TECH: Preparing for Nanowrimo?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting Sept. 16, 2016

This popped up in my Google news recently, and I thought it was interesting. So here's some thoughts about it.

http://www.bustle.com/articles/183073-10-ways-to-prep-for-nanowrimo-because-november-will-be-here-before-you-know-it

Interesting. Let's see.

1. Start using a journal -- write! Notes, thoughts, bits and pieces here and there. You may like a notepad, maybe one of those nice bound journals, or even an electronic version (google docs is good almost everywhere!) The key here is to start writing and get in the habit.
2. Schedule a time to write every single day -- probably a good idea. Lots of people find a regular writing time best. That way your brain gets in the habit of writing at that time.
3. Set yourself a fun weekly writing goal. Oh, that's interesting. Try flash fiction, a specific number of words each day, drawing instead of writing, other change of pace writing challenges.
4. Join a writing club or team up with another nanowrimo participant. Support groups, people to kick you and remind you that you really want to do this, someone to gripe to about how nobody understands except your writing buddies... Social support helps. Get it?
5. Make a story outline or create an inspiration board. Outlines, if they work for you, are great. Figure out what you are going to write, then plow ahead. But some people prefer a collection of pictures, or maybe notecards (a la Save the Cat?) Heck, you could even try a ... What do they call those sketch versions of a movie?
6. Test out your novel ideas by writing a synopsis and a first chapter. Especially if you've got several ideas, go ahead and do a little test writing.
7. Get to know your main characters. Names, fears, odds and ends. Get comfortable before you and they dive into that novel.
8. Learn to shut your inner editor off. A biggie! One way or another, you need to chunk out the words and keep going when November hits. So you need to practice now telling the inner editor -- the one that wants to polish those words and go back and revise -- to sit down and be quiet. After November, sure, you can polish and revise everything. But during November, just keep going. Make notes about what you want to revise, but keep going. Words, and more words.
9. Research things now and write later. Good idea. In November, you are not going to spend time in research. So, if you want to figure out how Incan knot language worked, do it now! In November, just make a note and come back to it later. But you can certainly look things up now, find out what the back alleys of Venice smell like, check out what breeds of dog, or whatever you need now. Or do that secondary world building for the fantasy now.
10. Read as much as you possibly can. Most of us are readers as well as writers. So now is the time to stoke the reading pool. Read some books about writing, some inspirational stuff, and some goodies from your favorite genre or authors, just to remind you of what you are doing. Don't plan on reading much during November -- your time is going to be spent writing.

There you go! A preparation plan, or at least some interesting points about getting ready for Nanowrimo. Warm ups, from journal, time, and challenges. Some friends to help, shut down that editor, and prep reading. And then, more particular to your story, outlines, prototyping, main characters, and research. Get set!

Write in November!
tink