us is to not allow this to happen. JuNoWriMo is a beautiful celebration of what it means to create… the best way to honor its lessons is to keep it up! Even if you’re not trying to write 1700 words a day, even if you don’t write every day… don’t let the inspiration become lost. It’s invaluable! That might be the biggest victory of them all.

Congratulations, writers! 

Elizabeth Conrad writes short stories and novel-length works in mainstream, fantasy and science fiction genres. She also enjoys singing and design. Her favorite animals are cats and rabbits. She firmly believes that there can never be enough coffee in the world.

Pep Talk Week #3: Beyond The Obvious: Self-Care For Writers

A lot of posts that address this part of our journey include tips and tricks to beat a Week Three slump. These tips are much needed and can be very helpful. I’ll list a few here… change POV, location, add or edit out characters, try different settings and even find a different place to do your JuNoWriMo writing. A change of scene can mean everything! However, there is much more to triumphing in Week Three than writing pointers. 

Self-care for writers isn’t just a pleasant idea for a cute Instagram post. It is and should become as much a part of your writing experience as creating outlines and having a habitual time to write. While self-care will look different for each individual, it can boost you out of any slump if you dedicate time and energy to doing it. 

First, make sure that you’re as well-rested as possible. I know that the inner editor sneaks out of the corner and ambushes me more readily when I’m sleep-deprived and totally worn out. In addition to having a good sleep schedule, get to know your personal creative energy times. I’ve never been much of a night writer, no matter how hard I’ve tried to become one. However, mornings and early afternoons are when I really hit my stride. Don’t compare your creative energy time to other peoples’ energy times. Early birds are no better or lesser writers than night owls. It’s all about finding the way that works best for you. Then just go for it! 

Be sure to eat and drink in a healthy manner. As you work on your project, you may appreciate having meals and snacks prepared ahead of time so cooking is low-stress. By all means, stay hydrated! Many of us absolutely love coffee and caffeine packed teas as our writing fuel… not just for energy but for taste! But you can and should fill your trusty JuNoWriMo mug with water or another decaf beverage from time to time. Your body is a machine, the vehicle of expressing your creativity, so make sure you treat it like a luxury sports car to keep the engine running. 

Take breaks as you need them. Stand up, stretch and go outside. Yes, even in your quest for writing all the words, the outdoors and sunshine still exist, so be sure to experience them frequently! Any kind of movement can stimulate new ideas by giving you that refreshing break that you need. Stretch, dance, go for a walk. Just move your body because it’s good for you and your brain. Another thing you can do to put some variety into your day is to incorporate a few small, non-demanding outside projects. My favorite things to do alongside JuNoWriMo are knitting and crocheting. I choose projects that don’t have a deadline and can be picked up and put down at any time. I think of this as “nonverbal thinking.” As I spend a few moments doing something far removed from the world of words and writing, my brain is refreshed and I’m eager to return to my WIP with a new perspective. 

One last thought on self-care: rewards are good. Whatever it is that you want to do in celebration of meeting a goal, do it with happiness! You are growing and learning, which is very reward-appropriate. Do something that you’ve held off on this month. Indulge in something which you might have wanted for a long time. Call or text a friend, meet them for lunch. Play your favorite music. Watch a movie. Be your own biggest cheerleader because you deserve it! 

Happy writing! 

Elizabeth Conrad writes short stories and novel length works in mainstream, fantasy and science fiction genres. She also enjoys singing and design. Her favorite animals are cats and rabbits. She firmly believes that there can never be enough coffee in the world.

Pep Talk Week #2: Keep Going!

Hello, lovely writers! We’re into week two. This is a great week for writing, if you’ve hit your stride. That momentum can carry you on through and really pick up steam like a snowball rolling down a hill. 

But what if you aren’t there? What if you haven’t found your groove? It’s simple – it’s okay. You’re not behind, this week is another chance to begin. A chance to build on what you do have. 

For me, when I run into a wall – one that’s usually made of cinderblock and held together with the strongest cement to ever exist – I shift my focus. 

Instead of a daily word count, my plan is just to get in front of the computer. 

Instead of a length of time, I try to build a habit. 

And I’m not above bribing myself either. Write some words? Probably should go buy a book!  

