We will host several assignments in the library to get your creative juices flowing. You can start these assignments at any time, but the goal is to start writing your novel on November 1st, so the more tasks you can complete before November, the better! If you don’t want to do all or any of the writer-prep assignments, that’s fine too! We will begin writing our novels in November, and you can just jump right in.
Writer Prep
Task One – Sparking an Idea
Use this worksheet from the NaNoWrMo website to help get your creative juices flowing. Want the document printed out? Stop in to the Norwalk Public Library, and we can print a copy for you!
Task One Additional Resources (courtesy of nanowrimo.org)
💡 Four Ways to Develop an Idea Even more ideas! Plot bunnies galore! (To fill it out, click “File” in the top left corner, then select “Make a copy.”)
💡 Plot Generator 1 and Plot Generator 2 Silly… or brilliant? Or both???
Task Two – Developing Characters
What’s a story without characters? Fill out this character questionnaire to help you really get to know those who you are writing about.
Want to go even deeper? 🥸Try these 51 Questions You’ve Probably Never Asked Your Characters. You can also read these great blog posts from the NaNoWrMo blog:
- 📚 Blog Series: Writing Characters of Color A series about how to write stories with characters of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- 📚 “Character Building Through Repeated Actions”
- 📚 “The Benefits of Being an Inclusive Writer”
- 📚 “How to Avoid Token Representation”
- 📚 “Character Creation: The Minus 1 Rule”
Task Three – What’s Your Plot?
There are a million different ways to structure a novel, and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to even start. Take the Quiz: What’s your planning style? and then find the corresponding exercise listed below:
An Outline: The Save the Cat! Beat Sheet
Tons o’ Structure: Katytastic’s 3 Act/9 Block/27 Chapter Outline
Task Three Additional Resources
🤔 Discover Your Implied Reader Before you start writing your novel, consider asking yourself: “Who am I writing for?”
🗣️ Choosing Point of View Learn about several different POVs and try them out in a scene from your novel.
Task Four – World Building
Settings aren’t just a backdrop for your novel… the world your characters inhabit will have a profound effect on the story you tell. Try out this week’s exercise (excerpted from our Young Writers Program workbook) to develop settings that add real depth to your story. 20 Questions to Ask Yourself When World-building
Week 4 Additional Resources
🌍 Explore setting, mood, and character Excerpted from our Young Novelist Workbook, available on our Young Writers Program website. ETHTXHZP
To watch/listen:
🎬 YouTube playlist: World-building
🎬 YouTube Guide Sophie Von Ahn’s “5 Tips for World-building”
Task Five – Time Management
Writing 1,667 words a day can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge made easier if you can find the writing time in your schedule right now. Make regular dates with your creative self. Give yourself the space and attention to accomplish your goals!
Quiz: What’s the best writing schedule for you?
Task Five Additional Resources
☑️ Pre-NaNo Non-Noveling Checklist Tackle your tasks ahead of time!
🍌 Meal Prep Ideas Meal prep suggestions and recipes to keep your mind and body fueled throughout the month.
To read:
📚 “How to Win NaNo with a 40-Hour Work Week” “I know it might sound daunting, but NaNoWriMo has helped me so much with relieving stress after a long workday, I couldn’t imagine a month without it.”
📚 “How to Balance School and Writing” For writers who are in school, November can be a heavy exam, test, or project month. Here are a few tips to help navigate the chaos of school and writing.
📚 “Pro Tips from a NaNo Coach – How to Form Writing Habits” Author Isabel Cañas shares time-saving advice.
To watch/listen:
🎬YouTube playlist: Time and Writing Management
block, and more.