Wednesday, October 26, 2011

PREPARING FOR THE NANOWRIMO IN TEN EASY STEPS

  
By Maria Ferrer


You are a writer. Like the Girls Scouts, you must be prepared for when inspiration strikes.  Inspiration is arriving on November 1st.

November is National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). The challenge is 50,000 words in 30 days. Join me in taking up this challenge.  And to help us, here are 10 easy steps to help you prepare for the big NaNoWriMo launch:

 

1. Stock up on chocolate. Cupcakes and champagne work just as well.

2. Throw away all the red pens in the house. If you are using a computer, throw away all the ink cartridges. No printing, no editing. Editing is not allowed at any time in the next month.

3. Clean the house now, because household chores are a no-no in November. You need your time to write. Unless of course, you need to clean to be inspired. Then don’t clean now; let the dirt accumulate until you need inspiration.

4. Buy lots of cereal, spaghetti cans and TV dinners. The family needs to eat; You have the chocolate.

5. Buy fat notebooks and lots of pens and pencils. If you are techy savvy, buy your netbook / iPad/ computer now. Work out all the kinks and make sure you know where all the power cables are.

6. Mark your territory now. Fill it with your writing must-haves and a big ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign. For example, around my writing spot I have the remote control for the radio/CD player; a coaster for my large bottle of water; a paper block and Donald Duck mug full of pens and markers. The other junk on the table doesn’t bear mentioning.

7. Keep the boy toys handy. Sex is research. Costumes optional.

8. Register at the NaNoWriMo website by October 31: http://www.nanowrimo.com/.

9. Email me to get on the Chapter’s Romance Nano Loop. We NaNoWriMo-ers must stick together.

10. Buy more chocolate. You are going to need it!


REMEMBER: You are a writer. You can do it. Join me. ♥



Maria Ferrer has entered the NaNoWriMo four times and has won twice. She prefers her chocolate with peanuts and Veuve Clicquot champagne.


COMMENT: Do leave a comment and let us know if you are entering the NaNoWriMo this year. If so, tell us how you are preparing for the big event.

4 comments:

  1. I will definitely use this as my guide of do's and must have's in November. BTW...my house is always stocked with chocolate...always :) But I will definitely make sure and stock up for my secret stash.

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  2. I love this post! I'm a NaNo newbie and quivering - partly in anticipation and partly in downright terror. The thought of the champagne and chocolate is definitely helping though - plus not having to do housework for a month...

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  3. Thanks for the great tips. I am doing my 2nd Nano this year. To prepare, I created a character profile sheet complete with photos of my characters. I love them already. Planning and outlining so I know where I'm going, which is different because I'm usually a semi-pantster. Wishing everyone good luck.

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  4. Thank you! This is my first NaNoWriMo so I can use all the help I can get! You have inspired me to do all my house cleaning. I was putting it off because I've been outlining and prepping, but let's be honest, this is nothing compared to the write-a-thon that's going to start next week!! Now is the time for the nonsense, because there'll be no time for that later!

    Also, the tip about editing - I suppose I knew that already, but I didn't really admit it to myself until I just read it. Thank for shaking that one free!!

    Happy writing!!

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