There’s not one path to success this month. If you write one word, you’ve already succeeded. In the business of writing books, imposter syndrome can run rampant. Don’t let it get in your head. Every single person who writes has a different path to their success and every single person has a different view of what success even is. So as we run headlong into week two, just know you’re doing great! Every word is one more piece in reaching your goal. 

Every person who writes is a writer. 

Be gentle with yourself and don’t worry about someone else is doing. 

Just remember – it’s your goal and your success and it belongs to you. 


I’m Angi Nicole Black and I’ll be around leading sprints with you throughout the month. I’m a writer and editor as well as a Musical Theater nerd who teaches that and dance at Missouri State University. You can find me on Twitter at @anginicole722 and my website anginicoleblack.com

Pep Talk Week #4: Do Something Brave For JuNoWriMo!

When was the last time you did something brave? Something that terrified you and made you wonder who the bleep you thought you were, doing a thing like that as though you have every right to do this brave thing you’re doing?

Make no mistake – if you’re reading this and doing JuNoWriMo, you are doing something brave this month. That’s true whether this is your first time or you’re a veteran JuNoer.

As a writer, you’ve done a lot of brave things. Even just claiming the “writer” label is an act of bravery. You may not have shared it with anyone else, and kept it your own secret, but it’s still brave. Every word you write is an act of bravery, even if you pretended it wasn’t terrifying while you were doing it.

I’m willing to bet that at some point this month, you looked your Imposter Syndrome in the green eyes, and told it to step back and let you do this thing it was trying to tell you you aren’t good enough for or have no business doing.

Have you taken the time to congratulate yourself on that?

If not, please stop reading and do that right now, because you deserve recognition! Yes, you – whether you’re already done for the month, or so far behind you know you aren’t going to get anywhere near 50,000 words for the month.

Why?

Because you showed up and did something brave. Because you wrote words, and each and every one was an act of bravery and a tiny step closer to your writing dreams. 

And, by trying, you gave yourself information on what worked and what didn’t. You can use that going forward.

Did you celebrate? Really stop, and look at where you started and where you are right now, and take credit for every single word you have now that you didn’t have on May 31?

If so, go you! You just honored your own bravery!

And if not – why not? Are you letting the Imposter Syndrome get the best of you and tell you nothing less than a 50,000 word month “counts?”

If your JuNoWriMo so far hasn’t been a rousing success, that silly Imposter Syndrome is probably right back in your face now, squealing, “I told you so!” and doing a ridiculous little dance.

But don’t believe it for a second, because it’s wrong.

The real challenge was looking it in the eye in the first place. And since you did that once, you can do it again. Just give that monster a level stare and inform it, “I hear and see you. You can go now – I have better things to do.”

It’s important to let that monster know it doesn’t have power over you.

So, please, if you haven’t celebrated, take five minutes and do that now. Step outside and breathe deeply for a minute or two. Listen to the sounds around you. Get a cup of coffee or tea or some treat. Look at what you’ve already accomplished. 

And then…. Take the next tiny step, and the one after that. One word at a time. Let’s see how many words you can end up with. Let’s count each one as a tiny step toward your writing dreams and celebrate them all!

Shan Jeniah Burton is a content creation expert by day; a writer of fiction, poetry, and essays by night; and a mom, Trekkie, and pit bull’s Emotional Support Human always!

Pep Talk Week #3: Get Out Of That Slump!

Hello, everyone! Are you ready for Week 3? You’re all doing an excellent job and have officially conquered the halfway point of JuNoWriMo! 

I don’t know about you, but Week 3 usually presents me with either a rush of writing adrenaline or a slump. If you’re in the adrenaline group, congratulations and may your words pile up well. If you’re in a slump, I can commiserate and want to offer a few ideas…

My advice is centered around one basic idea. When in a slump, change it up. Creative boredom can’t stand a chance against change, so here are some ways that you can alter how you’re approaching your project and get those ideas (and words) flowing again. 

Location: Maybe you’re becoming tired of writing in the same place every day, staring at the same scenery when you look up from your keyboard. For many of us who are participating, it’s summer. Get outside and write in the warmth of the sun. Go to an Internet cafe if one is available. If other options are limited, switch rooms. Put on some music. Burn a candle or spray a fragrance in the air. Engaging your other senses can do wonders for your thought processes. 

