Prepping for NaNoWriMo


The Muse Online Writers Conference recently ended. There were many workshops to choose from to help you be a better writer. The workshops were also helpful for NaNoWriMo participants. Some of these workshops included topics such as: research, dialogue, characters, tension, creating fantasy worlds, and point of view. (Mark your calendar for next year’s conference, which is October 7-13. http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/)

Some of the things I have been doing to get ready for NaNoWriMo:
 
-Writing down ideas for my novel/outlining for my novel/outlining

-Cutting photos from magazines

-Downloading lists and forms from various writing websites 

-Downloading novel writing software

-Talking to my writers group 

-Stocking up on food, beverages, and lots of chocolate 

-Making homemade meals to fill the freezer 

-Perusing books on fiction writing 

I also have a zippered binder filled with paper, pockets, dividers, etc., where I keep hard copies of anything I want to save. It’s my story bible (something I learned at the Muse Online Writers Conference last year). 

Will I make the 50K word minimum before the deadline? Will I survive NaNoWriMo? Will I write a best-selling novel?

How about you? 

What are you doing to prepare for NaNoWriMo? 

Debbie A. Byrne has a B.S. in Mass Communication with a minor in History. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and is currently working on her first children’s book.



6 comments:

D. Jean Quarles said...

Those are great tips! I'm not participating this year, but could have used your advice the last time when I did.

Karen Cioffi said...

Debbie, great tips. I haven't jumped in yet and won't be this year either. But, one of these years . . .

Magdalena Ball said...

Some very helpful suggestions Debbie. I think it's all in the prep. I can't participate at the moment (kids still too young), but one day I most certainly will as I think it's a great way to take massive action on the WIP.

Debbie A Byrne said...

I recommend attending the Muse. I got alot out of it last year, but was not thinking about NaNoWriMo at the time. This year, I attended to help me prepare for the event. I just read a post on another blog today about getting ready for NaNoWriMo. Some people just wing it, but I wanted to do something in advance. And I should have less grocery shopping to do!

Debbie A Byrne said...

And I should add that Karen and Maggie have taught workshops at the Muse conference.

Anne Duguid Knol said...

Hi Debbie,

Good luck and you should do brilliantly with such good prep tips. Thanks for sharing.

I did three years, completed once but was so tired and washed out afterwards that I haven't tried again.

Shall may be aim for a 10,000 total this year just to move me along...Back to Muse Conference notes...

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