We all know the rules for NaNoWriMo. But if you don’t know, here they are: Write 50,000 words in 30 days, approximately 1,667 words per day. Yep, that’s all.

But what if I told you that those rules were completely made up? 

What if I told you that during NaNoWriMo, you could do whatever you wanted?

The thing about NaNoWriMo is that it's merely a suggestion for how to complete your novel during the month.

If you’d like to complete your novel a different way or even do something else entirely to further your writing career during November, there’s nothing stopping you from doing it! 

Take the chance this year and be a NaNo rebel! (We do!)

Here are some ways you can be a Nanowrimo rebel:

Adjust Your Word Count Goal

The first easy thing to change is your word count. 

If 50,000 words seem too much to handle, try something smaller. 

I’ve completed NaNoWriMo by writing 1,000 words everyday (to a total of 30,000 words in the month) and have found that, even though I don’t finish the novel in a month, I’m not driving myself crazy with that extra 20,000 words. 

At the end of the month, I’ve accomplished my goal and can say so with pride! Woot!

Work on a Pre-Existing Project

One of the rules to NaNoWriMo is that you must work on a new project, but I know plenty of people who work on pre-existing projects during NaNoWriMo. 

Working on a pre-existing project saves you the time and stress of having to plan something entirely new, while still giving you something fun and exciting to work on, something you’ve probably already set your heart on considering you started it in the first place! 

So if you have a novel that’s halfway done, or maybe one you’ve had on the backburner for a while, NaNoWriMo is a good time to brush the dust off and get to work.

Work on Editing

NaNoWriMo doesn’t have to be used for just writing! 

One thing you can do during NaNoWriMo is edit previously finished novels that you’ve been saving for a rainy day (and a burst of motivation, or maybe some community support.

You can even use the template of NaNoWriMo’s word count goal and create your own personal goals for editing. 

For example: three pages a day, 1,800 words a day, or two scenes a day. 

Meter it out so that the task is doable then hopefully, in the flurry of activity and excitement that NaNoWriMo brings, you can get it done!

(Beth here: I’ve often used Nano to make good progress on editing my novel and will do so again this year!)

Write a Query Letter Every Day

Beth here again. One year, years ago, I sent 1 query letter a day during the month of November.

I prepped ahead of time by building a list of 30-40 literary agents. I also had created a template query letter to be customized to each agent. And, I had a manuscript I felt was ready to go.

Then each day I did research to confirm the agent was still accepting material and if so, how they wanted to be queried.

Then I customized my query letter and emailed it.

Every day. For 30 days.

I felt accomplished. I felt like I had done a good effort to pitch my book. And I proved to myself that I could do this project of querying so diligently. (I’ll share what happened to that novel another time.)

Your Turn - How will you be a Nanowrimo Rebel this year?

There are many ways to do NaNoWriMo and not all of them involve doing it the day that the rules laid out require you to. 

If you’re anything like me, you see a list of rules and turn your nose up at it and think, “There has to be a better way!” 

If you’re struggling to decide what to do for NaNoWriMo, you might decide to be a NaNo rebel this year instead!

Let us know how it goes!

And hit reply and tell us on how you plan to use Nanowrimo this year. Rebel or not.

And, to get ready for Nanowrimo, use our story planning tools to help you get ready to write your novel with confidence and clarity.

Check out Plan Your Novel Like A Pro - the book and more! @  planyournovel.com.