Method: Some writers prefer to write outlines by hand, and a few brave souls like to write their entire manuscript in longhand. If you’re like me and not ready to commit to 50,000 words of handwriting, you can still have the hands-on advantage by writing out some notecards, outlines or character sketches. Or, if you’re accustomed to writing these things on paper, change your approach by putting them in your word processor of choice. Just break out of the mold. 

Timeline: This is a slump generator for me. You’ve been going along well for two weeks on your preferred timeline but then the ideas slow to a trickle. Why not jump in time, either forward or backward, and write out of sequence? Where will your MC be in five years? What were they like as a child? What would their lives look like if their fondest wishes came true! Or their worst nightmare? These time jump scenes might come into an earlier or later part of your plot, but it’s also okay if you don’t use them at all. Consider it time well spent in getting to know your character even better, which will allow you more avenues of creativity as you continue. 

Character: Explore new ground by having a background character tell what’s happening through their eyes. They might have an entirely different story to tell than your MC! What if your protagonist becomes the antagonist or vice-versa? Are any of your characters connected in different ways that you haven’t considered before, such as relation, old friends, anyone who shares a history together? Just like in the case of the timeline, these variations may show up in your novel or may create an opportunity for character growth, but you’ll see your project through fresh eyes. 

Break Time: Last but not least, it pays to take breaks from your project. It may seem counterintuitive in the last two weeks of JuNoWriMo, especially if you’re still in need of writing a lot of words, to take more frequent short breaks, but it can be the word-saving recharge you need. After writing or reading for a long period of time, my brain can turn to mush and my productivity takes a nosedive. There’s nothing as mentally rejuvenating than getting away from it for some movement or an unrelated task. Just stretching can help so much! It’s time well spent when you return to your project with a new burst of energy. 

I wish you all the best as you continue the JuNoWriMo challenge, no matter what week you’re on. Remember, if this project has creatively challenged you in any way, you’re already a winner because you’re finishing the month with so much growth and experience. Happy writing to all of you! 

Elizabeth Conrad writes short stories and novel-length works in mainstream, fantasy, and science fiction genres and also enjoys singing and design.

Pep Talk Week #2: Why You Always Think Your Projects Suck (And How To Get Past It)

Hello, fellow writers! I hope everyone has had a creatively fulfilling first week of JuNoWriMo. By now you’re getting into the thick of the project, moving past those first-page questions and becoming familiar with what is working well and what might be areas of opportunity for you this year.

If you’re in need of inspiration, you need only watch this video to find it! Artist and animator Lucas Fisher discusses that all-too-familiar feeling that all creatives endure at one or more points in our journeys: wondering whether or not your project sucks. We’ve all been there, and his video gives insightful help to anyone asking themselves that question. Happy viewing, and may you have renewed vigor going into a new week! 

Here is the video!

Lucas Fisher is a freelance 3D artist and animator who is fascinated by all things 3D and its potential for creative expression.

Pep Talk #1: A Fresh Start (And That Enticing New Crayon Smell)

Do you remember the smell of a fresh, unopened box of crayons that signaled the beginning of a new school year when you were a child? The box was figuratively brimming with possibilities for exciting new adventures. JuNoWriMo is that fresh start with its lovely crayon smell for you as a writer! 

This year, you will either start a new project or continue an existing work in progress (WIP). Both situations present you with a unique opportunity to kick your writing into high gear via a fresh start. 

If you’re starting a new writing project, I encourage you to look at the options in front of you for making this your best, most inspiring project ever! Have you thought about writing in a completely new-to-you genre? Give it a try! All your words count, so be encouraged to step out into a new creative zone. How about writing from a different point of view than you usually use? Your settings and timeline could be different, too. JuNoWriMo is a wonderful time to experiment and see what feels right for you. Using the same format that has brought you creative fulfillment is a great thing, too… above all, this month is about exploring your own unique kind of creativity. 

For those of you who are continuing a WIP, June also signals a new beginning for you because you can take this opportunity to not only dedicate more focused time to your project but also to look at it in a different light. A few quick yet highly effective changes to try include introducing new characters, varying the setting or adding to the plot, giving things an unexpected twist! Whatever works for you is the name of the game. 

