I signed up for NaNoWriMo Prep Challenge. Not sure what I am doing because this is VERY new to me. I have never come up with a story short or long that started out with the characters and theme. I have always started out with a scene and worked in the characters from there. Then the details come.

Can we start early? Or at least have an idea of where to begin before the contest starts?
There is a contest in November that seems to coincide with October. How do the two connect?