It’s that time of year again! Preptober is here and I’ve collected seven (and a half!) helpful tips to set yourself up for success. Before we jump into tips, let’s refresh on what NaNoWriMo is. Every November, writers can take part in a challenge to write 50,000 words to complete the first draft of a novel, known as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which is open to all.
So then what is Preptober? Those participating in NaNoWriMo often take the month before, October, to get themselves set up for success in November. If you prefer to show up November 1st and start completely from scratch, go ahead! It’s meant to be fun. For those who benefit from a bit of planning or prework, let’s dive into those tips!
Tip 1: Pick your story idea
This one sounds a little obvious, but deciding whether to start with a brand new idea or tackle a story you’ve had kicking around in your head for a while is something to decide before you sit down to write. Committing to a story idea during Preptober also gives you time to pin down any worldbuilding and work through potential sticking points before you show up to hit that word goal. It gives you a lane and focus point to streamline your process.
Tip 2: Sketch out your characters
Whether you want to fill out a super detailed character sheet or just pick a first name, it’s helpful to have an idea of who your characters are and why they’re in this story. Having an idea of what’s at stake for each character gives you something to work from in moments where the words might not flow as easily. Instead of staring at the page trying to think of what to have happen next you can refer to your character sketch to ground you back into what drives them and makes sense for them to do next. It’s all about making showing up to the page as easy as possible.
Tip 3: Make a list of must have scenes
I can hear the pansters revolting at this pitch to have an outline, and just hear me out! If you want to go into NaNoWriMo fully blind and organically discover your entire story, go ahead! It’s meant to be fun, and if that’s what works for you, do it. And there are also benefits to having a list of scenes you know you want to have in your story. Having a list can help fend off writer’s block. If you’re unsure of what to write that day, pick a scene from your list! Completed a scene from your list and not sure where to go from there, write towards another listed scene! Outlines can be as meticulous or loose as you want because the whole point is for it to serve you.
Tip 3.5 is to list how much energy you think those scenes will take. That way, if you have a ton of writing energy one day, you can tackle something big, and if you’re low on energy another day, you’ve already done the legwork to give yourself an easy writing day.
Tip 4: Experiment with mood boards and playlists
Make it easy to sink into your story by using mood boards and playlists. Pinterest is a great way to collect images that relate to your characters, settings, or vibes for your story. And you could go old school by collecting pictures in a Powerpoint or Google Doc. There’s plenty of lofi and ambient playlists on YouTube or Spotify. Listen as you write to stay in the zone.
Tip 5: Sign up for NaNoWriMo
Don’t forget to sign up for NaNoWriMo! Create a profile, set goals, and track your progress. There’s also a bunch of great resources on the NaNoWriMo website to help you succeed.
Tip 6: Connect with other writers
Once you have your NaNoWriMo account you can connect with others participating in the challenge, local and beyond! You can also find some writing buddies through social media using hashtags like #NaNoWriMo #Preptober #amwriting #writing #writingcommunity Connecting with other writers is a great way to keep up the excitement about your own book. There’s power in knowing you’re not alone and that others are struggling and succeeding right alongside you. I’d love to be your writing buddy! Find me on Instagram @vibrant.prose and NaNoWriMo @vibrantprose
Tip 7: Plan where and when you’ll write
While NaNoWriMo is a challenge to finish a novel, that doesn’t mean you need to secret yourself away for the entire month to do it. Pick a place and time where writing will be easiest for you. Whether that’s a consistent time and place like before work at your kitchen table, or a flexible plan to write while on your lunch break or the hour before bed, setting a time and place to write helps to get our brains in the right space to do the creative play that is writing a novel. And let’s face it, life always finds a way to muck up our best laid plans, so make back up plans accordingly! Spread out any “missed” word count goals throughout the rest of the challenge instead of taking them onto the next day. An extended weekend session, even by thirty minutes, could be a great way to keep on track. And carve out time to spend with friends and family around the Thanksgiving holiday.
There we have it! Go forth and prep writing peeps, I’ll see you in November!
Vibrant Editing 