For the past 3 years, I have participated in the NaNoWriMo. It has been great fun and way to get me focused on putting the story floating in my head on “paper.” Starting NaNoWriMo for the first time I had many questions including could I write that many words that fast? But my first year’s NaNoWriMo story, Canyon Riddle, has been published. Yeah, I’m a fan of NaNoWriMo.

I am beginning my preparations for my month long hiatus.  Preparations include:

• Putting a few rough notes together from all the random thoughts that keep me awake at night.
• Translating the random thoughts that were written in the middle of the night.
• A trip to the story’s location to refresh my memory of the place and to give me a weekend away.
• Prepare research notes on some key (or obscure) ideas that will be (or not) incorporated into the story.
• Make sure I have a good supply of tea, caffeinated soft drinks, and lots of water.
• Computer area cleaned and reference materials organized.
• Tissues for those emotional moments in the story or a runny nose from a cold.
• Extra vitamins to keep me a little healthier since I won’t be sleeping much.
• NaNoWriMo account activated and resetting of my password, which I have forgotten.
• Write notes and place in strategic locations to remind me to be very nice to my best supporter, my husband, who has to put up with being abandoned for the month.

But the most important thing is the Halloween candy selection. The month of November is for NaNoWriMo. So it follows that all the leftover Halloween candy will be part of my sustenance, inspiration, and morale booster for the month. I am not very picky about candy, but there are some that I prefer and I need to make sure there is plenty leftover.  Of course, I will hand out candy to all the trick-or-treaters that come to my door and I will be generous (after all I have a reputation to uphold). Having an abundant supply of my preferred candies will help ensure there are leftovers for a month of creative thoughts.

If you haven’t participated in the NaNoWriMo, I encourage you to try it. Consider my preparation list as a starting point for your writing adventure.