I confess.  I'm addicted to NaNoWriMo.  Granted, I don't ever get to the 50K word-count finish line, but I love it all the same.  Days/weeks of BIC, non-crumby and non-melty snacks, and sheer torture as I join the world in cranking out word after useless word.

And I know all the tricks to keep the word count up.  These are not cheats...but they certainly feel like it.

Non-Cheating Trick #1: Write all contractions out.  Don't use "don't," but use "do not" instead.  Voila, two words instead of one.

Non-Cheating Trick #2: Make sure your characters talk.  A lot.  Make sure that every time they open their mouths, something completely useless comes out.  Occasionally you can mix in something really important to be pulled out later and polished during the revision process.  

Non-Cheating Trick #3: Describe all settings in excruciating detail.  Make sure you get all five senses in there.  For everything.  Don't know how dirty socks taste?  Well, fake it.  Or you could try sticking some dirty socks in your mouth, but I wouldn't recommend it.  Besides, it will take time you don't have right now.

Non-Cheating Trick #4: Throw in lots of backstory that you can cut later.  Who cares if your character loved a pink polta-dot umbrella when she was 6?  You do, if it bumps your word count up.  (And it could possibly be important later.  You never know.  That umbrella could be the key to solving the mystery, or the weapon used to bring down the villain, or the gift that brings an estranged father and daughter back together.)

Non-Cheating Trick #5: If all else fails, stop writing the story and start another one in the same file.  (Okay, this one might be cheating.  So it might be worth your while to forget I wrote this one and stick with #1-4 above.)

Oh, and Non-Cheating Trick #6:  (THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT, SO PAY ATTENTION)  Let the words come.  Don't force it.   The point is to keep writing, even if it is irrelevant or seems to take you away from your original plan.  Let your creativity lead.  You might be pleasantly surprised at what comes out.

I can't wait for November 1st!


For more info, visit www.nanowrimo.org.