Light at the End of the Tunnel

Okay, Nanowrimo participants. You’re in that final stretch, the end in sight, and you think you cannot possibly write another word. Every time you look at your Nano novel, you feel a little queasy, and your eyes start to cross. Fear not. Here are some final words of encouragement to help you hang in there to the bitter end.

First, and I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: This is just a draft. It does not have to be beautiful or perfect. It does not even have to make sense. All you need to successfully complete Nanowrimo is to churn out 50,000 words. Granted, the better the first draft, the easier it is to revise later, but if that was truly your goal, you would have given yourself more than 30 days to write the darn thing.

This is supposed to be fun. Remember that. Be silly. Write whatever and however you need to in order to make it across the metaphorical finish line. Stock up on your favorite energy drink, grab some candy bars, and put the pedal to the metal. Write, write, write, and see your word count climb.

Hit the forums or the local write-ins and rub elbows one last time with your fellow Nano participants. Cheer each other on. Congratulate (or hiss at) anyone who has already reached their goal before the deadline. Take that chaos and energy into yourself, and get back to work. You have a goal. You can do it.

So what are you still doing here? Go write!