In addition to being the title of Nanowrimo founder Chris Baty's excellent book about how to write a novel in 30 days, it is a the way that many of us begin the month of November.
By the end of the month of November though, you will have been on an exciting journey with your characters and your plot will all come together for a satisfying conclusion right after your cross that 50,000 word finish line.
But in late October and early November, you may very well be considering embarking on a novel writing adventure to destinations unknown with characters you haven't met yet and settings you will discover as you go.
DON'T WORRY.
Start watching the world around you for an idea that you could spend a month with...read through Maidenfine's prewriting links for inspiration, or simply wait for the clock to count down to November 1 and start writing whatever occurs to you after midnight.
Some years I have started with a vague idea, sometimes just a character or two, and several years I have started writing one thing only to start over on day 2 or 3 with something completely different.
This is my seventh nano-novel coming up and this weekend I thought of a possibly great idea. I won't share it here, because, honestly, I'm trying hard not to think about it. I have a beginning for a story, and I want to wait until I'm writing in November to let the characters help me figure out the middle and the ending.
At the grocery this weekend, my spouse asked "do you need any special foods for November?" At his insistence, I stocked up on some indian microwave meals and some supplies for nachos and homemade granola.
How are you getting ready for Nanowrimo this year? What have you done in previous years that worked for you?
Don't forget to attend one of our KICKOFF EVENTS to share fun and helpful advice with other writers, plus get the official swag (stickers) from NaNo headquarters and other inspiring goodies and handouts to get you through the month.
TOPEKA KICKOFF EVENTS at the Topeka Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Ave.
How to Write a Novel in 30 Days - 7-8 pm, Monday, October 26, Marvin 101C
Kickoff Social 2-3 pm, Saturday, October 31, Millennium Café
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Perhaps my entire novel can be written during hours and minutes that my toddler is sleeping. Perhaps not.
46,677 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2009 - 13 32
This year, I am preparing by helping other people prepare. I've been purposely not thinking about my novel for more than a few minutes in a week, since it started out October already plotted out. So if I obsess too much, it'll ruin it.
So I'm doing my 30 Days of Prewriting (which probably should have been 15-20 days since the last few links are getting really hard to find). And I'm making sure that should something unforeseen happen in November, I'm prepared. My friend is making me a cool book cover for my Novel Info page. And I'm going to make an inspiring Powerpoint presentation with pictures of my characters so that if I ever lose interest, I can go back and watch that and get inspired again.
I've decided to do all my NaNo stuff on Google docs this year. I'm putting my outline and notes in a Google spreadsheet. Then I'm going to do the actual writing in a document and probably share the link so interested people can read along. Though, last year, my novel got too big for one Google doc. So if that happens this year, I won't be sharing the link for the second half. There has to be something left for people to discover if I happen to get this puppy published one day.
I'll probably be playing around with the fun Gaia avatar thing to make a banner to stick in my signature on here. I need to double-check the guidelines since I made it too big last year (woops) and had to take it down.
But other than thinking about fun stuff to keep me inspired next month, and writing the prewriting blog entries, I'm doing a lot of not-preparing my novel.
Though I did have a good dream last night that would make an interesting novel. So if I should finish my monster, I'll have something else to start on. Since the characters in that are actually willing and ready to talk to me and spill all their secrets.
----------30 Days of Prewriting: maidenfine.wordpress.com
2006 - I'm Afraid I Have to Kill You Now (Unfinished)
2007 - Elemental (Winner)
2008 - Hunting Lark (Winner)
2009 - Becoming Flair
424 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2009 - 15 01
Well, so far, I'm making charts and lists and doodles galore on my characters, since my novel will have 28 important characters. I've been researching like crazy, and doing a lot of prewriting exercise. I also recruited two more people to do NaNoWriMo with me, which will be super fun! Big thanks to lysistrata for giving me this bright lime notebook to pour my brain into.
I've also prepped my laptop and phone with a calendar of benchmark wordcounts, and also the events the Topeka group is hosting, like the Write-A-Thon. I need to find my tablet, so I can doodle my brain drool straight into my computer!
Almost time to write! So psyched!!!
46,016 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 07 28
I've checked out the prewriting links and have tried to be more aware of the world around me. I feel like I'm being open. But...nothing. I haven't a clue what I'm going to write about and it's starting to make me panic.
I so want to have that "Yes, that's what my story is about!" feeling. I came home Monday night a bit envious of those who knew what their novel was going to be about and were busy researching and outlining. It was great to see everyone and just being in the proximity of so much creativity bolsters mine. So I really thought that I'd have something by now.
I have a few more days yet. But, if anyone has a suggestion on how to shake the perfect idea from the tree, let me know.
~ Amy
47,348 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 10 56
Amy - hopefully you have stumbled across a great idea by now -- if not, you might also check out the Adopt a Plot forum
----------http://www.nanowrimo.org/nl/node/3263867 and adopt an idea that someone else is ready to share. And even if Nov 1 comes and you aren't settled on something, your story will sort itself out -- I've gone that route several years before and something happened eventually.
Lissa
Perhaps my entire novel can be written during hours and minutes that my toddler is sleeping. Perhaps not.
30,088 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 12 53
I started thinking about my writing for this month by checking out a book from the library called Writing as a Sacred Path. I'm sorry, I can't recall who the author is, though it doesn't really matter because someone ELSE has the blasted thing now, so no one can get it for another three weeks! :P If you can tell, I don't always like to share, especially when I have a REALLY COOL toy. ;) And if one of you put it on hold, I'll never forgive you. Unless you buy me a mocha. ^_^
I only made it through about 50 pages of the book, but it's LOADED with great exercises and activities to get your brain moving in the right direction (how funny, I initially typoed that word as "write!"). Some of them just get you putting ANYTHING down on paper, but it actually puts your focus in the right direction to see things from another perspective that allows you to get your brain juices flowing and prepares the way for REAL inspiration. It's a fantastic book... so far, at least!
I'll look up the whole title and the author sometime soon and post it if anyone wants to pick it up. It seems that a lot of the exercises in the book would be great for inspiration when someone gets stuck. I might pick it up myself next time I get paid and bring it to one of the events. I might also post later with a summary of one of the exercises as an example of what's in the book.
See, I can share sometimes!
41,754 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 13 05
I'm attending the meetings ;) That's a big prep for me. Meeting people, finding others who are taking the plunge. That's getting me ready.
I'm also, since I'm creating my own world/universe, I'm also doing the world building questionaire things needed. Plus, I'm working on ironing out at least my two main characters. :)
I don't think I've been this prepped in a long time. It feels really good.
----------Twitter: Sarah_CB
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