OBSOLETE.
Please see the current year's calendar
linked in the contest instructions:
Introduction
Ever had a "huh?" moment in the midst of a good book? Picture this: the main character encounters a dense thicket. This is no problem for our hero, who whips a sword from his scabbard and slices through the underbrush. But wait a moment... didn't he just lose his sword over the cliff in that last action-packed battle? More... ▼Up until that moment, you were captivated - you were completely engrossed in the story. But this discrepancy just yanked you right out of the narration and plopped you back in your living room.
The longer a work, the more important planning ahead becomes. Because of the length of time required to write longer works, it's easy to forget what happened in Chapter 3 two weeks (or months) later while you're writing Chapter 17. Even if you catch the error in the edit phase, the problem might permeate the entire piece. Take for instance the previous sword example. The hero now needs to find another way through the thicket, or else the author needs to remove the thicket from the plot entirely. But what if the thicket is central to the plot, such as it is in the story of Sleeping Beauty? In that case, the hero needs to either find another sword, or not lose his sword in the first place. Fixing errors such as these in the edit phase is frustrating, because every correction can ripple, yielding new and unforeseen problems.
Prevention is the best method for avoiding mistakes in your story plot. Outlining in advance prevents the errors in the first place. Draft a rough outline before you begin writing the piece. When starting a new writing project, you may not know everything that's going to happen in your story, and that's okay. Your initial outline can be limited to your beginning, your climax, and your ending. Once you have that in writing, you can begin to flesh out the middle, outlining how your characters will get from the beginning to the climax, and finally, to the end.
Some writers feel that outlining stifles creativity. While opinions vary, two things remain true: (1) plot errors take a lot of work to fix after the fact, and (2) overlooked plot errors run the risk of pulling readers out of your story. Whatever your thoughts on outlining and the creative process, consider the headaches that planning ahead will save you. You may find that it's worth it.
October NaNo Prep Challenge: 2016 Calendar
This list of daily assignments accompanies "October Novel Prep Challenge"  [13+].
THE CALENDAR:
Click each assignment for detailed instructions.
Saturday, Oct. 01
 Required: Idea/Premise ▼
Identify the following:
(1) Protagonist(s). Who is(are) your main character(s)?
(2) Flaw(s). What is(are) the protagonist's major flaw(s)?
(3) Goal(s). What does the protagonist want?
(4) Conflict. What is keeping them from their goal?
(5) Antagonist(s). Who(what) is creating the conflict?
*** STILL NEED A STORY IDEA? Try the writing tools at the bottom of the calendar. 
Bonus: Theme ▼
Identify the theme or moral of the story. Brainstorm ways you could resolve your conflict within the confines of the theme.
Sunday, Oct. 02
Required: Character List ▼
AKA Dramatis Personae. Draft a list of your characters and write a brief profile on each one (name, age, occupation or relation to main character(s) and rough physical description.) NOTE: You will have opportunities to revise the list throughout October, so this revision is not expected to be fully accurate or complete.
*** NEED CHARACTER NAMES? See the name generators at the bottom of the calendar.
Bonus: Character Database ▼
Compile your character list into a format that is easy to update and expand. The point is organization, so your character information is easy to find during November. Later this month, you will write more detailed profiles on some characters. Keep your list handy for future updates throughout the Prep.
IDEAS (feel free to come up with your own):
A spreadsheet such as Excel or Google Sheets .
An electronic folder full of files on your hard drive.
A "bookmarks" folder in your web browser.
A novel organization software application such as Scrivener or yWriter .
A cloud-based organizational software application such as lino or dropbox .
A social media account or blog.
A "book" or folder full of static items in your WDC portfolio.
A binder full of printed or handwritten pages.
Note: A spiral or bound notebook is NOT recommended, because the data inside cannot be shuffled around and organized, and you can't insert new profiles or other data later.
Monday, Oct. 03
Required: Protagonist Profile ▼
Complete a character profile of your protagonist. Include detailed information such as name, age, physical attributes, occupation, education, culture, religion, family, relationship status, personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, weakness, motivations and desires. The point of this exercise is for you to get to know your character inside and out before you write your novel. If you don't know your character, how can you expect it of your readers? Flesh out your pre-story character in detail. Keep in mind that your protagonist will grow in some way during your story. Add the profile to your character database (if applicable.) For more serious character profilers, here is an optional, very extensive template: "Character Interview / Profile Sheet"
Bonus: Protagonist Voice ▼
Have your protagonist introduce themselves to us in first person using their own voice. Brainstorm ways to make their voice unique. Add the introduction to your character database (if applicable.)
