How Can You Prepare For NaNoWriMo?

If you aren't familiar with NaNoWriMo, then you can learn more by clicking the link. National Novel Writing Month is a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. Since 1999, every year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand new novel. They enter the month as elementary school teachers, mechanics, or stay-at-home parents. They leave novelists. It's a lot of fun, whether you are actively participating, or just watching participants suffer. ?

If you are thinking about participating in NaNo, then it is wise to plan and prepare as much as you can, so that you can focus on reaching your 1,700 word count every day, and worry less about writers block and the panic of "WHAT NEXT?!"
This doesn't mean you have to outline (for those of you who hate outlines). This means you simply need to ask your story some compelling questions, and make sure all the gears are oiled and working!

I have 20 writing prompts for you to use to really get to know your story structure, your characters, and your themes (some are linked to more in-depth blog posts!):

1. My Main Character wants...
2. Why my Main Character wants that
3. But really, my Main Character needs...
4. Because of their empty hole...
5. My Main Character believes that
6. Relationship that formed my Main Character
7. What is my Main Character hiding?
8. Mask my Main Character wears for the world
9. Main Character's dark side
10. What drives my Main Character crazy?
11. How does my Main Character react when under stress?
12. Side Character agendas
13. Who is working against my Main Character?
14. What is my Main Character's "normal"?
15. Inciting Incident
16. A mistake my Main Character will make
17. Mid-story crisis
18. The small win moment & the "hit rock bottom" moment
19. What is the climax?
20. What is the resolution?

And then, 5 world building questions as well!

1. Magic system & rules
2. Local Geography
3. Is my story set in Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter?
4. Local cultural values/taboos
5. Setting & main haunts the Main Character will be seen in most

​Finally, write down what possible themes there are to explore. Remember that readers want a story that is relatable and transforms them by the end. They want to learn something about themselves and humanity by watching the hero trip and fall over a lesson they refuse to learn. This is done by choosing a theme to focus on (you can read more about themes on THIS blog post). Ideally, you will only keep the theme in the back of your mind, and it will come to blossom during editing. However, having a couple of ideas written down NOW will keep your story on track LATER.

Do you feel ready?

Is this overwhelming for you? Does the idea of writing a book in 30 days sound impossible for you? Do you want to take part in NaNoWriMo, but fear you wouldn't meet your goals and expectations? 
I'm hear to help.
For a limited time, you can be a part of my Storytellers group. In this small group, for 3 months, you can schedule a weekly group coaching call where I help you brainstorm, troubleshoot, and coach you through finding the next step in your writing journey. You also get access to a 2 times weekly "writing sprints" group, where writers from all over come together just to write.
This is normally a $600 program, now available to you for $297 for a limited time.
So, what is your next step?
How can you move forward in your writing career?

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Recommended Books

If you want some books that will help you create a strong story, and hence a best seller book, you NEED to check these out! These are Amazon Affiliate links, so if you purchase either of these books, then I get a small commission from it!

The first novel-writing guide from the best-selling Save the Cat! story-structure series, which reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success.
This book gives actionable points you can use in any story-telling! It gives you the steps for having a relatable, dynamic Main Character and a rich, compelling story. I wish this had been published when I first started writing, because it would have eliminated my need for rewriting my first book!

This guide reveals how writers can utilize cognitive storytelling strategies to craft stories that ignite readers’ brains and captivate them through each plot element. 
If you like to analyze things, and want to learn how to use your story to get inside your reader's mind and stay there, then this book tells you how to do that! This is the roadmap to becoming the storyteller that readers cannot forget. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am constantly referencing it!

Craft a deep and compelling story with this FREE book!

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