NaNoWriMo Prep 2012

This course will become read-only in the near future. Tell us at community.p2pu.org if that is a problem.

Task Navigation 

Motivation and commitment

Add your own tasks to this!

B1- Make a public declaration, preferably somewhere like Facebook or Twitter, that you are writing a novel in November. Then keep talking about it to everyone you know. (Common wisdom is that the embarrassment of backing out of this motivates many to succeed. If not, at least it makes you seem more interesting to family and friends.)

B2 - What is your ultimate vision of success for you as a writer? Form a vision of this. Write a paragraph about what your life as a successful writer will be like 6 months, a year, or whatever from now. If you’re artistic, draw a picture. Focus on this vision of success every day between now and November 30.

B3 - Make a list of all the reasons/excuses that you might not be able to write a novel in November. At the end, decide whether any of these are going to deter you. If not, make a commitment to yourself to succeed.

B4 - Make a writing schedule for yourself for the month of November. When will you write? How much will you write?

B5- Get together a collection of treats for yourself for November. It could be chocolate, adult beverages, hot bubblebaths, massages, or hikes in the woods – anything you want. These are to be used only as rewards for meeting your writing goals!

B6- Find a partner who will willingly nag you and prefer to be nagged back.  Decide together the appropriate and most encouraging form of nagging that will work.

B7- Begin a conversation with your lead character in your journal now. It should be a discussion (argument) about why he/she should be brought to life or not.

Task Discussion


  • Sheri Edwards   Oct. 7, 2012, 8:55 p.m.

    I'll be posting my daily preps here: 

    http://sheri42.org/tag/nanowrimo

  • Sheri Edwards   Oct. 7, 2012, 8:36 p.m.

    A writer...

    Let me show you where I am now:

    A friend sent me the card years ago, -- in the 70s, and it so fits to this day. The day I received it, I created this little momento.

    So much to do and so little time. What I hope to do is write. write well. and keep writing. As a writer, I'd love to write a novel that some one else might enjoy. As a writer, I'd love to continue sharing ideas for reading and writing lessons. As a writer, I just clarify my thoughts. I just hope in ten years I still remember the words to write.  :)

    So here's the back of my "writer" desk momento:

    I hope I can get rid of that grain of sand...

    Good luck to all writers in nanowrimo!

  • karen   Oct. 6, 2012, 7:50 p.m.

    Part of my novel writing process is to start a new notebook for each project. Although I do most of my writing on the computer, I use the notebook for prep activites, outlines, notes, and occassionally for actual drafting when I'm without my computer.

    Anway, here is this year's notebook.

    Do others have any preparation rituals like this?

  • Denise   Oct. 7, 2012, 5:52 p.m.
    In Reply To:   karen   Oct. 6, 2012, 7:50 p.m.

    I hadn't had a specific novel writing notebook before, but I do have this notebook that is always in my purse. I just designated it my NaNo Notebook for the life of my future novel!

    I do need to do more prep this year, so I will look forward to this group! Thanks, Karen and all!

  • Sheri Edwards   Oct. 7, 2012, 8:27 p.m.
    In Reply To:   karen   Oct. 6, 2012, 7:50 p.m.

    I also do my work on my computer, but sometimes a notebook comes in handy. So here's my journal for 2012 nanwrimo and I'm sure dragons will be there inside, peeking out.