Page 7 - Sami Magazine - October 2020

Prep?
Prep?
HOW DO U

Alright, let's talk preparing for National Novel Writing Month. How do you

get ready for the writing challenge of the year? Do you gather notes? Do you
set up a vision board? For me (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) it varies from

year to year. One thing is for certain, this year is gonna look a little different

with an active pandemic persistently sweeping the globe. While some of you
may be getting together, some of you may not be interested in taking the risk

(like me). Live or Virtual, though, here are a few tips for making the most out

of your NaNoWriMo:

1. Commit. Sign up, schedule your daily writing time, don't let anyone take it
away from you! It's important to treat your writing just as importantly as
your day job. And if you treat your writing time as expendable, so will the

people around you.
2. Organize your ideas. Even if you're a pantser, jot character details and

scene ideas down to be able to keep your head wrapped around your story. A
little bit of structure, even if mildly chaotic, will make a world of difference

when you're trying to hit your daily word count. If poster boards aren't for
you, try apps like Trello or Evernote.

3. Do Your Warm Ups! It's always good to loosen up, particularly when you're
trying to get in a good head space for November. Set a timer, and spend time
listing words (eg. In 30 seconds, list as many synonyms for the word 'fun' as

you can) or other things to give your brain a good stretching. It'll lower your
chances of having the whole "Wut r werds" face-off with your manuscript.

4. Do Your Research. It's easier to describe your setting when you know it
beforehand. Personally, I love using Google Maps/Street View to help me with

describing the old familiar places that I love so much.
5. Get Your Tools Ready! Make sure you have a working keyboard, mouse,

screen, laptop. Don't forget stocking batteries for wireless items! Set yourself
up for success, and if even if you don't cross the finish line you'll have
everything together to continue after November's over.