Fall is in the Air… It’s NaNo Time!

As we begin to dive into NaNo Prep season, we’ve talked to some participants to get the inside scoop on how to best prepare for November. Today, author Jacqui Jacoby shares her NaNo Prep timeline:

I started with NaNoWriMo back in 2001 on my daughter’s encouragement. I was then still a struggling writer trying to make it in the world of publishing. (Highest rejection count? Fifty-seven on one book alone. And eventually, that book came out in 2013.)

There came a point in my NaNoWriMo journey where it wasn’t necessary to keep participating to get my books going. I had a handle on that aspect: the ideas, the characters, the planning. And yet, I still showed up every fall like clockwork. I’m still here. Every year on October 15th, I hear the sound, the excitement of what is coming. It’s the trumpet blaring, the horn alive…as I start to plan out my November:

October 15: Read No Plot No Problem, starting October 15th.
October 16: Consider the prize I will get myself if I “win”. Research it, order it, when it arrives, place it where I can see it as I type.
October 16: Stock up on supplies: Altoids, eye drops, Double Shots.
October 20: Purchase the WIP Notebook by Jeannie Ruesch and Ready. Set. Novel! By Chris Baty.
October 18: Do not plan for “extra” appointments. Cancel every “essential” appointment to gain time. Tell the world I am not available for November and then stand by that decision.
October 20: Buy Supplies: Super Glue Stick and Brand New Special NaNo Only Pencil to be used in filling out books.
October 23: On arrival of background books (WIP/Novel!), use both books to start putting reality to the ideas. Print out faces I think go with the characters. Use both glue stick and pencil to mark up your pages. The more marks, the better.
October 25: Update my NaNo profile on the NaNo site. Upload my novel idea. If you have an idea on the story, upload either a working cover or just a picture you like that looks like your story. It is always fun to have a cover or photo to post.
October 26 through 28: If you bought your No Plot, No Problem Writing Kit, have friends and family over for dinner so they can witness you sign the enclosed contract, binding you to dare to try not to write. Post where you can see it. Use the coupons in the kit to entice people to sign up in support.

I’ve been in sixteen NaNos, and I’ve “won” nine times.

The other times, there have been some very compelling cases of life kicking my butt. One year I got sick, really sick and my imagination was slammed. Another year, we were moving. I tried to keep it going, but boxes and unpacking won out. One year, yeah, okay, I just didn’t feel like it and I gave up quick. While another year, I didn’t feel like it and I gave up late.

But I always come back for the next year.

I started NaNoWriMo as a newbie writer, hoping to get my big break. Being in NaNo propelled me forward as it taught me more about characters and plot. I recommend it to every new writer I am working with.

I gave a speech last year to a small group, encouraging even the non-writers to participate. Then I signed into the site with my new book idea, and started planning. Today, for me, NaNo means freedom from traditional deadlines for a whole month. It means I get to play in a new story with new people – both imaginary and real – and for thirty whole days, my world is nothing but writing.

Jacqui Jacoby is an author of several books and short stories and managers her career and her own firm Body Count Productions, Inc. ​She is a workshop ​presenter who has appeared both live and online to give such classes as “From Austin to Aliens: How to Create Classic Tough Chicks” and “Behind the Scenes: The Research Before the Book.” First Place Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award in Excellence​, as well as the Suzannah and the Dixie for her books, she is a RWA Golden Heart Finalist and the author of numerous article​s​ which​ have appeared in newsletters and on blogs around the word. Find her on the web here or on Twitter.

Top photo by Flickr user *Lie, sourced through Creative Commons.