The WDC NanoLounge

I think there are about as many "successful" ways to get through NaNo as there are writers doing it! Okay, I know that doesn't really help, but any way you want to tackle it will probably work out. My first year I started with a storyboard for my plot line (a large poster board on the wall with plot points writen out on Post-it notes). Last year I also used a storyboard and started playing with a novel writing software. This year I'm attempting it totally with that software.

I know people who do NaNo by hand, with a pen and a notebook. The thing with that is that you will have to get it onto the computer somehow in order to upload it and validate your word count by midnight November 30th.

Personally, I write my novel every year in Word. Then I copy and paste it into a book item here chapter by chapter. For me, that it the easiest way to do it. If you'd rather just create a book item here and write directly into that, there's nothing wrong with that at all. It's really whatever you are most comfortable with!

I usually start with character sketches because my characters are what drives my stories. Again, that is a personal preference, though. I also like to haev physical sketches of my different settings, just to make sure I'm not all of a sudden putting, let's say a bedroom where the refrigerator used to be.

One thing I would really recommend is to get active on the forums on the NaNo site. I think you can learn a lot there and also get ideas from what others are doing and asking about.

I think it's great that you've decided to take on the challenge for the first time!
Good Luck and Happy Noveling!
Beck
(my NaNo username, if anyone wants to add me as a buddy, is: rjjoki)

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