Non-Writing NaNoWriMo Prep
Each October I get a little extra stressed and excited because November is just around the corner. This year, I’ll be doing my third NaNoWriMo (the National Novel Writing Month) and I am really looking forward to it. (Like, SUPER FREAKING EXCITED!!)
Last year, I made a point of doing NaNo prep in October that had nothing to do with writing. I got doctors’ appointments, haircuts, dentists, even winter clothes (coats, hats, and gloves) all finished/purchased in October, so that my November would be freed up to write in every spare moment. It made a big difference last year. There was less guilt about putting things off that come around every year. That helped me focus on my story and, especially, to have fun with it.
I love the sense of camaraderie during NaNo, most of which I experience online. I have yet to brave an in-person event. Maybe some day though. 🙂 I try really hard to stay off the internet until my daily wordcount is met. Then, once I can get back on twitter, it’s such a sense of jubilation to tweet about progress, see others’ progress, and follow the prompts and WriMo shenanigans. (Mostly, the shenanigans include jokes about coffee consumption and lack of sleep.) There should be an official happy-dance for getting in one’s wordcount. Anyway, the support is great and after having gotten a lot of other big tasks done in the previous weeks, I can enjoy a little social media.
Now, if only I had a freezer big enough to store a bunch of pre-cooked meals….hm. On second thought, reheating food for a month sounds kind of awful and my husband’s a great cook. Maybe this is all working out perfectly.
So, while there is plenty to do in terms of writerly prep for NaNo this year, I highly recommend getting your fall/winter schedule in order to free up November for writing.
If I could write and do laundry, I’d have it made. 🙂
Happy NaNo prep! 🙂
