One of the benefits of October prep is learning the best times for writing. Starting Monday, write out your daily schedule. Next Sunday, look over what you've written. Are there any chunks of time you didn't notice that you can dedicate to writing next month? Perhaps a couple hours here and there you've spent on TV, socializing, bathing, cleaning?

Another thing you might want to think about is how long it takes you to write. How much time are you going to need to meet the goals of NaNo? Before the month is over, pick a project and write on it for a week. Time yourself. How long does it take you to write 1000 words, 2000? Whatever your goal is, find out how long it takes to pound the words out.

Finally, look at your schedule again, now pick different times that are available to write. What you need to find is the golden time. When do you get the most words out the easiest? Is it at 4 in the morning before the family is awake and the house is quiet? Perhaps it's during your lunch break at work, or maybe at night after everyone else is in bed. Explore your available writing times and learn what works best for you. That way you don't waste a lot of time trying to write during the bad times.

Here's an example of what I've been doing:

09/28/2015 - 4:47 - 6:00 = 2,253 words
09/29/2015 - 4:53 - 6:01 = 2,001 words
09/30/2015 - 4:50 - 5:54 = 1,685 words; 5:28 - 5:51 = 364 words = total: 2,049 words
10/01/2015 - 5:04 - 6:37(pm) = 2,065 words
10/02/2015 - 5:05 - 6:01 = 2,012 words
10/03/2015 - 10:15 - 11:36 = 2,133 words
10/04/2015 - 8:24 - 10:03 = 2,016 words
10/05/2015 - 4:53 - 6:27 = 2,011 words
10/06/2015 - 5:01 - 6:27 = 2,042 words
10/07/2015 - 4:48 - 5:59 = 2,003 words
10/08/2015 - 5:00 - 5:58 = 1,664 words; 5:08 - 6:01 = 738 words = total: 2,402 words
10/09/2015 - 5:00 - 5:44 = 718 words; 7:20 - 8:45 = 1,296 words = total: 2,014 words
10/10/2015 - 6:30 - 7:58 (pm) = 2,018 words
10/11/2015 - 6:58 - 8:29 (pm) = 2,051 words

I challenged myself to write 2,000 words every day this month and so far I've kept to it. I've found that I get the most done in the morning before work, and that I can meet my word goal within an hour and a half.

I hope this helps, report back next week and tell us what you've learned.


Thank you,

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"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose."
-Stephen King