Prepping for NANOWRIMO

It’s every writer’s favorite time of year — National Novel Writing Month (or NANOWRIMO)! Of course, writing is a joy for anyone looking to express themselves through words and phrases. However, NANOWRIMO can be a stressful time for anyone looking to craft the next Great American novel. No fear! There are always tips and tricks you can use to get ready for this busy writing season. Check out these planning tips below.

Develop an idea

Before writing can commence, you must know what your story will be. Doing a brainstorming session is your best in finding the right plot for you. You can try coming up with ideas by yourself, observe your surroundings, or gather with fellow writers. After receiving multiple ideas, you must narrow down your best chances for a great book. Consider your time and process when funneling down to your best stories. Finally, take your best ideas and flesh them out to figure out which one works the best. This angle allows you to see what plot points are obtainable and which characters are the most interesting. Pulling out your best story will benefit you and the project in the long run.

Character development

Besides crafting an outstanding story, your characters must match the energy of your words. The best way to accomplish this task is to create complex characters. Of course, every story needs stock characters, but even they must be well-rounded. Well, first things first — define your characters. You can do this by figuring out a character’s wants, needs, and desires. Any person will need these to move the plot forward and help them grow and develop.

Once you define their character (haha!), you must create a challenge(s) that oppose your characters. Everyone needs a hero’s journey to make the story worthwhile. This trusted strategy is important to your protagonist(s). you can do this by creating a personal or external issue for them. You and your future readers must root for them to accomplish their mission or goal.

Throwing challenges and defining characteristics are only part of the equation. You must develop the characters’ backgrounds. You can either pull from real life, research, or observation. These avenues can form a sense of relatability that draws readers toward the character. This approach works in realistic and fantastical scenarios.

Outlining plot

Every writer needs a bit of planning before writing a novel despite restricting artistic freedom. However, you can find creativity in the process. If your story feels like a massive undertaking, start off small by plotting out your main story beats. Knowing the standout moments can help develop your plot and character move forward.

Of course, starting bigger can be helpful, but building multiple stories will fill out your pages in no time. You’ll want to start with Story A (a/k/a the main storyline). It’s crucial to making your novel work. However, you can devote some time to your B and C stories. Those points can be whatever you want if they contribute to the story.

Juggling multiple stories is just the beginning. Working on character interaction is as important as the story. Creating moments between certain characters can inform the readers of dynamics and relationships — good, bad, or indifferent. These relationships can help push forward or hinder the story and protagonist(s) with varying benefits.

Worldbuilding

Story and characters aren’t the only ingredients to a successful novel. Worldbuilding is crucial to making readers believe every word on the page. Firstly, you must create settings that match your characters. You don’t want to place your protagonist in a situation where they don’t belong. That’s why developing a background and creating characteristics. Your world has to match the scenarios your character(s) will experience.

Creating your character’s personality and background can be done by words and actions. However, their world can set the tone by giving hints. It even sets the tone for them on every level. The world adds depth and understanding to the characters and their stories.

Scheduling time

Writing is not only a massive undertaking but a time-consuming activity. Minutes become hours as you type or write word after word on the page. That’s why scheduling writing time is so important. If getting entranced by words is your thing, a writing schedule is helpful. Whether it’s your 9 to 5 job or other daily activities, you must carve out time to sit down and get lost in the pages.

Do yourself a favor and set a daily or weekly word count. This approach keeps you on task to reach your monthly word count. It also allows you to keep pace so you don’t get overwhelmed by the number of words you need to complete.

Writing can be fun. At the same time, it can be daunting as you aim to complete your masterpiece. Please don’t forget to fit in some rest time with your writing time. Resting your mind keeps your creative juices going. Remember — exhaustion is not your friend.

Remember NANOWRIMO is a fun exercise to work on something you’ve always wanted to do. So, take your time and enjoy the work.

Originally published at http://adreonpatterson.net on October 31, 2023.