Welcome back to the final week of our mega Preptober series where, this week, we’re discussing final steps as we prep for NaNoWriMo. Now that we’ve established a few good strategies to streamline your life as you draft, let’s discuss some cool ways to stay motivated as you write.

Here are 5 fun ways to track your progress during NaNoWriMo:

1. Print a tracker

One of the easiest ways to track your progress as you write are printable charts and game boards. For every 1k words you pen, you can shade in a space. Aim to get to the finish line by the end of the month! Find some sweet printouts here, here, or here.

2. Count your words

If you’d like something more tangible to track your progress, you can choose any item to count, really: marbles in a jar, candies in a bowl, paper balls in a basket. Keep it fun and you’ll be that much more motivated to keep up with your progress.

3. Download an app

Looking to save time, resources, or paper? No worries. There are several free apps available to help you keep track of your word count. Some top choices are listed here. Check out your options and post your progress on social media or stay accountable with a writing friend. Speaking of…

4. Grab a critique partner

If you haven’t already, link up with a critique partner and see how you can help one another out. Set goals and hold one another accountable, plan to beta read for each other after November, or even celebrate your win together. A writing buddy can be a great way to hash out puzzling plot holes and be encouraged to keep going when in a writing slump. In the age of social media, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone to be in your corner. So don’t be shy, go say hello!

5. DIY

If you want, you can create your own spreadsheets, charts, or counters. Ever considered a wall of colorful sticky notes to keep track of your daily word count? Could be fun. And isn’t that the point? NaNoWriMo is meant to be an enjoyable challenge—not some stressful event! So maintain a healthy mindset by keeping things light.

Conclusion

I don’t know about you, but my fingers are itching to pen some new words! We’re only a few days away from the start of a journey that could change your life. Pick your favorite tracking strategy and prepare to have fun. You’ll be shocked to see how far you’ve come in December. Looking for a few more helpful resources for this year’s NaNoWriMo? Check out the concluding installation of our Preptober: Final Steps Series here.