Pre-NaNo Checklist!
Eight things to do while you wait for November 1.
Okay, so you have characters, perhaps you have a plot outline, and you’re ready to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Great! Here’s a pre-NaNo checklist that might keep you busy while you wait for the fun to begin.
1. Set your time zone. It’s super important that you set your timezone so our site knows when NaNoWriMo begins and ends in your neck of the woods. Here’s how you do it: first, click on “My NaNoWriMo” on the menu bar. Then, click on “Edit User Settings” in the left hand menu on your author profile. Scroll all the way down the page to the box that says “Time zone,” and select your date and time.
2. Set your word-count goal. If you haven’t done so already, set a challenging goal for yourself. First, click on “My NaNoWriMo” on the menu bar. Then, click on “Edit Novel Info” in the left hand menu of your author profile. When you get there, you will see a box where you can enter your goal. You want to make sure you do this because if you don't, our site will automatically set it at 50,000 words. Eep.
3. Fill out your “Author Profile”. Tell us and your fellow Wrimos about yourself. Add a picture by going to “Edit User Settings,” then “Upload picture.” Answer a few questions like “What authors and books inspired you to write?” and “What music to you like to novel by?” And most importantly, tell us about your upcoming novel. Inquiring minds want to know its title and genre, and what it’s (potentially) going to be all about. You can even add a cover image!
4. Read the pep talks from 2008. Read some much-needed encouragement here from distinguished pep talkers like Jerry Spinelli, Mark Zusak, Hilari Bell, and many, many more!
5. Fill in your NaNoWriMo Calendar. This calendar can be found in each Young Novelist Workbook, and will help you break that big, scary word-count goal of yours into manageable pieces. Look on page 82 of the elementary workbook, 52 of the middle school workbook, and 45 of the high school workbook. Use it to set daily goals, and to set aside time for you to write each day. Post the calendar somewhere everyone who lives with you will see. That way they will know when not to disturb your incredible, artistic pursuits!
6. Watch NaNo-Videos. You can find all of our NaNo-Videos here. They are inspiring, informative, and a great way to procrastinate!
7. Inform family and friends of your November plans. Send e-mails, talk about it at school, call relatives that live miles away, send carrier pigeons to people who don’t live in the 20th century - tell as many people as you possibly can! That way tons of people will be encouraging you to reach your word-count goal this November.
8. Stock up on treats. Stock up on your favorite snack foods (like goldfish crackers, yum!) to keep you going through those long nights of NaNo-ing. You can also stock up on treats that you might use to reward yourself for meeting daily and weekly word-count goals. Perhaps you can have stockpiles of chocolate chips for hitting your daily word count goal, or a backlog of TV shows to watch when you reach your weekly goal.
