The NaNoWriMo Alternative: How To Create a Writing Habit This November Without Burning Out
I did NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2017 when I successfully drafted my book, Unfussy Life. I edited it again a year later and published it 4.5 years after that NaNoWriMo draft. And then, in 2021, I used NaNoWriMo to draft my book on writing — Intuitive Writing.
While the writing challenge that happens each November is intended for those writing fiction novels, I’ve always been a fan of using the challenge to write whatever I wanted. For me, that was nonfiction. I’ve also used the November daily writing habit to draft a big blog series and write a bunch of new website copy.
In addition to the November challenge, there are two “Camp NaNoWriMo’s” each year — April and July. Which are intended to be a little less intense than November.
There’s something magical about surrounding yourself with people rolling up their sleeves, committing to themselves, and putting their words on a page for a challenge, all in the name of creativity. You can’t help but want to do the same. Everyone lifts each other up and encourages each other. Just one reason why Finding Flow is such a special container for writing.
Sure, I “won” NaNoWriMo every time I crossed the 50,000-word finish line.
😫 There was just one big problem — every time I finished, I was fucking exhausted.
After pumping out at least 1,667 words every day for a month — I fell into the kind of tiredness that would put most people in burnout. I have a ton of creative energy, so burnout has never really been a story for me, but I’d still want to take at least a month off from writing before jumping back in to play with edits.
It’s a significant effort to write 1,667 words a day. While running a growing copywriting and coaching business with a full client load, staying creative, writing and editing for others, looking after myself with good food and movement, and driving my kids around so they can live their best lives.
My 50,000-word draft, by the way, was a complete SFD (surrendered first draft) that required many edits and at least one complete rewrite. This brings up something else I hear among the writing community. The problem with cramming 50,000 words into 30 days is that most of the writing is junk.
NaNoWriMo-style challenges focus on quantity — not quality.
That quality problem may be fine for many creatives. Thanks to NaNoWriMo, I drafted my books. I got it done. But it took longer than it needed to because I needed massive breaks — on one occasion, I needed 11 months off. Only by taking action, though, did I see there could be another, gentler way to get to the finish line — whether the finish line is a consistent writing habit or 50,000 words.
The time it took me to draft Intuitive Writing was insignificant compared to my first book. And in March 2024, I started drafting my third book. This one, by far, has been the easiest. I hit my word count goal in under an hour every day while writing with my community — proving that just about anyone can find the time to write a book. Revisions, which come later, take much more time and energy (but when I flow with nature, it' comes so much easier! More on this in a minute). Oh, I also maintain a full copywriting and coaching client load, teach online writing classes, and have a family.
By now, book writing doesn’t feel like a push. It’s pure joy. The words fall out like breathing, and the quality is much better because I’m doing it differently.
The history of NaNoWriMo
The annual writing event began in July 1999 as a writing challenge where partakers submitted their results for verification. Created by writer Chris Baty from the San Francisco area, he decided to wrangle 21 of his friends, and if they wrote 50,000 words or more, they’d earn the title “winner.” In that inaugural year, only 6 of the 21 writers hit the goal.
The following year, the challenge was moved from July to November “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather.” This is, of course, relative to where you live and your definition of “miserable weather.”
You don’t have to wait for November to write your book, either. There are two additional challenges throughout the year — April and July — deemed “Camp NaNoWriMo,” where you can choose any word count goal.
Today, participants can track their own progress on the NaNoWriMo website.
NaNoWriMo is now a donation-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes stories matter. They want to make the world a better, more creative place. Totally with them there. Their programs also support writing fluency and education and host more than a million writers. They’re a big deal in the writing world.
And now, that NaNoWriMo is seemingly giving AI the greenlight — writers are canceling their accounts. And with good reason. I do not use, nor do I promote the use of generative AI.
Craving a more balanced, feminine, and sustainable approach to writing.
Learning about the moon and menstrual cycles several years ago was an aha moment for me. A woman’s energy isn’t the same every day, just like the moon.
When my naturopathic doctor showed me a picture of the male hormone cycle compared with the female hormone cycle, it instantly clicked.
The masculine hormones are the same every day (barring any health issues). The masculine is the sun — showing up with the same energy at the same times of day every 24-hour cycle.
Feminine hormones, however, vary over an average 28-day cycle — just like the moon varies over her reliable 29.5-day cycle. This is not a coincidence.
Our energy is different at every stage of the menstrual cycle, which is why, if you're a menstruating female and you’ve participated (or attempted to) in a NaNoWriMo or Camp NaNoWriMo challenge, you might have found the words flowed some days and others, you were too tired to lift a pen. Or, maybe you noticed you had too much energy to sit your butt down and write, or you were simply unsure about what to say and feeling the need to go inward. Then you felt guilty for not showing up and writing.
Whatever you were feeling each day at the page, it’s normal to feel different each day. When we show up to the page and every day is different than the day before, it’s easy to judge ourselves. We wish we could be that fast and flowy writer every day when, really, that’s just not how we’re built.
From 2018 until 2021, I hosted a NaNoWriMo challenge inside my writing community. We had a few “rules” every time:
Choose your own word count goal.
Or, instead of a word count goal, choose a writing streak goal — like writing for 15 days out of the month.
Write whatever you want — a book, blogs, website copy, podcast notes, a Ted talk, or a combination of items.
The goal of NaNoWriMo is to get people into a consistent writing habit. But instead of getting creatives and business owners into a habit, I saw it burning people out. I've seen my students quit halfway through, not start at all, keep a sporadic schedule, and not create that new writing routine that they so craved.
