NaNo 2020 is around the corner! Are you ready??

It’s almost time to start drafting our National Novel Writing Month novels in November 2020!

How do you feel?

I feel:

• Excited
• Nervous
• Under-prepared

The NaNoWriMo website talks about types of writers: those who plan and outline (“Plotters”), those who don’t (“Planners”), and those who are somewhere in-between (“Plansters”?).

I am usually a plotter type, who does outlines and extensive notes, including character profiles, before starting any story. This helps me keep track of story events, character motivations, world lore, etc.

This time around though, I’m tired of notes! I’ve already started writing my story, 0 outline, just some notes. I’m reading a lot of Civil War-era America, of course, since that is where my story is set. But I’m excitedly writing along, not knowing exactly what will happen next, except for a few rough ideas.

Since it’s new to me to write with no planning, it’s kindof scary! But I am also very excited. And that excitement is what I’m hanging onto; and I am even excited about my excitement! Because for quite a long time now, I’ve been trying and failing to work on my fantasy novel, so the idea of working on something different is great! Also, I had been doing lots of notes for that novel, so the idea of being able to just dive in without all that is really fun!

Of course, as I go along and encounter questions about history, I am researching.

Pretty soon though, I will be speeding it up! Come November 1, my plan is to write 3 pages a day. This is what will get me to that 50,000 word count by the end of November.

Wish me luck! And I wish some for you, too.

Until next time,

Chaitanya