Are you doing NaNoWriMo this November? Now is the time to prepare!
It’s past the middle of October, and if you want to write a 50,000 word novel in the National Novel Writing Month program in November, it’s time to get going!
If you’re a plot-driven writer, now is the time to be working out major plot points, diversions, red herrings, conflicts and the climax. If you’re a character-driven writer, now is the time to really get to know your characters: write vignettes from each character’s background, write scenes that let them interact with each other before the start of your actual story.
Helps and hints:
- Try turning off your internal editor for several writing sessions – remember NaNoWriMo is the time to write freely, not edit.
- Clear your calendar. Schedule doctor and dentist visits for later, or do them now. Tell your book club you can’t meet this month. Plan to skip the movies, parties, and football games.
- Clear your mind. Now is not the time to agonize over career shifts, next year’s family reunion, or where to go on vacation.
- Get help at home. Stock up on freezer dinners. Assign basic chores to the kids and live with the results. Buy the Thanksgiving pies this year. Consider hiring someone to clean if Thanksgiving really must be at your house.
Let us know if you’re doing NaNoWriMo, and when it’s done, let us know how you did. If you wanted to do it but can’t this year, consider another type of fast writing for later. And good luck!
