I am going to be honest with you. I didn’t think about sharing my NaNoWriMo Diary until after NaNoWriMo began. Typically, I journal everything NaNoWriMo in my private journal.

So, why did I decide to share? Why not? I could help or inspire someone else to start a novel or someone who needs a pick me up during the process of doing the event.

Most of the images in this post were taken after I started writing for NaNoWriMo.

Regardless of the when, this post will show how I prepared for NaNoWriMo 2017. My new method made it much easier for me to stay motivated.

 

Want to follow along on my NaNoWriMo 2017 Journey?

NaNoWriMo 2017 Week 1 | NaNoWriMo 2017 Week 2 | NaNoWriMo 2017 Week 3 |

NaNoWriMo 2017 Week 4 | NaNoWriMo 2017 Last Day

NaNoWriMo Preptober 2017:

September 30, 2017:

This year, right after my birthday in September, I created my layout in Scrivener.

My NaNoWriMo Preptober 2017 Scrivener Setup
My NaNoWriMo Preptober 2017 Scrivener Setup

 

   I started with a folder called “NaNoWriMo ‘Bullet Journal.’ I bullet journal off the computer, and found the past year since I have started keeping one, I accomplish my goals on a daily basis. For some reason, I get motivated to start my day so it couldn’t hurt to make one in Scrivener this year.

NaNoWriMo Preptober Bullet Journal in Scrivener
NaNoWriMo Preptober Bullet Journal in Scrivener

October 1, 2017:

I did a lot of research. I took tips from many other authors for my final layout this year. Because of them, the final layout product changed. What you see in the top image in this post is the final layout. Links to the sources I read religiously will be at the bottom of this post.

    Laid down my planning structure.

NaNoWriMo Preptober Planning Structure
NaNoWriMo Preptober Planning Structure

 

   Outlined my chapters in the draft folder on the epic corkboard cards.

NaNoWriMo Preptober Chapter Outlines using Scrivener Corkboard for scenes
NaNoWriMo Preptober Chapter Outlines using Scrivener Corkboard for scenes

 

   Created my Character Codex, including mood boards on pintrest. I used my own Character template that I have been using for “centuries”. Major characters have their own folders, while important minor or other supporting characters only have their own page of info. Some characters in this book didn’t even get their own page. Poor unloved, characters!

NaNoWriMo Preptober Character Codex
NaNoWriMo Preptober Character Codex

   Analyzed personality charts, and put them in my Bullet Journal. I used the personality charts from 16Personalities. I enjoyed stepping into my major character’s heads and taking the tests as they would answer. It helped flesh out my characters for this book, making it easier to give each of them a life of their own. I plan on going back to do it for my other characters.I found the Sixteen Myers-Briggs Personality Types chart on Pinterest.

NaNoWriMo Preptober Personality Types
NaNoWriMo Preptober Personality Types

 

Ready for NaNoWriMo 2017!

Links to Authors I read a ton of for this year’s NaNoWriMo Preptober.

Better Novel Project,   Unfortunately, the Better Novel Project is gone.

Well-Storied

Rachel Stephen  Rachel also has a ton of video content on her YouTube page.

Eva Deverell

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? How do you prepare to get started? Share your comments and methods below!

 

Inara Reynolds is a freelance writer, poet, author of short stories and creator of a few fantasy worlds. She has written character classes for various role playing games, as well as modules.

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