Best of NaNoWriMo Prep

This week I’m starting to get organized for NaNoWriMo and I found myself digging through past blogs, trying to remind myself of what worked and what didn’t. We’ve had some terrific guest bloggers supporting our NaNo efforts so I thought I’d combine some of my favorites all in one convenient location. I hope these also encourage you.

2008 we welcomed Karen Wiesner, author of First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished Novel. She led us down a systematic, outlining path.

1. Building an Outline
2. Building a Plan
3. Creating Goals Worksheets
4. Encouragement
5. Tips for When Your Book Isn’t Working
6. Working in Stages

2009 brought us Janice Elsheimer, author of the Creative Call. Janice focused on ways to boost our creativity.

1. Start by Being Faithful
2. Breathing Exercises
3. Making Time
4. Beyond the Book

2010 brings us popular author Davis Bunn, blogging every Tuesday. We’ll have to wait and see what direction he sends us on.

We’ve also had a few authors chime in here and there:

Shanna Swendson: NaNoWriMo Goals and Rewards
Patti Berg: Just Do It
Michael Stackpole: Tips for Winning NaNoWriMo

And, of course, Stephanie, Kitty, and I have some things to say about the NaNoWriMo experience. Here are some of our highlights:

Stephanie

1. Why do a Writing Challenge Like NaNo
2. How To Prepare for NaNoWriMo
3. How to Prepare Your Life for NaNoWriMo
4. Goals for NaNoWriMo
5. NaNoWriMo Ready or Not
6. Mixed up Panster Plotter

Kitty

1. What a Challenge
2. The Problem is Believing
3. License to Daydream
4. Gimme Options
5. Bigger Paper Bigger Ideas
6. Organizing Your Work

Shonna:

1. NaNoWriMo Changes Everything
2. 30 Ways to Keep Kids Busy so you Can Write
3. NaNoWriMo, A Two-Pronged Attack
4. NaNoWriMo Goals: Pay Attention
5. NaNoWriMo is Latin for Lonely Man
6. Brainstorming with the Wonder Wheel