5 Prepping Tips for a Successful NaNoWrimo

It is the 1st of  October and fall is in the air! It is time for warm beverages, cozy blankets, and writing. Only one month until the kickoff and it’s time to start preparing. Here are my 5 top prepping tips for a successful NaNoWrimo:

1. Create a Support Structure. Whether it be people in your town, your family, friends or a virtual community you will want to have a support structure. A lot of communities have write-ins and virtual write-ins. This can give you a structured place to write with others. Also, having people who you can chat with if you are stuck on a character or need some motivation (word sprints tend to be a great way to get to your daily goals). Please look at the forums online!
2. Proclaim that you are a writer. Post it on facebook or twitter, tell your family and friends that in November you will be writing. This is a big step towards completing your project is to tell other people about it. Also this will allow you to protect your time. If your friends know you will be writing and someone asks you to go grab dinner or coffee you can say you can’t because you have to write. No need to make up an excuse, it’s the truth, you will need to be writing.
3. Set up a distraction free zone. Your time is valuable, so let’s make the most of the time you give towards writing. If you think you will honestly be able to write in your living room with your family around you, you are either extremely idealistic or the best concentrator I’ve ever encountered. Set up a space where you will be writing, and only writing, keep all distractions away! No cleaning, paying bills, reading in your writing space. It’s writing time. This should also be a space that your family will respect and allow you to work at as well.
4. Organize your writing tools, or decide on your writing tools. I, personally, love the Scrivener software and they give a free trial for NaNoWrimo. Scrivener is a writing software that allows you to set up your story line in electronic notecards. Some people like to set up word files and a folder system on their computer. Other people love pen and paper, they will have a binder to keep their character sketches and ideas organized and then either write in a notebook or on the computer. There is no right or wrong way to write, but it is key to find a system that works best for you before 1 November!
5. Get Excited! November will be a long month and keeping the motivational all month-long will be a challenge. Start checking out the forums for places to help ignite your passion and keep you from the dreaded writers block.