There’s a buzz in the air. A lot of authors and writers are flexing their writing fingers, cracking their knuckles, and getting ready to buckle down and work.

National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo) is an annual writing challenge that takes place online, starting on November 1 each year. For one month, people buckle down and attempt to write an entire book (the official word count is 50,000) in thirty days. Some authors take up the challenge to join the organization and raise funds. Others simply opt to just write, write, and write some more.

To date, almost 900,000 authors have gotten involved, and almost 370,000 novels have been finished. While it can be an intimidating challenge, it can also be rewarding. Check out this list of incredible books that came directly from the challenge.

One of the biggest benefits of the event is that participants write without self-editing. With a word count that high and under such a tight deadline, you don’t have much choice. For writers (like yours truly) who tend to self-edit and/or agonize over words and sentence structure, it’s a change to switch up how you write and simply concentrate on getting the words on paper. In short, it forces writers to concentrate solely on writing their book without stressing over the quality of the writing. Many authors use this time to hammer out a first draft and then spend the next few months editing and revising before they prepare their book for pitching or even publication.

Figure out what you want out of it.

While in some ways NaNoWriMo is all about pressure, there are other ways that the event is also not about pressure. This is one time when writers—from a first-timer trying it out to a bestselling author—just sit down and write. There’s no competition, no judgment, and no expectations. Everyone here has the same end point: to meet their goals.

This begs the $1 million question: What are your goals? Are you writing for yourself, or are you participating as part of the NaNoWriMo fundraising effort? Are you working on an existing book, or are you working on something completely new? Is completing 50,000 words the goal you wish to achieve?

For some, it’s not even about reaching the goal but dedicating as much time as you can spare to writing—and creating the habit of it. For others, it’s about getting a new book started and then seeing it through beyond NaNoWriMo. So before you sign up, think about what you want to achieve over the next month.

Plan it out.

The challenge of writing 50,000 words in thirty days—an average of roughly 12,500 words a week, or 1,667 words a day—is a big one. So even as we count off the last few days before the Great Event, you still have the opportunity to get some last-minute planning done. You can even use the first few days of NaNoWriMo to get yourself comfortably organized.

Commit to it

Whether you’re planning on signing up or just doing your own thing privately without joining the official event, make the decision to do it now. And better yet, let people know you’re doing it so you have the added incentive of not wanting to look foolish in front of your friends and family.       

Plot your book (even a bit)

Even the most footloose and fancy-free pantser (intuitive writers) generally have a rough idea of their book outline, main characters, setting, and genre. Creating a rough sense of structure or chapter outline can not only keep you on track but also ensure your book’s structure is in decent shape.

Find the perfect place and time to write

Folks who work or have families don’t have the luxury of playing things by ear. Writing a 50,000-word book in thirty days is a big undertaking, and that means added pressure to stay organized and come up with a plan for when and where you want to write (especially if you have kids). Plan out a schedule for when you’re writing and make sure you share it with anyone you live with and enlist their support. (Especially your pets, because you never, ever want to be late with one of their meals. The horror). Whether it’s early mornings or late nights or weekends, figure out when your best and quietest writing time it.

Make sure you create a space somewhere at home where you have a desk and a comfortable chair, and you feel inspired. Windows, plants, art, books, maybe even a cozy blanket—make your writing space is a place you enjoy being in. If you enjoy music while you write, make sure you have it. If you need quiet, do what you can to create it. One of the biggest mistakes writers can make is turning their work desk into a place they don’t want to be. Places like basements and cramped little corners are less likely going to be places you want to spend hours in, writing away madly.

Expect things to not go according to plan.

My first NaNoWriMo was a complete and unmitigated disaster. Despite an encouraging first week, the second week quickly spiraled down into an intense work-filled schedule that didn’t let up. I quickly had to choose between prioritizing my NaNoWriMo project or paying the bills (which happens the other eleven months of the year). The bills won.

Did I cave in too easily? Did I push myself as hard as I could? Did I give myself every chance to make room for writing? The answer is both yes and no. But however much I wanted to complete NaNoWriMo that year, I had to balance my personal goals with my writing career. Failing at NaNoWriMo has few consequences. Failing at my job? That has much, much harsher consequences.

The important thing to keep in mind is that succeeding at NaNoWriMo isn’t just writing that 50,000-word book in thirty days. It’s about committing to a major writing project and seeing it through. Maybe that can be done in thirty days. Maybe not. But it’s about making that choice and hammering out the book to the best of your ability.

Just remember that when November ends, the writing can still continue. And that is the greatest and most important lesson that National Novel Writing Month can teach us.