1. Think about what story you want to write

2. Outline Your Story

3. Map out your milestone throughout the 30 days

(First post to help everyone get started for the Nov 2015 NaNoWriMo! I will provide some additional detials and resources later:))

Joining this Society will be your biggest asset during NaNo; other writers helping and encouraging you is the greatest help! I also follow NaNoWriMo on twitter, and they constantly tweet out advice, tips, and NaNo help from famous authors. Go check it out!

I'm a pantser through-and-through for NaNo, so I'd like to say, when it comes to planning:

1. You don't have to

2. If you have a vague idea that's cool

3. If you don't that's slightly insane but so much fun

4. Don't forget to have water and food nearby for when you get "in the zone"

5. Know the basics of your characters, you can learn more about them as you go through, but you need to at least have a name

6. Don't let planners make you feel unprepared, pantsing is awesome and not to be knocked for it is not for the faint of heart

I'm riding the fence this year but I lean more towards planner. I have found if you outline and flesh out your characters before the story, the chapter plots tend to flow because the characters are leading you. Silly sounding but getting to know your folks is a really effective way to make the story flow unhindered by writer's block

I am all about planning! This is what I do for almost all of my stories and it's what personally works for me.

1. Have an idea.
I keep an entire notebook full of every idea I get. Even the ones that are tiny and could never function on their own. If you get enough of them, eventually they will fall together!

2. Get to know your characters
Ask yourself stupid questions about them. What's their favorite color and why? How would they react to different situations? How do they speak? Treat them like they're a real person. Every question you ask yourself is building them up from a super sturdy foundation. Dialogue and everything else will be much easier afterward!

3. Outline
I make about three outlines for each story I write (well, the ones over 3,000 words, at least). The first outline is to map out how I want the story to go. I plot the beginning, middle, and end very basically. The second outline goes a little more in-depth. I thicken up the plot and add side plots, additional characters, and world-build a bit. Then the third outline is always my favorite. I go super in-depth. I plot out how I want each and every chapter to go in extreme detail, plan conversations that will happen in said chapters, and plan character arcs. By the time I actually begin writing, everything is much easier and flows really well.

4. Keep inspiration close by
I can't tell you how many pictures I have saved on my computer that help me get over writer's block fast. Having the things that inspired you to write your story close by help more than you can possibly imagine.

I know this won't work for everyone but I thought I'd share it anyway! :D

A lot of people so far are planners, But it's ok if you are a pantser! :) I typically do not plan my NaNo at all beyond knowing the settings, characters are in my head, and the plot is wibbly wobbly. I love to just vomit out my NaNoWriMo.

This way when you get bored you can create anything you want. Kill off main characters, create new main characters. One year I had bears with lasers, caught the idea from the NaNoWriMo calendar I was using for fun that year.

Anywho, I am rambling. Just wanted to put it out there that it is ok if you don't want to plan too much of your story for NaNo! :) Which ever way works best for you.