Not to Do List - Getting through NaNoWriMo
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I wanted to let you into one of the secrets to my success (still to be confirmed) at writing a novel in a month through NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. It’s all to do with not to dos. As proof of my success, it’s day 17, and I’m 60,000 words in, already a winner in NaNoWriMo’s eyes - I’m going to get that certificate. And it’s not all down to my fast writing ability. Well, not all of it.
Now normally I’m all into productivity tips for writers. But one of the biggest, when dealing with starting such an insane challenge, and one many thousands of others fail - is in learning how to be unproductive.
As a mother, and playworker working with children now, being unproductive goes counter my grain. Still, I’ll let you into my little secret - My Not-To-Do List, which is even more important than my To-Do List.
It’s not a new concept, many people have already discussed a not-to-do list (www.fourhourworkweek.com and www.52projects.com for two of them). But it’s still one of the best productivity tools I use in my own arsenal, just for a special project like this one, for a limited period of time.
My Not-To-Do List (In Aid of Writing a Novel in a Month)
Do not check your email. (Until finished the day’s writing)
Do not read newspapers or magazines, even on writing. (Save them for a luxurious incentive after the month)
Do not give yourself a reward or bribe by browsing over the internet.
Do not turn on the television.
Do not clip your nails.
Do not brush your teeth (more than is necessary)
Do not pluck your eyebrows (when you’ve left them to grow for months anyway)
Do not write about writing (okay, failed on that one)
Do not Google yourself.
Do not dust the house.
Do not sweep the floors.
Do not take out the recycling bins.
Do not get frightened that your family is really starving and you will be reported to social services for neglect.
Do not decide to make yourself a big lunch when normally you don’t eat any.
Do not take a nap, even if you only got two hours sleep last night, because you were thinking about your novel.
Do not take the dog for a walk because he’s getting too fat, or you feel sorry for him.
Do not pay your bills.
Do not freak out that you have no money.
Do not go onto the internet for a bit of Christmas shopping.
Do not paint the spare bedroom (failed on that one, too)
Do not start thinking you are never going to finish.
Do not set a bigger target just because you reached the first one. (Don’t up the anti, or you’ll rebel).
Do not “accidentally” run out of milk, or worse - toilet roll, and make an emergency trip to the store.
Do not write such erotic sex scenes that you’ll find yourself needing to fulfil them.
Do not organise your computer files (backing up is okay, just don’t organise the backups)
Do not crack open a beer, or try out that Spanish wine your neighbours brought back for feeding their cat.
Do not start reading your old diary entries.
Do not read back on your project.
Do not clean the toilet.
Do not start reading all the magazines you subscribe to but never read.
Do not decide to start a screenplay (unless, of course, that is your project).
Do not post to your blog (whoops!)
Do not get up and keep getting yourself a glass of water.
Do not go to the toilet more than is necessary (that’ll be that water, then)
And
Do not make a list of things to do.
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