The Magical Rubber Bands

The "Magic" NaNoWriMo Rubber Bands

One important thing that all Wrimos must learn this coming November is to be resourceful. Writing 50,000 words in a month (1,667 words per day) is not an easy feat, so it requires a certain amount of skill, motivation, inspiration, imagination, caffeine, sugar and the ability to put whatever you see or put your hands on in your novel.

Here I introduce the Magic NaNoWriMo Rubber Bands.

They look like ordinary bands that come with vegetables available at a wet market, or with whatever bundle you buy that needs rubber bands, or something you can buy in packs at the nearest bookstore. They come in oh-so-common colors: green, yellow and red (some more colorful than that). They look boring, but there’s actually a lot you can do with these magical bands.

Not convinced? Here’s some ideas:

  1. When you start to nod off at 2 AM but haven’t made your daily wordcount, thump yourself with this to keep awake.
  2. At write-ins, gently flick your band at your competitor’s arm to distract them so you can win the word war.
  3. Use a fine sharpie marker to add your own pithy slogans to the band.
  4. Trade your band for someone else’s at a write-in to jump start a conversation.
  5. Tuck 3×5 note cards into the band to remind yourself of upcoming plot points.
  6. Decorate your band with yarn pom-poms to remind yourself that there is beauty in the world. Even after all the terrible things you are doing to your main character.
  7. When you get *really* hungry while you are writing, don’t stop to snack, just chew gently on one end of the band (but don’t swallow it!).
  8. If you find yourself typing too quickly for your thoughts, use the band to strap all your left fingers together.
  9. To help you empathize with your main character as you torture them, use the band to tie your wrists together… and finish the chapter anyway while bound.
  10. In the wee hours of the morning, you may find your head growing too big. Use the band as a head band to keep it a manageable size.
  11. On day 25, as your hair grows really long and unkempt, use the band as an attractive (but potentially painful) hair-tie.
  12. Challenge your writing buddy to a band-flicking distance contest… then get back to writing!
  13. Power adapter wires are messy? Use the band to keep them together.
  14. Want to write something funny? Strap the band to your nose before you write.
  15. Barefoot and distracted as your write? Give your feet something to play with…
  16. Need inspiration for a disgusting scene? Chew on the band after you’ve had it around your nose and played with it with your toes! (Ew!)
  17. Need to quickly compose a song? Use the band against a hollow object or table and strum yourself a melodic accompaniment.
  18. Snap the band when you find yourself thinking of anything but your novel during the entire month (you can use the band as a wrist brace to recover from the repetitive stress injury).
  19. When your computer fails and you have to write by hand and your fingers grow numb, use the rubber bands to bind the pencil to your hand so you can continue to write.
  20. If you type so much your fingers fall off, use the Magic NaNoWriMo rubber bands to hold them together neatly until you can get the doctor to reattach them.
  21. Little kids keeping you from writing? Thump them with the Magic NaNoWriMo rubber bands (gently) until they leave you alone.
  22. Hungry and your house is a mess in November? Use the Magic NaNoWriMo rubber bands as a snare for small creatures…
  23. Need to view your story from a different perspective? Wear the Magic NaNoWriMo rubber bands over one ear and pretend to be a pirate. Arrrrh!
  24. Writing a tense scene? Get in the mood by pulling your Magic NaNoWriMo rubber bands taut so that you can feel the tension!

I’m pretty sure there’s more that these rubber bands can do in the month of November. What else do you think can they do? Let’s make our own list, shall we?

These “Magic” NaNoWriMo rubber bands will be available with the PinoyWrimo loot bags which will be given during the Kick Off Party. The loot bags will only be available for people who sign up for Saturday’s, so if you want one, sign up here! Sign ups will close tomorrow, 5:00PM!

OMG, ONLY EIGHT DAYS LEFT!

* Rubber band idea adopted from Illinois::Naperville region, use of rubber bands taken from NaNoWriMo ML Wiki, data collected over the year. Thank you!