As Halloween draws closer and closer, writers across the world are taking their last breath of fresh air for the next thirty days. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) begins this week and asks a simple task of its participants: write a 50,000-word novel in one month.

It may sound like an impossible feat, but as someone who completed November 2011 with a fresh novel, I can confirm that it is very doable, as long as you keep to a few simple rules.

1. Plan ahead

You don't need a full outline of your story, because you'll most likely stray from it throughout the month, but you need a general idea of where you're going to start and where you're heading. Think of it more like a list of checkpoints, places the story needs to go that you can work toward every day. If you go in blind, you risk finding yourself lost halfway through the month.

2. Be prepared to change that plan

Any writer knows that the characters don't always listen to you. You don't have enough time to question why the story wants to change, so be spontaneous and let the story go where it needs to. New ideas are going to hit you throughout the month, so rather than avoid them out of a fear of losing track of your original plotline and wishing you could go back, find a place for them and explore.

3. Schedule your writing

Don't assume you'll find the time to write every day. You need to have a time in mind when you'll be able to sit down and write. It doesn't have to be a specific number on the clock every day. It can just be "after dinner" or "after I finish this homework" or "after I make this phone call." Just know when you're going to write by the end of the day.

4. Don't edit as you write

It can take me ages to write a paragraph because I'm constantly editing myself as I go, but NaNoWriMo moves too quickly to reword as you write. Get everything down on the page, and if you meet the 1,666 word goal for the day and really need to fix something, then you can take the time to go back and edit. You always have the end of the month to edit, too.

5. If you get stuck, skip ahead

Writer's block seems to thrive right when you need to write most. If it hits during NaNoWriMo, skip the scene you're writing. Jump forward to another checkpoint that you know you can write. Write a scene you're excited to get to. The most important thing to remember is to just keep moving.

6. Update your NaNoWriMo profile often

Some don't use NaNoWriMo's website to track their progress, but making a free account there can be worth it. Seeing the graph on your profile take a step up every day as you update your word count will make you feel good and inspire you to keep it ticking.

7. Get your friends to join you

The only year every one of my friends finished NaNoWriMo was the year we all decided to complete it together. While completing your novel will feel good, it will feel even better to beat your friends. Tracking your progress against others will inspire you to keep going. It doesn't even need to be people you know in real life, it could be other writers in your town's NaNoWriMo community, or just other people online. You can even add me to your buddies over here.

I'll see you at the end of November.