Tuesday, Oct. 04
Required: Antagonist Profile ▼
Bonus: Antagonist Voice ▼
Have your antagonist introduce themselves to us in first person using their own voice. Brainstorm ways to make their voice unique. If your antagonist is a situation rather than a person, attempt to personify it and give it an explanation for interfering with your protagonist. Add the introduction to your character database (if applicable.)
Wednesday, Oct. 05
Required: Freestyle Brainstorm ▼
Spend at least fifteen minutes writing whatever ideas come to you about your plot, characters and setting.
Bonus: Extended Brainstorm ▼
Add at least fifteen additional minutes to your freestyle brainstorming time.
Thursday, Oct. 06
Required: Outline Revision #1 ▼
Building on your Premise/Idea from Oct. 1, compose the first draft of your outline.
Options:
Using traditional outline format (Traditional Outline ): Define what happens at the beginning, climax, and the end.
Using Index Cards (Paper or Electronic): Define your beginning, climax, and end. As you build your outline throughout October, you can easily shuffle around plot elements.
The Snowflake Method : Write a provocative one-sentence description of your story. Example from Randy Ingermanson's Transgression : "A rogue physicist travels back in time to kill the apostle Paul."
*** SEE ALSO: Outlining Tools in the Writing Tools section at the bottom of this calendar.
Bonus: Chronological Timeline ▼
Friday, Oct. 07
Required: Cultural Setting ▼
Describe the cultural, political and/or religious setting in your novel. What do your societies believe? In what practices do they engage? What kind of government rules your world? What laws or rules of society are in place? Who enforces them? How successful is enforcement of laws and rules? How does this setting impact your protagonist?
Bonus: Research OR World Building ▼
Research: For reality-based fiction, research aspects of your novel that will lend credibility to your writing.
World Building: For fantasy, science fiction, or other speculative fiction, develop the history, geology, ecology, and/or maps for your world. Update your character, setting, and/or definitions databases with any new information (if applicable.)
Saturday, Oct. 08
Required: Contest Round 1: Protagonist Background Story ▼
Write a story about your protagonist that takes place outside of your novel. Make your readers relate to him or her in such a way that we would be devastated if he or she were to experience conflict (which, ultimately, sometime in November, he/she will.) The object of the contest is to make your judges root for your protagonist! Simply put: the character we like best wins. If your protagonist is an assassin or someone similarly "unlikeable," never fear! I love Vlad Taltos, the professional assassin . You can make us love your character, too. Add the background story to your character database (if applicable.)
*Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 09 to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of this IM Console . If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
Sunday, Oct. 09 Off/Freebie Day ▼ Take a break or catch up.
Monday, Oct. 10
Required: Minor #1 Profile ▼
Complete a character profile of any additional protagonist, antagonist, or minor character, whom we will call Minor #1. Add the profile to your character database (if applicable.)
Bonus: Minor #1 Voice OR Character Image Search ▼
Options:
1. Have your character introduce themselves to us in first person using their own voice. Brainstorm ways to make their voice unique. Add the introduction to your character database (if applicable.)
2. Use Google Image Search (or comparable) to find images of your character, as well as any other characters in your list. Add links to your character database (if applicable.) Pinterest boards and browser favorites folders are great places to store your character images.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Required: Minor #2 Profile ▼
Complete a character profile of any additional protagonist, antagonist, or minor character, whom we will call Minor #2. Add the profile to your character database (if applicable.)
Bonus: Minor #2 Voice OR Character Image Search ▼
Options:
1. Have your character introduce themselves to us in first person using their own voice. Brainstorm ways to make their voice unique. Add the introduction to your character database (if applicable.)
2. Use Google Image Search (or comparable) to find images of your character, as well as any other characters in your list. Add links to your character database (if applicable.)
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Required: Freestyle Brainstorm ▼
Spend at least fifteen minutes writing whatever ideas come to you about your plot, characters and setting.
Bonus: Extended Brainstorm ▼
Add at least fifteen additional minutes to your freestyle brainstorming time.
