Week One Inspiration for #NaNo Novelers

It’s Day 4 of NaNoWriMo, and I am behind on my word count.
I know that’s not inspirational, but I also know I’m not the only one.
If, like me, you’re feeling the pressure of oh god how am I going to write a novel in 30 days, have no fear. Do not despair. Deep breaths, friend, because we’re going to figure this out together.
First things first, something to remember: You are writing a NOVEL. (Or, if you’re like me, using NaNo to write 50k of whatever.) That, my friend, is a feat in and of itself. And no matter if you’re twenty words in or 2,000, you should feel proud that you started.
The first week of NaNo is both a blessing and a curse. This is my fourth year doing it, and each year is the same—I start out with so much momentum and then it peters off by week 2 (or day 4, as the case may be.) So I wanted to share a few tips with you for getting back on track, getting ahead, and hitting your word count.
1. Turn off all distractions.
If you’re like me, saying you’re going to check your internet for just five minutes before you get back to writing means that five minutes will turn into ten. Then twenty. Then before you know it you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole on Wikipedia while your novel sits there, neglected and sad.
Don’t do this to your novel. Turn off the WiFi on your computer. Invest in an app like Self-Control or Freedom, or a Chrome extension to block the websites you need to block. Tell yourself you can’t read a chapter of your favorite book or watch an episode of a show until you get at least 500 words, then stick to it. Even if you only write 250 words without being distracted, that’s 250 words you didn’t have before.
2. Plan some fun scenes.
Some days, the fun scenes are what keeps me going in a book. Ask yourself what type of scenes you like to write, and plan some of those out. Or make the next scene you write one of those—whether it’s a kissing scene or an angsty death. Write it even if it falls out of order. Once you’re working on a scene you love, the words will fly. This method works whether you’re using those scenes as a reward for getting through the difficult parts, or whether you’re using them as motivation to hit your word count.
3. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
I know this sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. The principle of NaNoWriMo is, yes, to write a novel in a month. But this should be fun. You’re writing a first draft. You’re literally creating worlds. Have fun with it! Don’t worry about if it’ll ever see the light of day. Enjoy the thrill of writing, the sense of community with your fellow NaNoers!
So what’re you waiting for? Get back to your novel! Write as many words as you can. Revisions and edits, those are for December. For now, just revel in the act of creating something only you can, and happy NaNo!