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10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Novel Writing Journey This NaNoWriMo

October 21, 2022 | 3 min read

Are you gearing up for NaNoWriMo? If so, you'll want to check out this blog post! We've compiled a list of 10 ways to jumpstart your novel writing journey and make the most of this month. Whether you're a first-time novelist or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you get in the groove and write more words per day. So what are you waiting for? Start reading and get ready to write!

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1. Start with an outline: This will help you stay on track and ensure that your novel has a cohesive plot. Plus, it'll be easier to hit your daily word count goals if you know what needs to happen next in the story.

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2. Set a daily word count goal: Make sure it's realistic so you don't get discouraged if you don't hit it every day. But having a goal to strive for will help you stay focused and motivated.

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3. Find a writing buddy: It's always more fun to write with someone else, and you can help keep each other on track. Plus, it's nice to have someone to celebrate with when you reach your daily word count goals!

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4. Make time for writing: Schedule it into your day like any other important appointment. And if you can't find a solid block of time, just write for 10-15 minutes here and there. Every little bit helps!

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5. Set the mood: Create an environment that's conducive to writing. Whether that means lighting candles, brewing a pot of tea, or putting on your favorite music, do whatever it takes to get into the right headspace.

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6. Take breaks: It's important to step away from the computer every once in a while, or you'll start to feel burnt out. So take a few minutes to stretch, take a walk, or just step away from your desk.

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7. Keep distractions to a minimum: This means turning off your phone, closing social media tabs, and anything else that might pull you away from your writing. The fewer distractions you have, the more focused you'll be. Consider a distraction-free writing tool like the Traveler from Freewrite if you have trouble staying off your phone or other devices while you write.

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8. Write in short bursts: If you find yourself getting bogged down, try writing in short spurts of 500 words or less. This can help break up the monotony and keep your momentum going.

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9. Read other novels: Not only is this a great way to find inspiration, but it'll also help you improve your own writing. As they say, the best way to learn how to write is to read as much as you can.

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10. Reward yourself: When you reach your daily word count goal, treat yourself to something special. Whether it's a cup of coffee, a piece of chocolate, or some extra time spent on social media, find something that will motivate you to keep going.

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11 (BONUS!). Have fun: At the end of the day, NaNoWriMo is all about enjoying the process of writing a novel. So don't take it too seriously, and just have fun with it!

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Freewrite is a proud sponsor of the NaNoWriMo 2022.Β  Participants can find more tips from other users, a participant discount on product, and more at our NaNoWriMo sponsorship page!

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NaNoWriMo Sponsor
January 09, 2026 2 min read

A new year means a whole new crop of work is entering the public domain. And that means endless opportunities for retellings, spoofs, adaptations, and fan fiction.

December 30, 2025 3 min read

It’s Freewrite’s favorite time of year. When dictionaries around the world examine language use of the previous year and select a β€œWord of the Year.”

Of course, there are many different dictionaries in use in the English language, and they all have different ideas about what word was the most influential or saw the most growth in the previous year. They individually review new slang and culturally relevant vocabulary, examine spikes or dips in usage, and pour over internet trend data.

Let’s see what some of the biggest dictionaries decided for 2025. And read to the end for a chance to submit your own Word of the Year β€” and win a Freewrite gift card.

[SUBMIT YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR]


Merriam-Webster: "slop"

Merriam-Webster chose "slop" as its Word of the Year for 2025 to describe "all that stuff dumped on our screens, captured in just four letters."

The dictionary lists "absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, 'workslop' reports that waste coworkers’ time … and lots of talking cats" as examples of slop.

The original sense of the word "slop" from the 1700s was β€œsoft mud” and eventually evolved to mean "food waste" and "rubbish." 2025 linked the term to AI, and the rest is history.

Honorable mentions: conclave, gerrymander, touch grass, performative, tariff, 67.

Dictionary.com: "67"

The team at Dictionary.com likes to pick a word that serves as β€œa linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year.”

For 2025, they decided that β€œword” was actually a number. Or two numbers, to be exact.

If you’re an old, like me, and don’t know many school-age children, you may not have heard β€œ67” in use. (Note that this is not β€œsixty-seven,” but β€œsix, seven.”)

Dictionary.com claims the origin of β€œ67” is a song called β€œDoot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, quickly made infamous by viral TikTok videos, most notably featuring a child who will for the rest of his life be known as the β€œ6-7 Kid.” But according to my nine-year-old cousin, the origins of something so mystical can’t ever truly be known.

(My third grade expert also demonstrated the accompanying signature hand gesture, where you place both hands palms up and alternately move up and down.)

And if you happen to find yourself in a fourth-grade classroom, watch your mouth, because there’s a good chance this term has been banned for the teacher’s sanity.

Annoyed yet? Don’t be. As Dictionary.com points out, 6-7 is a rather delightful example at how fast language can develop as a new generation joins the conversation.

Dictionary.com honorable mentions: agentic, aura farming, broligarchy, clanker, Gen Z stare, kiss cam, overtourism, tariff, tradwife.

Oxford Dictionary: "rage bait"

With input from more than 30,000 users and expert analysis, Oxford Dictionary chose "rage bait" for their word of the year.

Specifically, the dictionary pointed to 2025’s news cycle, online manipulation tactics, and growing awareness of where we spend our time and attention online.

While closely paralleling its etymological cousin "clickbait," rage bait more specifically denotes content that evokes anger, discord, or polarization.

Oxford's experts report that use of the term has tripled in the last 12 months.

Oxford Dictionary's honorable mentions:aura farming, biohack.

Cambridge Dictionary: "parasocial"

The Cambridge Dictionary examined a sustained trend of increased searches to choose "parasocial" as its Word of the Year.

Believe it or not, this term was coined by sociologists in 1956, combining β€œsocial” with the Greek-derived prefix para-, which in this case means β€œsimilar to or parallel to, but separate from.”

But interest in and use of the term exploded this year, finally moving from a mainly academic context to the mainstream.

Cambridge Dictionary's honorable mentions: slop, delulu, skibidi, tradwife

Freewrite: TBD

This year, the Freewrite Fam is picking our own Word of the Year.

Click below to submit what you think the Word of 2025 should be, and we'll pick one submission to receive a Freewrite gift card.

[SUBMIT HERE]Β 

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Sources

December 18, 2025 7 min read

What can Jane Austen's personal letters teach writers of today?