Preptober Planning: Tips to Prepare for Writing Your Novel

Hey, hey! I’m so excited to be here on TWN and share some of my tips+tricks for preparing for NaNoWriMo! 

While the official NaNoWriMo organization was shut down last year due to some controversies, the challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in November is still alive and hopping! So if you plan to participate next month, October is a great time to create a plan for how you’re going to approach November. Often dubbed “Preptober,” this is the time to start thinking about the techniques you’ll use to successfully write your novel. Today, I’m sharing 3 ideas on how to productively prepare during Preptober!

Work Backstage

Whether you’re a plotter or panster, it’s beneficial to have some work done ahead of actually drafting the novel. Think of it like you’re being a stagehand for the future you: while October might focus on the more mundane parts of writing like outlining, character development, or research, it will significantly prepare you when you “start the show” and draft the novel in November. Of course, ideas will change and not everything you plan for in October will actually end up in the novel, but organizing the general basics will save you from scrambling to meet a wordcount or facing writer’s block later. A few practical aspects to take care of during October are:

• Decide what type of structure or outline you want to use for your novel and map it out as best as you can. 
• Establish the genre and complete any world-building or setting development. 
• Develop your characters and keep track of them using character sheets. 
• Take care of any research needed to write the novel (especially if you’re working on a historical fiction book!)

Balance Priorities + Set a Routine

As a writer, it can be easy to unintentionally devote a ton of time to working on our books. However, we all also have other responsibilities! It can especially be tricky when you’re in school and possibly working a job to find time. So if you really want to prioritize planning and writing your book, you need to intentionally set routines that will help you make progress. This could mean:

• Setting limits on social media to scroll less + write more. 
• Saving one point in the day just for planning/research/writing. This could mean working on your novel for an hour before bed or making your lunchtime your writing session. 
• Writing in the same place at the same time every day. After doing this consistently a few times, your brain will realize that you’re ready to write and it will be easier to focus. 
• Calculating how you want to spread out your word count over the month of November. By doing this in October, it will save you from stressing out about not reaching your word count or not knowing where to stop in November. Statistically, if your goal is to write a 50,000 word novel that means completing 1,6667 words a day. That’s a lot–especially if this is your first time! So look at your calendar and plan ahead for the days that you know you can have large chunks of writing time and for the days that you know you might not be able to reach a big word count. Also, October is a great time to practice setting word counts for a day when you’re outlining or preparing your novel and seeing how you reach them. 

A routine will help you stay accountable and not procrastinate. By setting one in October, it will make November easier and help you avoid burnout. But remember, it’s okay to take a break and don’t let your other responsibilities slide! 

Keep Community Close

You’ve done all the work: outlined your novel, developed your characters, set your word counts, and are ready for November! 

But you’re the only writer in your family. Your friends might be busy with extracurriculars. Your classmates are focused on school. So who’s there to keep you accountable and be a writing buddy? 

Even the most introverted writers (like me) still appreciate having a writing community. And when you’re surrounded by other writers who are chasing the same goal, it can be all the more encouraging and exciting because you’re in the thick and thin together. So as part of Preptober, think about if you want to invite at least someone to participate in your November challenge. This could be a sibling, an author you know, a bestie who comes up with the best story ideas–a person who can partner with you and keep each other on track makes the writing process easier. 

A few years ago, when I participated in Go Teen Writer’s (now defunct) 100-for-100 Writing Challenge, I created an online group with some writer friends and over the summer, we fellowshipped as we wrote by doing activities like writing sprints, sharing encouragement and praise reports, and exchanging writing snippets. That little group seriously helped me stay motivated to reach my goals. And it doesn’t have to be anything crazy! While there are online groups that you can sign up for that have official writing springs, discussion boards, etc., it can also be as simple as you and a friend texting one another’s word counts for the day. 

That’s it for me! We’re already knee-deep in the middle of Preptober and November will be upon us before we realize. Whatever your writing plan is, I hope these tips are helpful and I’m cheering you on! 

Let me know in the comments: are you going to participate in NaNoWriMo? (I won’t officially, but I’ll be busy working on a screenplay for a creative writing class!) What’s your current WIP? If you’ve previously participated in Preptober, do you have a go-to strategy that works wonders every time?