NaNoWriMo is Latin for Lonely Man

Or at least that’s what my husband complained when I started preparing the family for the November free-for-all. I’m glad he has set his expectations to the right level.

Last year I wrote a list of over 30 ways to keep your kids busy while you write. (My favorites being crafts, audio books and videos—but first you have to starve your kids of all TV/electronic games so they are dying to watch again.) And for any fellow homeschoolers out there, remember to rearrange your school year so November includes Fall Break.

So now that the family is busy entertaining themselves, let’s also consider ways to get them on board to help you during NaNoWriMo.

1. Word Count Reward Chart. Let your family in on your progress chart. When you reach certain milestones, your family gets the reward. For example, if you think you’ll need daily help, tell the family that if you make your daily goal they get “x” If your kids are young, they may be happy with a sticker. Or a sweet treat. An extra bedtime story. When you make 25,000 words you go out for pizza. Let them pick the rewards they want so they will keep tabs on you and send you back to the computer if you haven’t met your goal. Same with your significant other so they still feel significant.
2. Encourage them to write with you. For a little girl, this story book kit is perfect. It comes with an empty scrapbook, stickers, papers, ribbons, and a little bling. (Can find them cheaper at a local store or make your own). My daughter has already “written” two stories. I’ll have to hide it until November 1st. My son is old enough to be telling me what he wants me to write about so I’m turning it around on him and making it his own assignment. He wants a time-travel story. Next week he learns about creating characters.

I had thought of a third method but forgot it before I wrote it down. My brain is too busy pre-writing for NaNo. If you have any suggestions, please leave it in the comments. November is going to be busy, but I hope you check in with us at least every Tuesday for a shot of creativity advice from Janice Elsheimer, author of The Creative Call. She’ll help keep our creativity tanks full as we pour out our everything this month.  And enjoy Inkygirl’s NaNo cartoons. She makes me laugh out loud. Happy Writing!!