Thursday, Oct. 13
Required: Outline Revision #2 ▼
The second draft of your outline.
Options:
Using traditional outline format (Traditional Outline ): write your climax and several key conflicts/disasters.
The Snowflake Method : Expand your sentence to a paragraph. Include the beginning, conflicts/disasters, climax, and end.
*** NEED DISASTERS? See the Plot Twists generator at the bottom of the calendar.
Bonus: Literary Device: Chronology ▼
Brainstorm the best chronology(ies) for your story and work it(them) into your outline.
OPTIONS:
1. Linear Narrative - the story is told in the order the events occurred.
2. Non-Linear Narrative - the story is told out of order.
3. Reverse Chronology - the story is told backwards.
4. In medias res - the story starts in the middle, goes back to explain how it got there, catches up, and then resolves.
5. Flashback/forward - individual scene(s) that take place prior to or after the current action.
Note that the difference between these chronological devices can be minute. Read the examples below to see how most stories use more than one style of chronology. Your job is to plan the order in which you will tell your story to the reader. Don't get hung up in the nomenclature.
EXAMPLES:
Lord of the Rings is mostly linear. The events of the story are revealed to the reader as they unfold for the characters. Some flashbacks occur, such as when Gandalf tells the Fellowship how he defeated the balrog and what happened when he visited Saruman.
The hit TV drama "How to Get Away with Murder" begins in medias res, with a group of law school students burying a body. The rest of the story is generally non-linear because it routinely moves back and forth in time. The screen will display "3 months ago" on a series of scenes, and then flash back forward to the body-burying scene again, then move back in time to "2 months ago," using flashbacks to build the story for the viewer. Also, some scenes are repeated multiple times as flashbacks, often as visual-only scenes replaying while a character is explaining something to other characters or building a defense in the courtroom, but through careful camera angles or a few additional seconds of footage, the scene reveals more about the mystery than was obvious the first time the viewer saw that same scene. In this way, the show plants red herrings to fool the viewer and later prove their assumptions wrong.
The hit TV drama "The Walking Dead" is famous for beginning in medias res and then going back in time to explain how the characters got there. On an academic level, these opening scenes could also be construed as flash forwards because, much of the time, the scene at the beginning of each episode is not actually the climax, or the action in the middle of the story, but rather, it shows where the characters end up at the very end of the episode. In medias res is technically the middle, not the end.
One episode of "The X-Files" featured a character who woke up each morning to find that it was one day earlier than the previous day. On the "first" (last, for the character) day, he was on trial for murdering his wife. On the "second" (previous) day, he was meeting his attorney. The plot continued to move backwards in time until it reached the day of the murder, at which point, the protagonist had enough information to prevent the murder from occurring at all. This is an example of reverse chronology, a rare but effective tool for revealing mysteries.
Friday, Oct. 14
Required: Minor Character Background Story ▼
Write a background story about any character.
Bonus: Writing Time Calculation ▼
Use a stopwatch to time your writing speed while you write the Minor Character Background Story. If you don't have one, type "timer" into a Google search and click on the "STOPWATCH" tab. (If timing your writing gives you anxiety, hide the timer while you write. This is just to estimate how much time you need to set aside each day in November.)
Calculate how long it will take to write 1,667 words every day:
STEP 1:
Proceed with writing your story, and then note both the time it took to complete the story and your final word count.
STEP 2:
In a new Google search, type:
=1667/XXX*YY
(replace XXX with your word count and YY with your stopwatch minutes.)
The number Google gives is the number of minutes you will need each day in November to write 50,000 words by the end of the month.
Example: If you write 500 words in 15 minutes, type:
=1667/500*15
Google gives you 50.01. You will need a little more than 50 minutes each day.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Required: Contest Round 2: Antagonist Background Story ▼
Write a story about your antagonist that takes place outside of your novel. The object of the contest is to make your judges understand and empathize with the antagonist's motivations. If your antagonist is a situation rather than a person, write a background story about that. Add the background story to your character database (if applicable.)
*Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 16 to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of this IM Console . If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
Sunday, Oct. 16 Off/Freebie Day ▼Take a break or catch up.
Monday, Oct. 17
Required: Definitions List ▼
Generate a list of relevant definitions for which you'd like to keep track of details.
