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I just got off a Zoom call with Netflix regarding the TV/Film rights to my debut novel, Face the Night. Typing that sentence almost feels like writing fiction. I’m supposed to be browsing Netflix, not pitching them!

How did we get here? Well, it all started on a bright and blustery morning: November 1, 2017.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break can test the mettle of the strongest teacher. And if your students have just wrapped up a monumental writing challenge like NaNoWriMo, how do you keep them engaged when a two-week vacation is right around the corner?

While the actual writing of their novels may end on November 30th, their enthusiasm for their stories will probably continue. Why not tap into that enthusiasm with a novel-related project? Here are some that my 8th graders enjoyed:

Phew! November was a sprint! We all did something truly amazing over those thirty days, and that’s something to celebrate… but, first, I personally could use a nap.

So, why do I still feel like I should be racing to hit my daily word goal? Why are my characters still running through my mind? Why am I still dreaming about my plot holes? Doesn’t my brain understand that I did the thing, and now I would like to turn it off for a while please?

Hello writers!

What does success feel like to you? I’m not talking about external measurements of success, but how it feels in your body and heart. Do you feel lighter? Does the air feel alive? Do you just feel happy?

What I want to talk to you about today is celebrating the small successes. 

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, hopefully you’ve either met your goal, or you’re close enough to taste victory. Whether you sprinted, crawled, or dragged yourself to the finish line, a win is a win… and now it’s time to make it official.

Step 1: Head to the Validator

To claim your NaNo 2.0 winner goodies, you’ll need to use the official NaNo 2.0 Validator.

The validator confirms your final word count and unlocks your winner’s rewards. It gives you that classic “I really did it!” feeling, right in your browser.

I had my wisdom teeth removed the day before Thanksgiving when I was in college. It was the only day my dentist could work me in while I was home for the holiday, and the timing sucked. I love Thanksgiving, and my mouth was just about out of commission during the feast. Still, I found a way to make it work.

Most Thanksgiving food is soft, which helped. I scraped off tiny forkfuls of mashed potato and stuffing and pumpkin pie with my front teeth, and smushed it against the roof of my mouth with my tongue so I wouldn’t have to use my molars. Each bite was painful but delicious. I didn’t have to miss out on my favorite meal of the year—I just had to approach it differently.

As we roll into the final week of NaNoWriMo, we may find our word count slumping along with our writing energy. November 30 is right around the corner! How can we make it to our writing goal in these last few days?

If you haven’t figured out how your story will end (or you know, but haven’t gotten there yet), by all means keep writing towards that end. One way to make that a little easier is to go ahead and write the end. Just skip to it now. Sometimes we see a scene clearly in our minds and can’t wait to bring it to life. If you write your final scene, it can be easier to work backwards from there to connect where your story is now to where it will conclude.

Hi writer,

A week ago, we were lounging at NaNoWriMo’s midpoint, idly chucking Hot Pocketsat bears and deciding which path to take for the long journey home. 

Now we’ve blinked and November’s almost over.

We’ll soon be back in our normal lives, with all those unwatched Netflix shows and unwashed dishes. Surrounded by family, friends, and autograph-seekers—all of them eager to learn how our month of writing went. 

If you’re already dreading those conversations because you’re worried you didn’t accomplish enough, please don’t.  

Whatever your word count, you’ll return home triumphant. In a busy month, you’ve managed to conjure entire worlds and bring a cast of unique characters to life. Even if you can’t see it from here, you’ve also learned valuable lessons that will serve you well in this story and the countless others ahead.

Welcome to NaNo 2.0 Week Four of noveling abandon! Looking for continued support as you sail into success on your writing challenge, be it 50K in 30 days or a rebel project? You’ve come to the right place. This is what Captain NaNo has pirated away for you this week: 

Bluesky Word Sprints (times are PST)

• Mon., Nov. 24, 10-11 AM with Tavia Stewart, Noon-1 PM with Laura Bradley, 1-2 PM with Kristina Horner, and 5-7 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Tue., Nov. 25, 10-11 AM with Tavia Stewart, 1-2 PM with Kristina Horner, and 5-7 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Wed., Nov. 26, 10-11 AM with Tavia Stewart, 1-2 PM with Kristina Horner, and 5-7 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Thu., Nov. 27, 10-11 AM with Tavia Stewart and Noon-2 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Fri., Nov. 28, 10-11 AM with Laura Bradley and Noon-2 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Sat., Nov. 29, Noon-2 PM with Ansley Ashe
• Sun., Nov. 30, Noon-2 PM with Ansley Ashe

Posts Coming Up:

Background

I have fond memories of the NaNoWriMo Validator. Back in the day (my first NaNo attempt and win came in 2003), to officially be declared a winner, you had to copy/paste the text of your novel (or use a text generator to produce the text to be counted) into a text area box and press a button. NaNoWriMo would count the words and, if you had at least 50,000 words, you would be declared a winner and allowed to download a printable winner’s certificate (that you could fill out yourself).

I found the process validating–it was like some external entity saw the words I pulled out of my mind and my heart in November and said, “You’ve won!”