How to survive a 10k writing day and finish a winner

Ten. Thousand. Words.


One. Day.

It sounds crazy, maybe even impossible to a lot of people. The truth is, while it does take a lot of dedication and resolve, it can be an extremely rewarding experience, and many writers love their 10k writing days.


Should YOU do a 10k Writing Day?

That said, it can sound intimidating, and you might question whether it's a right fit for you. We have 5 good reasons why it might actually be a great idea for you to try.

1. It helps you get a LOT of writing done. Whether you're on a deadline or you just want to finish your project, committing to a 10k writing day can help you crush the word count goals. While you may end up throwing some of those words out eventually during the editing process, that's bound to happen anyway no matter how quickly you write, so why not go for 10k and reach some insane word count goals?
2. It's extremely motivational. While it is definitely tiring to write so much in one day, it's also exhilarating to see the story moving along beneath your very eyes. When you complete the goal, you'll find yourself farther along in your story and proud of your accomplishments. This rush of positive feelings often fuels the motivation to keep going even on the days after your 10k writing day.
3. Writing fast will help you banish your inner critic. Why? Because you absolutely have to. If you don't abolish your inner critic from the beginning, you just won't get far. Since you have that commitment to 10k, there's no choice but to put the inner critic away so you can really get down to writing, and when you banish your inner critic, your writing will flow much easier. We have a whole post on how to banish your inner critic, LINK in case you want all the tips and tricks, and we also talk about why it's so important and so beneficial to your first draft writing.
4. It creates a "have to" focus day. When you have a large word count goal (like 50k), it's crucial to break it up into smaller pieces if you want to actually get any progress. Not only are large word count goals overwhelming, but it can be hard to focus on the day to day without any structure. If you create a day where you decide you WILL reach your goal, you're forced to focus on that smaller goal and more likely to actually accomplish a lot.
5. It gives you the chance to make a large goal exciting. Especially if you're behind and looking at thousands of words you need to make up to reach a larger goal, setting aside a day to do something that almost feels insane can be extremely exciting, which in turn is motivational. By saying you will take the time to make an overwhelming goal a fun challenge creates a positive environment that feels like an exciting goal rather than trying to catch up from "failure". 

​
So maybe now you're excited to do a 10k, but you have no idea how to do it in order to win? We have all the tips and tricks for you! ​

