A NaNo Peptalk

It's coming up on the week before NaNo and I'm getting pumped! A reminder: Farrah did an awesome post about dealing with NaNo which you should read because it's, well, awesome.

I'm just going to go ahead and admit something up front: I have never "won" NaNo. I've tried two or three times and each one of those times I blew it. I have plenty of excuses as to why I never finished before, but I'm not even going to mention any because I don't want to put those thoughts in your head or mine. Instead, I want to suggest a game plan for this coming week.

1. Get ready to have fun! First and foremost, don't let this endeavor stress you out too much. Writing should be fun, especially first drafts, in my opinion. It should be done with a heart full of love and excitement. Yeah, that sounded a little cheesy, but I stand by it.

2. Immerse yourself in this new idea. Wallow in it. Create a Pinterest board and a playlist. Cast the actors who will star in the movie adaptation. Throw together a mock cover. Jot down scene ideas, figure out your one sentence pitch, and maybe even put together the first draft of a query.

And most importantly: 3. Commit. Do not waffle. Tell your friends and family that this is what's happening and you're going to need their support. NaNo is a big exercise in commitment and this year you can prove to yourself that you can do it.

So, are you ready?! Share your plans for this week in the comments. Link us you your Pinterest board! Let's get excited! *cue Rocky montage*