NaNoWriMo for Teens: Achieving Your Writing Goals with School Commits

Is it unreasonable to attempt NaNoWriMo as a 13 year old who is in school full time? Absolutely not! I panted it when I was 15 and being from New Zealand, NaNoWriMo coincided with my end of year exams. It was a challenge, but the last week was the most exhilarating of my life. Maybe a bit of a stretch but hey.

I procrastinated and ended up cramming 35,000 words into the last three days of November. So, definitely exhilarating in some sense. The key to completing NaNoWriMo, especially with other full-time commitments, is keeping up short bursts of writing consistently throughout the month.

Even though the 30-day average of 665 words might seem small, if you let it slip, it can build up quickly. By November 28th, I was just 15,000 words in, which means “pulling a Morgan” or cramming the rest in a short time. Consistency is key.

You might also find it helpful to plan your story before November starts. Many writers transform this into an event with Preptober, spending the month ironing out all the story threads and crafting a detailed plot outline. Some go as far as creating whole binders full of notes and character sheets. But, you don’t have to. A rough outline will help you avoid the daunting writer’s block. I find it useful to write chapter summaries on sticky notes or cue cards and hanging them on my writing space. This way, you can revise and refocus as needed.

But most importantly, have fun. I know it’s a cliché, but NaNoWriMo is meant to be fun. It’s a challenge, but the feeling of submitting your last word on November 30th, or before if you’re prepared, is incredible. Knowing that you just wrote a whole novel in one month! But ultimately, it’s about flexing your writing muscles and doing what you enjoy.

Even if you don’t win, you’ll gain a valuable experience about what you are capable of as a writer. And I don’t think you can ask for much more than that!

Keywords: NaNoWriMo, teens, school commitments, writing journey