Camp NaNoWriMo is over!

I'll admit that I actually didn't meet my goal word count, but for those of you who did a big shout out to you all! And if you are still reeling from your NaNoWriMo high, even better. This article is for you.

So, binge writing? What is it? Well basically it's writing in marathon sessions — several hours, days, or even weeks — usually to meet deadlines, or sometimes when writers get into the "flow" (like in NaNoWriMo) and don't want to stop or lose momentum.

Here are some tips to get you started and most importantly through the process.

Be Prepared. Binge writing involves writing for extensive periods of time, so make sure that you have everything you may need in close range to avoid getting up unnecessarily.

Have a lot of snacks handy and make sure you stay hydrated by keeping a bottle of water at your side. To sustain that happy spot for a long writing session, it's important to keep yourself in a good headspace so that you enjoy it.

Maybe that's with some groovy music, or chocolates (I love chocolates!) and if you're old enough, some wine. But please drink responsibly, people. Hemmingway's quote to 'Write drunk, edit sober', is not to be taken in literal terms. Trust me, you do not want to be sprawled out on your laptop with a hangover the next morning.

Not unless you want to become an internet meme.

Time yourself. Decide how long you want to write for. Some writers choose to spend up to five hours while others spend more than ten to fifteen hours at a stretch. A writer friend of mine told me that her longest binge write was twenty-seven hours straight! I'm still not sure if that's humanly possible.

But you don't need to go as far as that. All writers are different and write at different paces. Don't compare yourselves to other writers. They know what works for them, so settle on a time limit that works for you and that also accommodates any other obligations you may have.

There is no use setting a lofty goal that you know is impossible to reach. At the end, it would only make you feel bad and might even discourage you from writing at all.

Also, time yourself periodically. Estimate how many words you can write in an hour. For me it's about six hundred to seven hundred and that's when I'm writing really fast. Again, we all write at different speeds, but this just helps to determine how many words you can write in the set time frame.

Take breaks. Breaks are just as important as the writing itself. It gives you a breather and a time to clear your head, even if it's just for a few minutes. It's re-energizing and helps keep you motivated to press on. A writer once said that he would take five minute breaks every twenty-five minutes. You can take longer breaks, just remember not to lose focus.

I've heard mixed reviews on binge writing. Some writers swear by the practice and for others it seems unavoidable. Personally, I advise you only do this from time to time, like when you have a deadline, as it can cause a huge amount of stress if done on a daily basis.

Binge writing is associated with a 'burn out' phase that happens immediately afterwards, where the writer feels both physically and mentally drained. And most even stop writing for long periods of time due to this.

Before we are writers we are all human beings and therefore we need to take care of ourselves. Getting out of the house and being around people, getting human contact is good for us even if we are introverted by nature.

Not to mention, that doing "real life" stuff can help us refuel creatively. Experiences widen our knowledge and push us to become more empathetic writers.