A few thoughts as you break open that new box of writing crayons: JuNoWriMo is fun. I know that 50,000 words might seem like a lot to write, but the biggest goal that I hope everyone reaches is to enjoy the creative process. Be patient with yourself. It’s okay to not know all the details yet. Everything about what you are doing is part of the progression. It will come together in due time. Don’t look back and don’t second guess yourself. Moving onward is a great tactic to use to squash your inner editor. It wants to pull you back to focus on what you have already done and what you “should” change, but the best way to initiate and sustain momentum is to keep going forward without question. Once the month is over, you’ll edit. But this is the time to let your creativity and ideas flow; just let go and have fun with it! 

Be sure to get involved in JuNoWriMo’s wonderfully supportive community on both Facebook and Twitter. For me, this is what made JuNoWriMo stand out from any other writing challenge when I was first introduced to it years ago. The support of a smaller group means much more personal interaction with other writers. Our Facebook group is a haven for all kinds of comments and questions. We’ve undoubtedly covered it all at one time or another. Stop in and share your good days, challenging days, accomplishments and questions. We are there for each other.

Another tremendous advantage of which I want you to be aware is how helpful word sprints are when you’re striving for a high word count. Follow our Twitter account, @JuNoWriMo, and join in on our word sprints all month long. Just like in the Facebook group, everyone is so encouraging. You can’t beat the rush that comes from friendly competition with each other and yourselves. There are many days in past years that I was sure I’d wouldn’t make my daily word count goal, but once I participated in some sprints, I’d actually written more than planned. Our dedicated team of sprint leaders are there to help you pile up those words! 

Happy writing to everyone! Have an enjoyable month with JuNoWriMo! 

Elizabeth Conrad writes short stories and novel-length works in mainstream, fantasy, and science fiction genres and also enjoys singing and design.

Using Meditation to Leave a No-Write-Rut Behind

When Frodo told Gandalf he would rather not have to deal with all the hardship of taking the one ring to Mordor, Gandalf’s response was, “So do all who live to see such times…All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” 

Living through a pandemic, forest fires, murder hornets, climate change, and political division is not likely something any of us would wish to endure. But we should take Gandalf’s advice and decide what to do with the time we have.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided to use at least some of your time to write. 

But if it’s been hard to put pen to paper during the pandemic, if you’ve found yourself in a rut, how do you pull yourself out? 

In our last post, we took the path of least resistance and watched some inspirational videos to get the creative juices flowing. But that was just the first step. In this post, we’ll help you leave that rut—COVID-inspired or not—behind. 

What if You’ve Never Meditated Before?

We get it. New activities can be difficult to start because…what if it doesn’t go well? What if you’re doing it wrong? 

The good thing about meditation is there is no wrong, not really. It’s one of those things that’s an art and a science, and you can start small. As long as you’re relaxed and mindful, and forgiving of yourself when your mind wanders (because it will), you can achieve a meditative state. 

But if you’re a total newb when it comes to going zen, don’t worry. We’re going to guide you through some meditation exercises for both the amateur and the meditation master.

Meditation Exercise 1: Breathe it Out

Sometimes all it takes is to breathe. Really breathe—mindfully. Breathing is unique because our bodies will do it on their own, but we can also regulate it. Can you think of anything else our bodies do that are both involuntary and voluntary? We can’t.

The benefit of being mindful about breathing is you will continue to breathe regardless (unless you’re holding your breath), so you can rely on it happening. But by focusing on your breathing, you become mindful of what’s happening in your body. 

This exercise is good regardless of your expertise with meditation. The goal is to focus on your breathing only. If other thoughts crop up—and they will—acknowledge them, let them go, and take another breath to refocus on what’s happening in your body.

  1. Make sure you have somewhere comfortable to sit or recline. You want your muscles to be able to relax. If you’ve never sat in a lotus position, don’t start right now—you can meditate without contorting yourself. (If you can sit in a lotus position, you have our admiration!)
  2. Make sure your environment is quiet. (If it’s not, a pair of noise cancelling headphones or a white noise machine can help.)
  3. Keep your eyes open, but let them un-focus at a comfortable middle distance.
  4. Breathe in through your nose for a count of three. Breathe out through pursed lips for a count of six. If you’ve meditated before, focus on how the breath feels entering and exiting your body. If this is your first meditation, just focus on counting and breathing. Repeat twice.
  5. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Breathe out through pursed lips for a count of eight. Repeat twice.
  6. Breathe in through your nose for a count of five. Breathe out through pursed lips for a count of ten. Repeat twice.
  7. Repeat step 5.
  8. Repeat step 4.
  9. Congratulate yourself for meditating! How did it feel? Write a brief reflection or journal entry about your experience. What did you notice? Was it challenging or easy? Did you like it? Why or why not? Will you try it again?

