So, it’s about a week until the beginning of November and although you’ve said no fewer than five times on various social media that you’re going to participate in NaNoWriMo this year – and not only participate but PREPARE – you still haven’t done anything yet. I get it, I really do. That’s why I’ve put together a quick little guide to preptober (appropriately late in the month) for the chronically lazy. Although it is probably too late to start that 10k outline, it’s not too late to heed my golden rule. And the best part? You don’t even have to get out of bed.
My golden rule for lazy writing prep is – DRINK!
No, not like that. C’mon guys.
D.R.I.N.K.
D
Discover new things. Deep dive into wikipedia or binge watch those increasingly odd documentary playlists on youtube. Find weird facts or crazy history or really cute pictures of ants.
R
Reflect. Think of a situation. Any situation. How would you react? How would someone else react? How would you deal with the impeding Spanish Armada and clear skies? How would a cyclops deal with a visit to the optometrist. Just sit in your pajamas and use your thinking bits.
I
Investigate. Has some tidbit triggered your interest yet? Are questions beginning to form? What’s the crop yield of Kazakhstan? Who was the first cartographer to map the moon? What the world’s worst pun? Actually do some proper research now. I promise it’s not work. You can stay in bed if you like.
N
Newts. Someone really just wanted this acronym to work.
K
Know what you want to get out of NaNoWriMo. Is it 50k words? Is it a daily writing habit? Is it a bunch of awesome new friends? This is the most important tool in your arsenal heading into November. Even if you have no clue what to write or who your characters are or the velocity of a sparrow, know why you’re doing this crazy, life-disrupting, relationship-fracturing marathon or wordiness.
Let me know if these tips help! I love to chat and when I’m not here, I can be found over on instagram attempting to have some sort of coherent aesthetic x
All GIFS sourced via GIPHY
R.E. Navan 