How to Prep for NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, held every November. Learning how to prep for NaNoWriMo is the difference between success and flying by the seat of your pants (and not hitting that 50k word goal).

Since the goal is to write a 50,000-word rough draft in just one month, here is a step-by-step guide to preparing for NaNo. Beginning now will give you that step up when November 1 comes around!

**Remember—your 50k-word novel is a rough draft!!

Use this guide to help you prepare for NaNoWriMo.

10-Step Prep for NaNoWriMo

1. Choose Your Genre & Idea:
   • What is your genre – mystery, fantasy, romance, science fiction, or something else?
   • Come up with a rough idea of your story: plot summary, a character concept, or a specific theme you want to explore.
2. Outline Your Novel:
   • Creating a rough outline of your plot will help you stay on track as writing this in a month is a lot!
   • Develop your main characters – their backgrounds, motivations, and arcs.
   • Do you need to do some world-building?
3. Set Goals:
   • To reach 50,000 words in 30 days, you’ll need to write about 1,667 words per day.
   • Make space in your schedule for your goals.
4. Make a Writing Schedule:
   • Consistency is key – actually, consistency is optional. I write in spurts. Do what works for you!
5. Create a Writing Space:
   • Will you use your laptop or write with pen and paper?
   • A comfortable and distraction-free writing environment helps!
   • Stock up on necessary supplies: notebooks, pens, or a fully charged laptop, coffee…
6. Join the NaNoWriMo Community:
   • Sign up for NaNoWriMo.
   • Connect with other participants via forums and social media.
7. Plan for Writer’s Block:
   • Writer’s block is normal so if it happens, do something else. Take a walk, eat something, drink some water/coffee, then try again.
8. Remember this is a ROUGH DRAFT:
   • I forgot this when I did Nano. It’s about quantity, not quality. Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to exist.
   • Don’t edit as you write. You can revise after November.
9. Create Pinterest boards:
   • Use Pinterest to create boards about your novel. I have secret boards with pictures of my characters (what they look like) and the settings I use.
   • Some people create mood boards on Canva.
10. What will you do when Nano ends?
    • Will you revise your novel and try to publish it?

What’s next?

Visit the Nano website to find out even more! And remember it’s as much about the writing process as it is about the end result.

Enjoy the journey, embrace the challenge, and have fun creating your novel!

Read What do you do when Nano is over, then follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers! Be sure you grab your FREE 10-step checklist to plan your novel when you subscribe!

Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 37 years, have 5 amazing kids and 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children, and I used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery, Birds Alive!, released Feb. 27, 2024!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)