This first exercise can help you get used to meditation. It can help clear your mind. It can help you focus on the present, on your body, instead of what’s been going on out in the world—or what might go on out in the world. It takes your mind off your writing.

Wait, that sounds counterproductive, doesn’t it? Aren’t we supposed to be getting our minds on our writing?

If you’re in a rut, thinking about the thing that put you there isn’t going to help you out. Have faith in yourself, in the process, and in meditation. 

When you’ve stopped thinking each day about how you should have been writing through the pandemic, you’re ready for the next exercise.

Meditation Exercise 2: Affirmation Mantra

What’s an affirmation? You may already know, but in case you don’t, an affirmation is a statement of positivity about yourself and/or your abilities. Sometimes it’s designed to express gratitude or attract more of what you desire. An example of an affirmation might be: 

I have the right to call myself a writer.

It’s brief, positive, and easy to remember. 

Now what about a mantra? A mantra may be repeated during meditation to help the mind focus on the ideas presented by the mantra. So if you’ve guessed that you’re going to create an affirmation and repeat it—either aloud or silently while you meditate—then you’re right on track. 

Without further ado, here’s your second meditation exercise:

  1. Create your affirmation. Make sure it’s positive and brief. If you’re having trouble, try focusing on something you’re grateful for, or a feeling or thought you desire more of.
  2. Perform the first meditation exercise to help you reach what’s known as a liminal state. Basically, it’s that place where you can be mindful.
  3. Repeat your affirmation mantra at least ten times.
  4. Perform the first meditation again.

You can repeat this as often as you need to. You can write new affirmation mantras to work with as well. 

The next exercise will help you find inspiration, hopefully, to carry you out of your writing rut.

Meditation Exercise 3: Visualization

Visualization is slightly different from meditation in the same way that a square is always a rectangle but a rectangle’s not always a square. What? A math reference? In a blog about writing? 

But it’s true—visualization requires meditation skills but you can meditate without performing a visualization. So what’s a visualization?

When you visualize, you use your imagination to create a spatial setting and the objects in it. Sound familiar? Visualization should be easy for writers because it’s like creating a setting in a story. 

For this exercise, you’re going to perform the first meditation exercise and then visualize the following:

You’re standing in a bookstore. It’s early morning or close to closing, so the store isn’t terribly busy. You wander over to the bookshelf of your genre and scan the spines. You run your fingers over them and take in the letters. Note the colors, the fonts, and their sizes. As you continue to peruse the shelf, you see a book given precedence.  You can see the whole front cover. On the cover is your name, the title of your book, fitting imagery, and blurbs. There are several copies of your book in stock, but it’s also clear that some have sold already. Visualize yourself picking up the book. You hold it in both hands. It’s a hardcover. You let the book gently fall open to a random page. You raise the book to your nose and inhale. You can smell the pages, the glue, the ink—that new book smell which is as aromatic and pleasing as the old book smell. You hold the pages in your hand and thumb through them, letting pages fall onto the other half of the book. Gently, you close the cover. On the back you see a description of your book, more blurbs, a barcode and ISBN, and your photo with a brief bio. You hold in your hands the culmination of your creative efforts. You feel a swell of happiness warm your entire being. Like the climax of a story, you feel like this moment is one you questioned the possibility of many times, but at the same time, it feels inevitable. It feels like no matter your path to publication, you were always going to finish this story. You were always going to complete it, and every hurdle along the way only increases your joy in having done so. You carefully replace your book on the bookstore shelf. 

You can adjust this visualization to be more specific to your goals as a writer. The point is to sense yourself having met your goal while acknowledging the struggles along the way, accepting them, and realizing they are a part of the process.

This rut you’re in—it’s just one hurdle in a long run. When you reach your goal, you’ll be able to look back and see that every step brought you to that moment. The purpose of the visualization is to feel that end point.

How’d it Go?

We’d love to hear about your meditation sessions, if you’re willing to share! Did you try these exercises? Did you try others? There are plenty of writing-related meditations available and many of them are free. We encourage you to keep up the meditation habit, even when you start writing again.

