#nano prep 101 but in september

[suttonite]

GOOD NEWS!!! i finished outlining!!! I DID IT!!! OMFG!!! it's over 6k words long but now i'm more confident than ever that i can write this and write it well!!!!

[nanowrimo]

You Can Now Announce Your 2022 NaNoWriMo Project!

Are you excited to explore, discover, and create new stories this November? How about joining the biggest community of writers in the world as we embark on a fun and challenging adventure? If you’ve been waiting for the universe to give you a sign that you should write that novel you’ve been dreaming about, then consider this your invitation!

Announce your 2022 NaNoWriMo Project!

You can now officially announce your project for National Novel Writing Month 2022! You can choose the genre you’ll be writing, share an outline or summary, and even connect a Pinterest board or music playlist to your project to get in the brainstorming mood.

Explore what NaNoWriMo has to offer:

✍️ Get ready to write with NaNo Prep 101 — Our free NaNo Prep workbook will help you get ready to reach 50K in November with a 6-week course of guided exercises. Starting September 19, we'll have themed weekly resources, events, and discussions to help you dive into your story. Or, you can visit the NaNo Prep page and do the exercises at your own pace

👋 Join a region to find events run by your local volunteer — Find your region, then join it to get updates from your local Municipal Liaison! (View our updated 2022 in-person events policy.)

📅 Check out upcoming events hosted by NaNo HQ — You can browse and RSVP to virtual events hosted by NaNoWriMo staff and partners, including Zoom meetup groups, yoga for writers, webcasts, and more.

🎁 Take a look at our Sponsor Offers — Every year, we partner with some incredibly generous sponsors. Check out our offers page to find exclusive deals on writing software, publishing resources, writing communities, and more!

📚 Write for the NaNoWriMo blog — Interested? Just fill out this form, and we’ll get in touch if we think you’re a good fit! (Please note that we receive a high volume of interest in writing for the blog, and may not be able to respond to everyone. This is currently an unpaid opportunity.)

[atimefordragons]

I'm not in danger, I am the danger.

☾♔; September 13, 2020 ☾♔; 3:07am ☾♔; sotd: Snow Fairy - FUNKIST ☾♔; cotd: Uchiha Itachi ☾♔; NaNoWriMo ☾♔; Concept Board I guess

okay, now that I've gotten the chris evans you-know-what out of my system, back to what I was actually making a set about, which is nanowrimo. decided to participate this year, I know I should be concentrating on my groups, specifically for the crown and into the unknown, they need a lot of worldbuilding, and I need to create all my guidelines for ftc, but whatever. I'm in a solitary head space rn.

I haven't actually participated in NaNo before. I joined years ago, my account is still active, managed to sign in 'cause google still had the password and found that my profile had the name of an old oc as my name, lmao, I was so fucking lame. Anyway, I basically joined in Highschool, downloaded a story writing workbook (no idea if it's still available) and then dipped for 8 years. I did use the work book though. I might still have it somewhere in an old usb or a sub-sub-sub-sub folder somewhere, it was helpful, it had all these fun little questions about your characters and stuff.

Anyway, I'm not completely decided on what to write yet. I'm doing the Prep 101 stuff, and I've come up with 3 possibilities:

1. An Into the Unknown series of stories, this would be set before the groups plot, which begins in BA: 14 (the fourteenth year of the Blood Age - approximately, since I'm still building the world, the time is subject to change), specifically, I wanted to focus on Dragonlord Venera and the Rustavyan wars with Velhad and Ruthenia, and the tragic events (murders of her children) leading to her summoning the first dragon seen in the known world in 300 years and conquering Velhad in a single day.

2. Idea two is sort of two ideas. Version A of it takes place even further back in the history of Into the Unknown, in the era before The Empire, when magic and the magical were hella repressed. It would focus on a young witch named Celene (yes, for Celene I, Empress of Orlais in Dragon Age), who was abandoned by her parents because of her powers and her growth and rise. Version B is the same concept, but in a different, more modern setting. I'm thinking either our world, or a world similar to Fairy Tail's.

3. My last idea is to focus on Nika Vororina, a character I originally created for @.koby's Long Live the King, and then recycled a number of times 'cause the groups kept dying. Because of her personality, or lack thereof, Nika was easy to write into any world, but for nano, I'm thinking I'd go back to her roots, making her a genuine psychopath in the criminal underworld. Obviously I wouldn't use koby's setting or characters. For Nika, instead of like a novel or anything, I was thinking it'd be a series of short stories, focusing on her growth and understanding of herself, how she realized she wasn't like others, and her picking certain morals to live by, a little dexter-y, but no character of mine will allow a rapist to walk free. Just because she's a psychopath doesn't mean she doesn't have standards. Also would be a good opportunity to flex those psych and soc classes I wasted thousands of dollars on.

