It’s about that time! Are you excited? All month long we’ve been going over strategies to prep for NaNoWriMo in Preptober, and now that we’ve prepped as much as we could prep, we’re ready to smash that 50k word count goal in November! We hope this week’s series of final steps will have you ready to hit the ground running on November 1st.
Here are 5 additional resources to help you win NaNoWriMo:
1. NaNoWriMo.org
One of the easiest ways to get awesome tips and tricks and a supportive community of writers during NaNoWriMo is the official NaNoWriMo website itself. Signing up to participate will grant you access to writing tips, creative prompts, word count trackers, and more. Check it out here.
2. Writing Mastery Academy
I’ve personally been a fan of Jessica Brody and the courses offered at Writing Mastery Academy for years. The website offers access to a variety of online classes by monthly or annual subscription at a simple, affordable price. The Novel Fast Drafting course is a game-changer—not only for NaNoWriMo, but for every writing career. If you’re in search of some top tips on penning a novel fast—without looking back—be sure to check out the course here.
3. Heart Breathings’ Preptober Workbook
If you’ve ever checked out Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathings channel on YouTube, it should be clear that she has mastered all things planning and organizing for a writing sprint. Her Preptober Workbook is an awesome resource filled with trackers and outlining charts to keep you motivated all month long. I tried it myself last year and it worked wonders for helping me prepare for NaNoWriMo. Grab one while you can!
4. Writing Communities
A supportive writing community can be invaluable—especially during a time like NaNoWriMo, when you’re looking to be encouraged and stay inspired to meet your goals. There are all kinds of websites like: Critique Circle or Absolute Write Water Cooler with thriving writing communities, and of course social media is a flexible option. Check out the writing hashtags (#WritingCommunity on Twitter (X), #writersofinstagram on Instagram, #writertok on TikTok) to find your people. And be sure to offer the love and support you hope to receive.
5. Do Not Disturb Apps
One of the biggest obstacles to winning NaNoWriMo is distractions. Our own bothersome thoughts are bad enough, but external bells and dings can do a number on us as well! Download a couple apps that will block out distractions and help you remain focused on the writing here and here.
Conclusion
One of the greatest things about living in the 21st century is the wealth of resources at your fingertips! Why not gift yourself a few tips and tricks this holiday season? Grab a buddy and some helpful downloads and prepare to dive into that first draft. You can do this! All you have to do is try. By the way, there’s one more helpful resource that’ll be here to cheer you on this NaNoWriMo: Better Writing in 5. Tune in next week as we offer more top strategies to win NaNoWriMo and finally complete that first draft!