Author & Author Accelerator Certified book coach Margaret McNellis holds an MFA in fiction, an M.A. in English & creative writing, and a B.A. in art history. She writes historical fiction for adult and young adult readers. Her debut YA novel, THE RED FLETCH, will be released on 9/18/21. Margaret’s short fiction has been published in several markets, including Assignment Magazine, where she was the 2019 student fiction contest winner. Margaret loves the beach when it’s empty, the forest in the fall, blasting Mozart’s piano sonatas, and baking bread.

Train for JuNo Like You Would a 5K – Stepping Up Your Writing Game

Could you go from couch potato to running a 5K? Nah, neither could we. No judgment. You know what the 5K of the writing world is? Writing a novel in a month. Well, that might actually be more like a marathon, but we’re going to go with 5K because it’s less intimidating.

But in the same way you couldn’t go from Netflix-and-snack to running several miles in one get-off-the-couch move, we don’t expect you to go from not writing to putting down 50,000 words in a month. 

Maybe you used our list of inspirational videos and meditation exercises to pull yourself out of a writing rut—possibly even a pandemic-induced writing rut. Either way, good for you! You should take a moment to give yourself the proverbial pat on the back. Or take a rewarding trip to the bookstore (safely, with masks and social distancing). 

But then come back to your computer or notebook and realize there’s more prep work to do. In this post, we’ll give you a four-week plan to get up to writing 1,667 words a day (the number you need daily for 30 days to hit 50,000 words).

Week One

For the first week, you’re going to aim to get up to 100 words a day. That may seem paltry, but don’t worry—we’ll be turning up the heat soon, and before you know it, you’ll be in prime shape for JuNoWriMo 2021.

For each day, you can write a new micro-story or work toward a single, longer story. Here’s the plan:

Day 1: Write 25 words. No sweat, right?

Day 2: Write 30 words. Still pretty small.

Day 3: Write 45 words. Oh we’re getting closer to elevator-pitch length!

Day 4: Write 65 words. You’re more than halfway there!

Day 5: Write 80 words. So close!

Day 6: Write 95 words.

Day 7: Write 100 words! Way to go! Celebrate somehow.

Week Two

Last week was a nice experience of wading back into writing. This week, we’re going to aim to get you to 500 words by the end. Same rules apply: You can write a different bit of micro-fiction each day, or work toward a longer story.

Day 1: Write 105 words. Already writing more than last week!

Day 2: Write 150 words.

Day 3: Write 225 words.

Day 4: Write 275 words. More than halfway there!

Day 5: Write 350 words.

Day 6: Write 435 words. You’re so close!

Day 7: Write 500 words. You did it! Celebrate bigger than you did last week.

Week Three

This week’s goal is to get you above 1,000. Why make such a big jump in week three? Two reasons: The more days you write closer to goal, the easier it will be in June—and we don’t want flagging motivation in week four to stop you from reaching 1,667 words a day.

Same rules as weeks one and two. Ready? Set? Write!

Day 1: Write 505 words.

Day 2: Write 600 words.

Day 3: Write 700 words. A big jump, but you can handle it! We believe in you.

Day 4: Write 775 words. You’re halfway through the week, and more than halfway past your daily word goal!

Day 5: Write 850 words.

Day 6: Write 920 words. Less than 100 to go to reach your daily goal!

Day 7: Write 1,000 words. Woohoo! You did it! You’re so close to writing the daily minimum to reach 50k in 30 days! Do something really nice for yourself.

Week Four

Here we are in the home stretch. You’ve done really well. There’s not much more work to do now—you’ll just be working up to adding those final 667 words per day. You’re already writing 1,000 words per day, so this should be a walk in the park or a piece of cake or whatever reward-based idiom you want to use.

Same rules. Here we go!

Day 1: Write 1,001 words. You’ve got this. It’s just one more word than you wrote yesterday.

Day 2: Write 1,055 words.

Day 3: Write 1,225 words.

Day 4: Write 1,350 words. You’re more than halfway to this week’s goal! Keep chugging along.

Day 5: Write 1,450 words.

Day 6: Write 1,550 words. You’re so close. Can you feel it?

Day 7: Write 1,667 words. You made it! You’re totally ready for the vigor of writing 50K in 30 days now. Do something super fun to celebrate!

You Made It…What Next?

How does it feel to be writing 1,667 words a day? We always knew you had it in you. By the end of this challenge, you’ve written 17,128 words, which is almost 35% of a JuNoWriMo challenge. Add that to what you’ll write in June and that’s 67,128 words. At an average of 250 words per page (standard for many novels), that would be a book of almost 270 pages. Not too shabby, right?