[inherhouseshewaitsdreaming]

NaNo Prep Begins

NaNo Prep is a series of blog posts covering the NaNo Prep 101 curriculum which is a good outline of the things you want to do to get ready for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.

NaNo Prep officially begins today, according to the calendar, though the first part of NaNo Prep 101 won't begin until Monday 13. In this post, therefore, I thought I'd cover a few bits an pieces about NaNoWriMo and things that don't fit elsewhere.

What is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, takes place every November and is a collective attempt by many writers to complete a 50,000 word novel. Not everyone does 50,000 words and not everyone writes a novel, but its still a useful exercise for people wanting to develop a writing habit.

Are you going to write a 50,000 word novel?

I'm going to try. I tried and failed last year, but perhaps it wasn't a good idea to make the attempt in the middle of major building works and a dramatic American election ... We won't mention the Final Fantasy XIV expansion Endwalker that will come out on 19 November and absolutely will not distract me or ruin my writing flow by making me stay up until silly hours of the morning.

What is NaNo Prep?

If you're going to write 50,000 words, you need to have something ready to write. That means that whatever preparation you need to do in order to write needs to be done. Some writers can just write straight off the top of their head (pantsers) and others need a full and detailed outline (plotters), with most falling somewhere in the middle. NaNo Prep is the process of getting whatever you need ready - the idea, the plot, the characters and the setting - so that when November begins you can just write.

NaNo Prep 101 is a course on the NaNoWriMo website that potential writers can work through in the lead up to November. It consists of 6 parts:

Develop a Story Idea (September 13-19)

Create Complex Characters (September 20-26)

Construct a Detailed Plot or Outline (September 27-October 3)

Build a Strong World (October 4-10)

Organise Your Life for Writing! (October 11-17)

Find and Manage Your Time (October 18-24)

I'm going to write a post for each with information that might be helpful for each, including resources I've found and am using.

Some resources I’ve been using

There are a number of useful episodes of the podcast Start With This. I recommend “Idea to Execution” which talks about building a practice of executing ideas and why they don’t have to be perfect.

Delving into the substantial back catalogue of Writing Excuses, where published authors give advice on writing in short chunks I recommend “Idea to Story” where the hosts work through how they would develop an idea.

Preptober for Pantsers from Alexa Donne is useful for those who don’t want to outline. I considered attempting to write this way as an experiment but have decided I need a bit of structure.

I like these tips from Jeff VenderMeer in his NaNo Pep Talk. They’re very practical ways to help you through NaNo.

[piccadillywilly-blog]

Is this your first NaNoWriMo?

I was about to write that next year’s NaNoWriMo will be my first when I recalled I took part in a National Novel Writing Month several years ago. I wrote many thousands of words (I think more than 30,000), but that book didn’t get anywhere. I don’t even know where the story is; it surely isn’t in my head anymore. I had a second-shift job at the time, and I awoke early every morning to write. I wrote a few hours every morning, well into the morning, then got ready for work. I was alone at the house. My wife worked normal hours, and we didn’t have any kids. I think it must have been 2009 or 2010. Maybe earlier.

Life is different this time. We have three kids, and the fourth is due the Friday before Thanksgiving. I have a day job with an hour commute. I’m a graduate student. My wife stays at home. We have a cat. I am not alone. All that means is I have to be much more structured (and I probably should have been the first time). I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo this year. My eyes are on the 2020 event. I see November 2020 as a marathon. I’m training for it. I’ve started off with a realistic goal of 27,000 words by the end of the year. From those 27,000 words, I want to create a short story. One short story. That’s it. I have one started and rough. I might write several more by my deadline. But I’ll pick one and spend the next month revising and polishing. Then I’ll create similar short story goals throughout 2020 before preparing for NaNoWriMo. That will start in September and will follow this: https://nanowrimo.org/nano-prep-101.

No, this isn’t my first NaNoWriMo, but I’m definitely going to count it as my first.

[suttonite]

sorted out major, major things!!! up till chapter [redacted]!!!

[suttonite]

FINALLY DRAFTED THE CHAPTER I'D BEEN DREADING THE MOST!!! PLS CLAP!!!