HOW TO DO A 10K AND WIN

1. Use sticky notes. It sounds crazy, but one of the best ways to keep you on track is by writing small milestones on sticky notes and placing them near you. It can be in increments of 1k or 500 words or whatever works best for you-- but by providing yourself stepping stones along the way, you'll actually see your progress as you go! Each time you reach one of the small goals, rip that sticky note up and take a minute to celebrate your small victory. As you continue to write, your pile of accomplishment confetti grows and so does your motivation. It's easy to shrink from 10k, but 500 words or 1k is attainable. All you have to do is keep telling yourself "one more sticky note" and the word count keeps getting smaller.
2. Word Sprints. If you're by yourself, a word sprint is an excellent way to go. Set a timer, (it's your choice, but 30, 15, or 10 minutes are good starting places), push go, and write, write, write. Because you promise to focus for only 15 minutes or so, it's a lot easier to actually keep that focus. When the timer is up, check how many words you wrote. It becomes almost like a game--the more you do, the faster you get and the more words you can write in a certain time. Another way to do a word sprint is to have a word count in mind and challenge yourself to write that amount in a certain time frame. By choosing numbers that will actually provide you with a bit of a difficulty to overcome, you will be pushing your limits and really adding to your word count. 
3. Word Wars. If you are doing a 10k day with a friend, word wars are a blast. What are word wars? It's a lot like a word sprint, except instead of racing the clock you are competing against a friend. You can either choose a time frame and see who can write the most before those minutes are up, or you can set a word count goal, like 1,000 words, and see who hits it first. It's a lot of fun, and it can even be done virtually if your writer friends are long-distance.
4. Word Crawls. We've talked about word crawls before, and we still love them. These are perfect for long days such as a 10k writing day, and they're also good for people who would rather accumulate words steadily over time instead of trying to cram in a bunch of intense word sprints or word wars. They are really engaging because they follow a storyline or a compilating of various challenges, and they truly help your words start piling up. You can use the search function on the NaNoWriMo forums to look for themes you would enjoy. 
5. Get up and move. During long challenge days, it's extremely important to schedule breaks and get up and move frequently. Not only is it important for your health, but it can also keep you from getting burnt out. Need some ideas for breaks to get you away from the computer?
   1. Go make a cup of coffee or tea.
   2. Do some stretches
   3. Go on a ten or fifteen minute walk
   4. Grab some food
   5. Take a fifteen minute nap
   6. Do a set of jumping jacks
   7. Get cozy, set a timer, and check your phone/play a relaxing game
   8. Listen to music for a few minutes
   9. Go take a shower
   10. Check your mail
6. Make sure you have snacks/drinks prepared. By preparing the day before for your 10k day, you can give yourself more time to write instead of searching out food or cooking a big meal. Make sure you have healthy foods to fuel you, as well as some fun snacks throughout the day, but whatever you do, do not skip meals. Whether you order in a pizza or you make a quick soup + sandwich or you prepared a nutritious sushi bowl the day before, make sure you are eating. Want some great snack ideas that will keep you fueled all day? Here are a few:
   1. Dark Chocolate
   2. Trail mix/nuts
   3. Nut butter and apples
   4. Boiled eggs
   5. Veggies to munch on (maybe with hummus or dip)
   6. Popcorn
   7. Cheese crackers or cheese and crackers
   8. Muffins
   9. Granola bars
   10. Yogurt
   11. Organic juices
   12. Avocado toast / breakfast toast
   13. Homemade Cookie dough (eggless)
   14. Soup and sandwiches
   15. Instant oatmeal
7. Get Comfortable. Not too comfortable to where you fall asleep, but you're in this for the long stretch--a creaky chair at a cramped desk might not be the best spot. Make sure you're wearing clothes that are cozy and that you can set up in a place that's good for the long haul. If you're not attached to one specific spot, you could even move a couple times during the day-- perhaps you go out to a coffee shop, or you end up on your couch. Whatever feels comfortable to you right then, get settled and do it.
8. Remove distractions. Turn off your social media (or if you're wanting to give updates on your progress, have scheduled times when you get on, with a time limit so that you don't get sidetracked) The day you determine to do 10k is not the day to craft music playlists, browse Pinterest or other social media, have long chats with friends, research for your novel, or design mock covers. It might be tempting, but you have to decide before hand that you won't allow distractions to get in the way, and be prepared to completely get rid of them if need be. This might mean locking your phone when working with your favorite focus app, turning off your wifi for a time, scheduling your breaks and keeping timers going so you don't lose track of time, or having a notebook nearby so you can jot down any random idea that comes in your head. Having a notebook nearby helps you get the thought out of your head without wasting time in that moment to dwell on it.
9. Get Support. Make sure you have a support system somewhere-- whether that's your family or a roommate, another writing friend, or even on social media. Announce your challenge, and give updates either at the end of the day or throughout the day at scheduled times. Having people backing you and in the know about your challenge will keep you on track and encouraged.
10. What if I get stuck? Inspiration might start running dry, even if you have an outline that you're following. The words will get stuck and you may at some point feel like questioning your ability to even speak simple English (or whatever language you're writing in). This is natural, but at the same time it's important not to let a mental block waste your time. So what do you do if that happens? The first step is to take a break if you haven't in a while. Do one of the suggested break options listed above and then see where you're at. If things still aren't flowing well, here are our top tips:
    1. Change your music playlist
    2. Enlarge or decrease the font size
    3. Change the font
    4. Adjust the font color
    5. Switch the page color of your document from white to something unique
    6. Check out our post about how to get inspiration.
    7. Banish any writer's block with these tips.

So there you have it! The complete guide to a 10k writing day. Have you ever done one before? If so, leave a comment sharing your experience. If you haven't, do you want to? Let us know!
Stay Fearless!