It’s that time of year again! No, I’m not referring to PSL season (or really, pumpkin spice anything and everything season. It’s actually gotten a bit out of control IMO). And no, I’m not referring to the pre-pre-Christmas nonsense (why am I already seeing Christmas things in the stores?).

Tis the NaNoWriMo Prep Season! It’s the season to get ready to write like mad!

October traditionally is NaNoWriMo prep month. For those who are planners, they take the month of October to at least develop an outline, if not more.

Honestly, I really have no idea what planners do other than do some sort of “plan” for their writing. Because I, on the other hand, am a pantster. (A pantster is someone who writes from the seat of their pants starting on November 1).

This is my 8th NaNoWriMo. And I’ve never once planned any of my writing. In fact, some years, I don’t even know what I’m going to be writing. Not an iota of an idea. Instead, my prep consists of getting my writing playlist just right. In fact, I usually have more that one playlist. A classic one, an upbeat one, a sad song one. Basically, enough playlists to fit almost any mood.

That’s one of the great things about NaNo—there’s no one way to write . . . or prep.

The other great thing is you don’t have to write the “next great American novel.” You just write. And your writing can be just for you. For me, writing is therapeutic, cathartic even.

Although I have to honestly admit, I have been “prepping” in a way. I’ve been writing a couple pages every day in my journal. I’m not writing anything that I’ll use in November. But just the act of writing every day is prep. Getting back into the habit of writing a little bit every day.

One thing I haven’t decided is whether I’m going to type (like I did in 2013) or handwrite (like I did last year). There was something very satisfying about using pen and paper last year even though there were days my hand felt like it would fall off. Or at least be permanently crippled like the day I wrote 5,468 words.

That’s a lot of words.

That’s also a lot of counting (which is the big downside to writing by hand).

But I digress.

So, who’s going to grab the writer badge & join me on November 1?

The goal: 50,000 words by November 30 (~1,167 words per day).

Totally doable.

Let’s get writing!