Best of all, you’re now writing 1,667 words a day. If you timed this right, you can just keep going at that pace through June. If not, you’ll end up with even more stories or words written—and that’s not a bad thing, either.

Good luck and happy writing for JuNoWriMo 2021!

Author & Author Accelerator Certified book coach Margaret McNellis holds an MFA in fiction, an M.A. in English & creative writing, and a B.A. in art history. She writes historical fiction for adult and young adult readers. Her debut YA novel, THE RED FLETCH, will be released on 9/18/21. Margaret’s short fiction has been published in several markets, including Assignment Magazine, where she was the 2019 student fiction contest winner. Margaret loves the beach when it’s empty, the forest in the fall, blasting Mozart’s piano sonatas, and baking bread.

Pep Talk Week #3: I’m Talking to US

Week 3: I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to US.

By: Jessica Dragon Cheramie

What?!?! It’s week 3.

Are you kidding me? Time disappears way faster than this stupid coronavirus.

How are your words looking?

I hope you are doing great and words are pouring out of you like a spewing volcano destroying any distractions that dare to brave your path. If this is the case:

STOP RIGHT HERE.

I’m not talking to you. Go write more words. Hehe

I’m talking to you who are still reading because the words aren’t pouring out of you or you are stuck or feel like this challenge is impossible. Actually, no, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to us.

Can I be honest?

It looks so glamorous on social media, but writing is HARD.

I’m always so pumped and ready on week 1 with my plan I worked on the month before or not, if I’m just winging it. I’ve been doing WriMos for years.

The first two weeks, I sit down to write, listen to my curated playlist to inspire me, and I just write the movie that’s playing in my head.

I’ve been the ones we aren’t talking to right now whose story magically unfolds and words flow like the Mighty Mississippi River. I’ve finished WriMos in crazy fast times. But this isn’t what usually happens. OH NO!

Typically, I’m writing for a while until…WHAM! Brick wall.  This just got real.

Whatever the reason—cruelties of life decide to vomit all over my perfect plans or time just isn’t being kind to me or I can’t figure out why I’m writing this story to begin with and have no idea where to go with it—it happens.

I know this too well. I’m in the trenches with you.

Now, it’s week 3.

Where did that time go? How can I meet my goals now? There’s no point to keep going. I FAILED.

Does this sound familiar? Are you with me?

This happens to me, and I see it happening to others too often. Participation in sprints and in the group ebbs about this time, and it’s time to make a change.

We need to do better. We can do better.

We are NOT quitters. We are finishers.

We are NOT procrastinators. We are time-managing experts. (I’m trying to convince myself on this one.)

We are NOT perfect. We are perfectly imperfect, and we will do this.

We’ll do this by remembering why we want to do this.

We aren’t doing this because we feel like writing 50k words this month. We’re doing this because we want to write a book, and we want to write it in a month.

But let’s be honest again. When the month ends, we’ll still have what we’ve written, and we can still finish this month.

So why do you want to finish this book in this month? What does it mean to you? Make a list and post somewhere as a daily reminder. (Seriously, I’m not going anywhere. You can finish this after.)

I want to finish this book in this month, so I can get to editing next month. Sure, I can continue writing it next month if I don’t finish, but I’m choosing not to make that an option. It’s now or I move on.

Here’s the thing: I’m giving you a deadline. You have 2 weeks.

Two weeks to finish your 50k words.

I’m holding you to this, and I’m holding myself to this. We’re in this together remember.

I trust you that you can do this with me. Can I trust you? (I know we’ve only just met, so I’m banking a lot on you. Don’t let me down.)

But two weeks from now, what do you want to say? That you gave up or that you did it?

Don’t look back on this in a month or a year from now and wish you would have. Do it now.

We aren’t promised tomorrow. If this virus teaches you anything, let it be to spend more time with loved ones and to stop putting your dreams on hold.

Even if you don’t reach the goals, giving up now only gives you what you had. But if you go for this, what can you do?

There’s only one way to find out.

Why do you want this? Will you be a finisher with me?

Two weeks. Just write. NOW.

Jessica Dragon Cheramie is a Young Adult Fantasy author with a love of all things magical, dragons, and her crazy holistic ways.