NaNoWriMo preparations

November is drawing nearer, nearer, and so is the beginning of NaNoWriMo. I’m more and more excited about it and about my new project, The Orchid Collector. I don’t know if I’ll have a finished manuscript by the end of November, but hopefully, I’ll be 50,000 words in and more than half-way through. 

I want to give myself every chance of achieving this, and that means actually preparing this crazy writing marathon. 

I do not usually do a lot of planning when it comes to my novel. I do a rough outline and time line that gives me an idea of where I’m going. Sometimes I do not actually follow this outline, but it doesn’t matter. It’s just a guideline. Like a rough map of my writing journey, that will not stop me from making detours. 

However, I decided to make a much more detailed outline for The Orchid Collector. I’ve divided the story in parts, and chapters, and wrote small paragraphs listing different scenes and plot points within those chapters (12 of them). This does not mean I will precisely follow this outline, but it will probably save me time, as I won’t have to invent scenes as I write them. Thanks to this outline, I know precisely which scene will end the novel, I’ve even made a summary of it. 

I’m using Microsoft OneNote to work on the outlining and planning of my project. I like the fact that the virtual notebooks can be synchronised on different devices. I think it’s an interesting tool to organise ideas. 

Because a novel is nothing without its characters, I’ve also worked on fleshing out the main ones. Rough physical and temperamental characteristics, but also bits and pieces of backstory. There will be two main characters. A third character will gain much importance in the second half of the story, but he does not appear before them. I’m also in the process of making a list of secondary characters with names, ages, motivations, fate in the novel, etc. 

I still have to do some research, especially on Cochinchina in the 18th century. Because setting and atmosphere will be important, I will have the pleasing task of going through photos taken on a trip to Vietnam a couple of years ago, to remember my impressions and the sense of place. 

On the whole, I’m really enjoying all this preparation, and I hope that the actual writing in November will be as pleasant and that I will reach my goal!