NaNoWriMo starts in less than two weeks!
To prepare, I’ve created an outline using Holly Lisle’s Professional Plot Outline course, available for $.99. Since I’ve never actually outlined, I figured I would consult an expert resource. Now I have my whole novel plotted out, down to the scene, from beginning to end. The course even pushed my ideas further than originally anticipated to new and fun plot devices. I am hoping that a complete outline will prevent writers block and keep me on track the whole month.
The next step, I will be adding all my scenes from the outline and sticking them into Scrivener. I bought Scrivener last year after my NaNoWriMo win with my winner’s discount and promptly forgot about it. A writer friend, Jonathan Fesmire, mentioned he enjoys the program so I watched the start up video and updated my program. Scrivener has this neat note card feature I can put all my plot points into. So where ever I pick up writing, I’ll know where I am and where I’m going. I could probably write the novel backwards, but I’m not that masochistic.
I will also be using the ‘research’ file system where Scrivener saves your files/images/sound bites IN SCRIVENER. So it’s all at my finger tips when ever I need it. I will be using this Character Chart for Fiction Writers to really flesh out my characters. It’s seven pages long and asks for things I don’t normally think about. It will stay right next to my writing and I can pull it up with a click or I can even use the two pane option and write while looking at it. This way, my characters wont have eyes that change color through out the book. My previous method of keeping a notebook isn’t ideal for me.
That’s the game plan so far. For being a pantser in the past, I feel that’s pretty good. If you are participating in the NaNoWriMo, what are you doing to prepare?
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