By JP Simmons
Preptober is the month leading up to November's National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. It's a time for writers to prepare for the challenge ahead and to get excited about the possibilities of what they might achieve.
For many people, Preptober is about getting organized. They plan out their novel's plot, develop their characters, and map out where they want the story to go.
Start with a plan
Decide what you want to write about. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's one of the most important steps in preparing for NaNoWriMo. If you don't have a clear idea of what you want to write, it will be very difficult to stay focused and motivated throughout the month.
Make a rough outline of your story. This doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a basic outline of the plot and characters. Having this will help you stay on track and make sure your story is going where you want it to go.
Set some goals
Set some writing goals. What do you want to achieve with your novel? Do you want to finish or get a good start? How many words do you want to write each day? Having specific goals will help keep you on track during Nanowrimo.
Choose your tools
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for Nanowrimo is to choose the right tools. What works for one person might not work for another, so it's important to find what will help you stay on track and motivated throughout the month.
There are a few essential things every Nanowrimo participant needs: a way to track your word count, a writing space that's comfortable for you, and some sort of reward system to keep you going. Beyond that, it's up to you to decide what else you might need to succeed.
Get organized
One of the most important things you can do is to organize your scenes. Having a clear idea of what happens in each scene will make it much easier to write when the time comes. You don't have to have everything mapped out perfectly, but having a general idea of where your story is going will help you stay on track during the month.
Another helpful tip is to plan for breaks.
Make a Schedule
This will help you stay on track and make sure you have enough time to write every day. Decide how many words you want to write each day and block out time in your calendar. Make sure to leave some wiggle room in case you need an extra day or two.
Once you have a schedule, start thinking about what you want to write about. If you don't have an idea yet, that's okay! Use this time to brainstorm ideas and come up with something that you're excited about.
Get Inspired
1. Read books in the genre you want to write in.
2. brainstorm ideas for your novel and make a plan.
3. start building your writing habit by setting aside time every day to write.
4. connect with other writers who are also preparing for NaNoWriMo.