Preparing for NaNo
*originally published in the October 2018 edition of Hear Ye, Hufflepuff*

Happy October, 'Puffs! In no time at all, NaNoWriMo is going to be upon us! As always, we hope to have a strong showing of participating 'Puff NaNo-ers and Rebels! Although the official rules say you can't begin until November 1st, there's a lot you can do that isn't writing your story! So, in preparation for the craziness of NaNo, here are some tips on how to get ready:

1. Set Your Goal
   Whether you decide to be a full NaNo-er, writing 50,000 words in 30 days, or you're going to be a Rebel with a different goal entirely, it's important to know from the start what you aim to achieve!
2. Decide What You'll Write
   This may be a part of the first step if you're a Rebel, but for those starting new projects...you'll have to decide what those will be! Are you going to write an original fiction novel? A nonfiction treatise? A fanfic? Decide now!
3. Organize Your Time
   If you're writing 50,000 words, that averages out to 1,667 a day. But maybe you're American and you know that you'll be spending Thanksgiving with family and won't be able to write that day. So, where will you make up the time? Approximate the days where you'll put your nose to the grindstone and be prepared for the days when you know you won't get much done. Knowing ahead of time where the stress might come can help alleviate it when it arrives.
4. Prepare Your Survival Kit
   When the NaNo Crazies Café opens, there will be a whole topic for this, but in the days before November begins, stock up on the things you'll need to make your writing a comfortable and productive experience—snacks, tea, blankets, notebooks, tissues for when the tears come, whatever!
5. Map Things Out
   Make a general outline of your story/chapters/etc. so that you'll be able to follow a plan. This doesn't work for everyone though, so adapt it to your own planning style! Make a list or a chart or gather all your scraps of paper where you've jotted rambling notes.
6. Make a Backup Plan
   If something crazy happens on November 8th, what will you do instead of your original plan? Have a general backup for those "just in case" moments, so that you aren't completely crushed if things work out differently than you had planned.  
7. Relax
   Finally, breathe. October is the month of preparation, but it's not time to stress out yet! Instead, do what prep work you can, and otherwise, enjoy the month! November will be here before you know it. Good luck to you all!