[suttonite]

fixed a bit of the plot (up to chapter 14) and dreading more!!! i'm so tired of looking at this outlineeeeee

[suttonite]

moving onto the plot stuff!!! AHHH INTIMIDATING COS THERE'S PLENTY TO WORK OUT

[suttonite]

all done with the characters!!! AAHHH!!! that was definitely the most intimidating bit

[suttonite]

weeee!!! got most of the character work done! now i just gotta update the canva chart i started with in summer 2023 (phewww)!!! EEEEEK

[suttonite]

i read the first two points: develop a story idea and create unique characters. now off to fill out those character questionnaires.

[suttonite]

OKAYYY (idk why but i feel like if i don't post this, as opposed to just writing it in my notes app, i'll combust or something but i need the good vibes, pls send me good vibes)

so i'm gonna use september to do "nano prep 101" in three weeks, and use the fourth week to write 20k. i just feel like i can write "summer's gone" so much better than what i've been putting out, so i'm trying to be as deliberate and detailed and on the right track as possible.

PLS SEND GOOD VIBES

[nanowrimo]

You Can Now Announce Your 2021 NaNoWriMo Project!

Are you excited to explore, discover, and create new stories this November? How about joining the biggest community of writers in the world as we embark on a fun and challenging adventure? If you've been waiting for the universe to give you a sign that you should write that novel you've been dreaming about, then consider this your invitation!

Announce your 2021 NaNoWriMo Project!

You can now officially announce your project for National Novel Writing Month 2021! You can choose the genre you'll be writing, share an outline or summary, and even connect a Pinterest board or music playlist to your project to get in the brainstorming mood.

Explore what NaNoWriMo has to offer:

Join a region to find virtual events run by your local volunteer. Find your region here, then join it to get updates from your local Municipal Liaison! (All official 2021 NaNoWriMo events will be held virtually. View more information on this decision.) 

Say hello in the forums, and find support and resources. If you're just getting started, check out the Newbies forum to say hello, the Coffeehouse to check out the conversation, and the Reference Desk forums for any research help for your writing project.

Download some digital flair. Let the world know you're writing by downloading our social media badges and banners! Designed by the wonderful Andrea Floren.

Get ready to write with NaNo Prep 101. Our NaNo Prep workbook will help you get ready to reach 50K in November with a 6-week course of guided exercises. Starting September 14, we'll have themed weekly resources, events, and discussions to help you dive into your story. Or, you can visit the NaNo Prep page and do the exercises at your own pace!

Find exclusive deals for NaNoWriMo participants. Every year, we partner with some incredibly generous sponsors. Check out our offers page to find deals on writing software, publishing resources, writing communities, and more!

Write for the NaNoWriMo blog. Interested? Just fill out this form, and we’ll get in touch if we think you’re a good fit! (Please note that we receive a high volume of interest in writing for the blog, and may not be able to respond to everyone. This is currently an unpaid opportunity.)

[nanowrimo]

You Can Now Announce Your 2020 NaNoWriMo Project!

Under the bed. Sitting idly on a coffee table. Floating in a starry sky like an astronaut marveling at the beauty of the universe. Where will you find the seed of inspiration for your next novel?

Plot twists, characters, and brave new worlds await in the most mundane places, glittering with the possibility of your creative touch. The magic of your story exists in the everyday, in the nooks and crannies of your life, no matter how ordinary your surroundings are. Get ready to let that magic bloom!

You can now officially announce your project for National Novel Writing Month 2020! Make a promise to your creative self to find those seeds of story magic and write a novel this November.

Announce Your 2020 NaNoWriMo Project!

Explore what the NaNoWriMo site has to offer:

Join a region to find virtual events run by your local volunteer. Find your region here, then join it to get updates from your local Municipal Liaison!

Say hello in the forums, and find support and resources. If you're just getting started, check out the Newbies forum to say hello, the Coffeehouse to check out the conversation, and the Reference Desk forums for any research help for your writing project.

Get ready to write with NaNo Prep 101. Our workshop will help you get ready to reach 50K in November. Starting September 14, we'll have themed weekly resources, events, and discussions to help you dive into your story. Or, you can visit the NaNo Prep page and do the exercises at your own pace!

Find exclusive deals for NaNoWriMo participants. Every year, we partner with some incredibly generous sponsors. Check out our offers page to find deals on writing software, publishing resources, writing communities, and more!

[Image description: An illustrated banner that reads “National Novel Writing Month 2020″ in letters that look like they’re an old-fashioned glowing movie marquee on top of a brick building. In the background, an astronaut floats in a night sky among the stars; a red and yellow ringed planet is in the sky opposite]