How???
Here's a few tips to do now to get ready to join the NaNoWriMo challenge.
- Find a writing space. Preferably one with door you can shut. Clear the desk and stock it with pens, (I prefer one blue and one red) post it notes - you won't believe how helpful these are to mark places in your print out or to help rearrange sections. Access to electricity? Don't put that desk in the middle of the room with no outlets. You wouldn't want to run out of battery on the old laptop and have to move in the middle of chapter one.
- Notebook or pad of paper. I like legal pads to write out a few facts or ideas. When your in the middle of a section of your masterpiece and a fact/idea pops into your head you don't want to have to go out of your doc to make another doc/note somewhere so you don't lose it. A pad and pen gives you an easily accessible place to jot that brilliant idea down and still stay with your WIP.
- Schedule Time. Yes, if you have to get up early to beat the school rush or get in an hour before work set that alarm. You're a writer, damn it! Make time.
- Printer with paper and ink. Yes, you may think this is unnecessary but here's the thing. Seeing something in print instead of on the screen will help you catch mistakes. I usually print out the days work before I leave my desk and then read those pages first when I start up the next day.
- Decide on a daily goal. Remember we're fighting for 50,000 words. Are you going to take one day off a week? Two? Do the math. If there are 250 words on a regular double spaced page with a 12 pt font, then 10 pages will be 2,500 words. Times that by 20... that's 4 weeks/20 days leaving off 2 days a week for recreation/family time, ... you got 50,000 words. Think; Can you do 10 pages a day? Do you have time to sit for 10 pages? Hey, 10 pages can take 20 minutes when you're really cooking or 8 hours if your mind is dragging. This part is up to you. I do 10 pages a day Monday - Friday. Or at least I try.
- This might be the hardest one; Tell people. Announce it to your family and friends that you're doing the NaNoWriMo challenge. That way you might have some respect for your writing time. "Hey, Hon? Between 7 and 9 is my NaNo time. Can you help me with that?" Of course this could go either way. I did my NaNo between 6 and 7 am then again at 9 am after the kids were shuffled off to school. What worked for me might or might not work for you. Think about your life and plan ahead.
Well, that's about as physically prepared as you can get. It's not really that tough, but does take a little planning to succeed. Go for it!
For more NaNoWriMo information go to https://nanowrimo.org/
Yes, it's National ~ or international at this point.
See you in the pages.....
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