Preptober Tips! | Do These 10 Things Before NaNowriMo

For those participating in NaNoWriMo, October--or Preptober--is the time to set yourself up for success. You may not have much free time or wiggle room throughout November, so a solid Preptober is key so you don't get overwhelmed. Here are 10 NaNoWriMo prep tips to do before the start of the month!
LEARN MORE:
7 Ways to Outline Your Book: • 7 Ways to Outline a Book
How to Brainstorm Effectively: • How to Brainstorm Effe...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Make a custom schedule
1:41 - Get organized
2:55 - Clear your to-do list
3:36 - Clean your workspace
3:57 - Brainstorm plot points
4:28 - Character development
5:08 - Figure out the stakes
6:07 - Figure out the story engine
6:58 - Set your own goals
9:18 - Get excited!
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[@rachelthompson9324]

here is a tip: keep running notes of what each scene did after you write the scene or chapter. Even a temporary endnote will work at the end of each chapter or scene. For example: " This scene shows the reader how Abby really feels about Tom without Tom knowing it yet." The idea is that a fast review of the endnotes, to see where it went, will tell you where it must go or if it is going off the rail. Cause and effect must link and when they don't, not good.

[@ranjanmistry5961]

That's a great tip, thank you!

[@daisymelville1002]

This has been so useful when balancing basic tasks and writing, switching back and forth without losing the train of thought

[@BeardVsTheWorldUK1]

NICE!

[@august1837]

To pantsers who struggle with character outlines/profiles like myself, try monologuing. Let your character tell you about themselves. Write a couple pages of them telling their life story. This way you would basically be discovery writing your character but doing it as part of prep rather than in your novel. This way you would start your novel with a greater understanding of your character without having to create a detailed profile. You might even end up using some of the monologue while drafting

[@johnhaggerty4396]

Letting your characters tell you about themselves, offstage so to speak, is a wonderfully bright way to prepare the ground. I like your name. I am reading a biography by Jurgen Schmidt, *August Bebel - Social Democracy & the Founding of the Labour Movement*. The life of this German politician would inspire any writer seeking character ideas. His life contained multitudes as Walt Whitman would say.

[@BeardVsTheWorldUK1]

Groovy!

[@NanaSomebody]

It’s my second time doing NaNoWriMo this year and my main philosophy is to look at what worked and what didn’t work last year to invent a better process. I think my process will definitely evolve as I do NaNoWriMo more, but I think it’s good to try something new since last year was really rough 😅

[@user-cp9yo4jk9b]

I've been watching lots of your videos over the past couple weeks on both channels trying to prep. I have failed several nanos only getting to 25k on my most successful attempt. A lot of your content is excellent guidance for this challenge, but this video put it all together in a great way and it made a couple of things click for me. Thanks!

[@tharo4390]

Thank you for this video! Have you ever done one where you explore the concept of story engine more in depth? I'd love to watch that!

[@BeardVsTheWorldUK1]

Awesome stuff! Looking forward to more videos and I'm getting pumped for Novelember. Novber. Novelmber. For writing good. 8=)

[@divishadhabhai2214]

I am from India and I love your channel thank you 🤗

[@freedomthroughspirit]

Very helpful, thank you 🤩

[@daisymelville1002]

I'm setting my own goals. I know I could do so many more than 1500+ words per day but I have to physically stop myself because of chronic wrist pain. There's only so much energy I can use on writing each day before I end up in pain at work, so instead of a word count, I'm just going to focus on spending a designated chunk of time every day to write and do writing-related things - go for walks to think, take notes by hand to switch up where the strain on my tendons goes, read books on the craft, etc.

[@seandexter657]

Have you tried using speech to text software so you don't have to type?

[@daisymelville1002]

@@seandexter657 unfortunately I think better when writing than speaking aloud 🤷‍♀️

[@nancys.100]

Good vid ty 4 sharing

[@vCoralSandsv]

For me, I write a little bit everyday. I bank as many words in the beginnings and on weekends when I am able to schedule more writing time. I'm a pantzer so I write my Novel Bible as I go. After each chapter or section of chapters, I update the book's Novel Bible so that I can keep going back to it when I get stuck on what color eyes did someone have. Last writing advice is don't delete anything during the month of November. Deleting and editing is for other months. This month is all about getting the words down! Lastly, make sure to hug your love ones and let them know you appreciate their support. NaNo gets kinda nuts and when we are a bit manic, they are there too. So before the craziness starts, do something nice for them to say thanks and then again when everything is over! They totally deserve it dealing with us!

[@ThreadBomb]

I only came up with a good idea a week ago, which doesn't leave enough time to solidify the story and the world I want to write, especially as I am a planner. But I guess I'll give it a go...

[@lakeshagadson357]

that could be me trying to write a book into a poem

[@malissahyatt2425]

How many for a short story??

[@u_t_d_s_h-1_a]

Yeah--- National Novel Writing Month---NANOWRIMO, I checked them out online -- its a good organization---I think, whatever gives any sort of support to authors needs be encouraged.

[@marlynhebert9728]

How can you write on NaNoWriMo, my husband sign up to do it but cannot get on anywhere to write his story?

[@malissahyatt2425]

How many for a short story??