I see NaNoWriMo leaving many people feeling like failures. But really, it’s not their fault. The push energy isn’t for everyone.
NaNoWriMo is masculine in its energy. I propose a freer approach that incorporates masculine AND feminine (we need both).
Writing with nature’s rhythms makes it easier.
Here are my personal results since learning how to write with nature’s rhythms:
I write and publish blogs, emails, and social posts in less time — I’m blogging more than ever these days
I’m more peaceful, confident, magnetic, productive, and creative
I published my last book, Intuitive Writing, following this advice — there were many times in the process when I thought, “Wow! This is way too easy!” Turns out, this was how writing was supposed to feel all along.
Plus, I get daily messages from business owners in my writing community who say that writing with the moon (or a menstrual cycle) changed everything for them.
So… how do you write with nature?
Focus on the moon — which is consistent and reliable (if you don’t have a menstrual cycle). Have both? Focus on your energy first, then the moon.
We know the sun:
Has a predictable 24 cycle
Is the masculine — carrying comparable energetic qualities as men, who have a fairly consistent 24-hour hormone cycle (maybe you didn’t know this, but now you do!)
Up until a few years ago, I’d found success (especially in the corporate world) and gotten a lot done by using my masculine energy. We all have a dominant energy that has nothing to do with gender. For most of my adult life, that energy has been predominantly masculine. I realized I was suffocating my feminine energy. It was time to get to work and let her CREATE (what the feminine is born to do).
Now, let’s look at the moon:
Has a predictable cycle lasting roughly 29.5 days
Has 4 distinct energetic phases
These phases and energies have the same quality as the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle and the 4 seasons
Now, let’s put it all together — the moon, the seasons, and the menstrual cycle:
New moon / winter / menstrual phase
Waxing moon / spring / follicular phase
Full moon / summer / ovulation
Waning moon / fall / luteal phase
Both masculine and feminine qualities find their ebb and flow in each writing phrase. Writing is surrendering, letting go (feminine), and taking action (masculine). Editing is also letting go (feminine) and action-taking (masculine) — doing the work to distill and carve out the work. In Finding Flow, I go into much more detail about this. The moon also moves through a new zodiac sign roughly every 2.5 days (there are 12 signs). Each sign has masculine or feminine energy and distinct qualities we can use to help out with writing and editing flow.
Let’s further explore the qualities of each cycle and how you can align your writing with these phases.
New moon / winter / menstrual phase
The new moon is a time to go within, plant seeds in the dark soil, and set intentions. How to flow with this phase:
Block your calendar, make time for journaling and feeling into what you want to create in the next moon cycle
Rest, extra comforting and grounding foods like potatoes, gluten-free pasta, and beets, stretching, yoga, and walking
Journaling, writing morning pages, reflecting without forcing action
Future-state journaling and writing about how you see your finished writing project serving your readers
Making key decisions and connecting dots in your business or writing project — what do you want to create in this next cycle?
Waxing moon / spring / follicular phase
The energy of spring has a buzzy vibe. Those seeds you planted in the dark are beginning to germinate and sprout. They may be starting to emerge. How to make the most of this phase:
Planning, brainstorming, scheduling meetings, gathering ideas, taking action
More movement, additional gym sessions, lots of spring-like bright green food
Set a timer and let your ideas run wild during a big brainstorming session — write them all down (no editing or overthinking)
If all these ideas feel overwhelming, there’s no need to work on them yet. You’ve done your job by capturing them. Come back to them when the time is aligned.
Make plans for those intentions you planted at the new moon, adding important dates to your calendar
Outlining and quick drafting
Full moon / summer / ovulation phase
The climax, culmination, and big, fat spotlight — full visibility — here I am world! Make the most of this supercharged time with these actions:
Schedule an extra long and deep writing session
Moving your body by lifting heavy weights and enjoying bright foods like dragon fruit and berries.
The extra light in the sky is a free floodlight shining a light on whatever you need to pay attention to — so that you can let something go
Read your drafts and remove things that aren’t working to another document (you might revisit it later)
Share your writing with trusted readers or even the world because you’re most magnetic during this phase
Say goodbye to old writing projects that feel stagnant.
Write down all the old beliefs you have about writing that are no longer benefiting you and burn them in a bonfire
Waning moon / fall / luteal phase
Think pumpkin spice, changing leaves, and harvest. Take advantage of this energy with these activities:
Revisiting and refreshing old blog posts, turning book chapters into social posts
Finalizing, completing, and reviewing all the tiny details like chapter references in a book
Moving a little slower, more yoga, less intensity at the gym
Eating foods that feel like fall — sweet potatoes, pumpkin, chickpeas
Editing — because it’s a time when we’re more attuned to details — you might catch a ton of sneaky typos and mistakes that you missed so many times before!
Important notes as you align your writing tasks with nature’s rhythms:
Hold your judgment. You know those days when the words flow, you feel radiant, brilliant, and clever? Then, a few days later, you’re sitting at your desk, ready to burn your entire writing project and start over. Everything is different — your hormones, the planets, the moon. Give yourself the grace to work with nature’s rhythms, not against them.
No blaming. The moon (and your menstrual cycle) aren’t to blame for why you’re not writing. It only means you need to flow differently or make some tweaks.
Take your time. If this is the first time you’ve heard about writing with nature’s rhythms, take a month to simply notice what’s going on with your body and the moon. Make some notes about how you’re feeling and how the writing went.
Want to find your voice and your writing flow? Sign up for the next round of Finding Flow — the 29-day live writing experience that aligns your writing practice with nature’s rhythm.
