National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual event where writers from around the world spend the month of November attempting to write a novel. Initially, and traditionally, NaNoWriMo was for those attempting a brand new project. First drafts are something many writers never start, let alone finish, and the challenge of turning off one’s inner editor for thirty days with the goal of writing 50,000 words in a month is both daunting and thrilling.
It’s now more widely acceptable to work on any novel-length project during the month so long as the goals of reaching 50,000 words without (much) editing during the process is the focus. (For those who seek more flexible goals and/or want to work on writing projects other than novels, there’s Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July.)
There are hundreds of resources and articles out there for those participating in NaNo, including several from us. (Plus our annual class which helps guide you through planning, writing, and what comes next.) However, this year we wanted to offer a few tips for the supporters of writers.

While writing itself is often a very solitary task, it takes a village for writers to actually have a book published or project sold. And those who are there from the earliest days are often those given the most accolades when the work is finished – because those folks have supported and celebrated the writers through the long journey.
So if you’re a NaNo participant spouse, partner, parent, teacher, friend, colleague, co-worker, or internet pal, here’s a few ways to support writers during this month of frenzied writing.
(Writers, you could benefit from these, and/or share them with your support crew.)

Be a cheerleader
As mentioned, writing can be a lonely task. Writers are committed, driven creators, but everyone does better with folks in their corner cheering them on.
It can be as simple as finding them a pep talk, sending them an encouraging email, or telling your writer they can ask you for support during the month. A little hurrah goes a long way.

(Gently) check-in on goals/word count
For many writers, the idea of writing 50,000 words in 30 days seems a monumental task. Even when you acknowledge the more manageable feat of 1,667 words per day, it can still be a lot – particularly for new writers or ones who find it difficult to have a consistent writing practice.
However, accountability is a huge part of success in any creative endeavor, and having a supportive voice check in to see how goals are progressing can make daunting tasks more palatable. You can’t write the words for them, but you may have questions that feed their writer brain, or maybe even offer to take a non-writing chore or task off their plate if they’ve fallen behind in their word count. This is something it’s best to talk about before November – what ways checking in can be supportive for the writer instead of feeling like homework, for both of you.

Send treats (or meals)
When exploring how to check in on word counts or other writing goals for the month, might we suggest including the idea of treats. Yes, this can mean food and beverage rewards, or sending a well-timed dinner on an evening when the writer just needs to focus on writing. However, this can also include treats of tangible things (like a massage or a new notebook – writers can also use a new notebook), or acts of service. These rewards can vary in scope according to the size of a goal achieved, but it’s also nice to factor in a surprise treat or two for the times when the writing isn’t going well and a mood lifter is needed.

Respect their time
If a writer has shared with you their participation in NaNoWriMo, they don’t just need a cheerleader and accountability – they need an understanding that their time commitment to this endeavor is serious. Don’t add to their juggling of life by inviting them to multiple social occasions, or expecting them to cook all of Thanksgiving dinner alone (not that anyone should be expected to do this in any circumstance). If you live with or are close to your NaNo participant, see if you can go a bit farther and take over doing dishes for the month, or helping them schedule writing time that fits into their life, and then not being the person who invades on that time.

Be a sounding board
Whether you believe in the terminology of writers block or not, the truth is all creatives get stuck. And for writers attempting to craft 50,000 words in 30 days, they will likely get stuck more than once. NaNoWriMo is meant to be a marathon, but sometimes life intervenes – or writers block does – and a writer finds themselves 10,000 words behind and stuck on how to progress.
It’s tempting to offer suggestions on plot, characters, etc. but unless the writer has explicitly offered this, it’s more likely what they need is an ear to listen while they talk through issues/frustrations. Questions aimed at things you don’t understand, or things that you want to know more about, can assist in resparking their ideas, but focus more on being an active listener than a therapist.
Also, maybe get them some water and a snack.

Direct them to helpful (and fun) resources
There are numerous resources you can send to your writer as support and encouragement during this writing frenzy. Everything on how to avoid burnout to what to do when you get stuck in weeks 2-3 (it’s a known phenomenon), or when struggling against the inner editor who wants you to revise starting on day 10.
These are great, but there’s also some fun resources out there, like NaNo Toons, a webtoon that ran every November for many years. Artists have created word count calendars for printing or desktop wallpaper displays (you can do a Google search or check out the forums on the NaNoWriMo site). Additionally, many locations have an area group and leader(s) who organize events, write-ins, and forums or chats for participants to support each other.

Celebrate their win(s)
We all deserve to celebrate accomplishments, and NaNoWriMo is no exception. Remember the part about how not many writers ever even finish a first draft? If your WriMo reaches their 50,000 word count goal, that deserves HUGE celebration. However, even if they only write 5,000 words, that’s more words than they had at the start of November, and that too should be celebrated. While writers often celebrate their milestones in private, if you’re close to a WriMo – or any writer – your encouragement and celebration of their achievements is greatly appreciated. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small, not just during NaNoWriMo.

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