As an example, here is a possible list of definitions for the Harry Potter series:
* rules of magic
* the Ministry of Magic
* modes of transportation (apparition, Floo network, portkeys, flying, etc.)
* the four Houses at Hogwarts
* the sword of Gryffindor (note: this would also make a good plot background story)
Non-speculative examples requiring definitions:
* a fictional student organization to which your protagonist belongs
* the fictional company or division of the FBI for whom your protagonist works
* the disease afflicting your protagonist, which is a real condition that you need to research
* the antique artifact your protagonist intends to heist
In your definitions list, you'll flesh out details that you'll want to remember later for consistency. You won't have to dig through pages and pages of scribbled notes to find whatever you decided about these definitions - they will all be compiled into a neat list / binder / database / note cards / whatever your favorite form of organization happens to be.
Bonus: Definitions Database ▼
Compile your definitions list into a format that is easy to update (see "Character Database" assignment for ideas.) Keep your list handy for future updates throughout the Prep.
Tuesday, Oct. 18
Required: Object Description ▼
Describe, in detail, an object critical to your story. Add the object description to your definitions database (if applicable.)
Bonus: Research OR World Building ▼
Research: For reality-based fiction, research aspects of your novel that will lend credibility to your writing.
World Building: For fantasy, science fiction, or other speculative fiction, develop the history, geology, ecology, and/or maps for your world. Update your character, setting, and/or definitions databases with any new information (if applicable.)
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Required: Freestyle Brainstorm ▼
Spend at least fifteen minutes writing whatever ideas come to you about your plot, characters and setting.
Bonus: Extended Brainstorm ▼
Add at least fifteen additional minutes to your freestyle brainstorming time.
Thursday, Oct. 20
Required: Outline Revision #3 ▼
The third draft of your outline.
Options:
Using traditional outline format (Traditional Outline ): fill in some of the gaps and start developing subplots.
The Snowflake Method : Write a one-paragraph summary of each key character's personal storyline.
Bonus: Complications ▼
Brainstorm a list of complications that your protagonist could encounter throughout the story. Remember: the more hardships your main character faces, the more readers will cheer them on!
Friday, Oct. 21
Required: Protagonist Change ▼
Describe in detail how your protagonist has changed from the beginning of the story to the end. If you created a protagonist profile, devise before-and-after versions.
Bonus: Protagonist Interview ▼
You are a journalist. The story of your novel is complete. Interview your protagonist and ask the following questions:
1. How did the events of your story change you?
2. How is life for you now?
Saturday, Oct. 22
Required: Contest Round 3: Plot Background Story ▼
Write a story that sets up your plot. EXAMPLE: The Lord of the Rings story revolves around the One Ring, its significance, and how it's destroyed. But how did Frodo get the One Ring in the first place? We learn that in The Hobbit. You obviously can't write a full-scale novel in 15 minutes, but you could write the scene where Bilbo encounters Gollum and stumbles across the ring. That would be a background story that sets up the plot in Lord of the Rings.
*Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 23 to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of this IM Console . If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize per the standard Challenge guidelines.
Sunday, Oct. 23 Off/Freebie Day ▼ Take a break or catch up.
Monday, Oct. 24
Required: Market Definition ▼
Describe your target audience. Identify a demographic profile including gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, education, income level, marital status, location and other commonly evaluated data. Explain in detail what aspects of your novel will appeal to this particular audience and why. Please read this blog post to understand the importance of marketing, and why targeting "mass appeal" or "all readers" isn't good enough: "Building Your Brand"
Bonus: Query Letter OR Narrative Voice Synopsis ▼
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Required: Setting List ▼
Draft a list of your settings and write a brief description of each. NOTE: You will have opportunities to revise the list throughout October, so this revision is not expected to be fully accurate or complete.
Bonus: Setting Database ▼
Compile your setting list into a format that is easy to update, such as an electronic file (or collection of files) or a binder with room to grow. Keep your list handy for future updates throughout the Prep.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Required: Freestyle Brainstorm ▼
Spend at least fifteen minutes writing whatever ideas come to you about your plot, characters and setting.
Bonus: Extended Brainstorm ▼
Add at least fifteen additional minutes to your freestyle brainstorming time.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Required: Outline Revision #4 ▼
The fourth draft of your outline.
Using traditional outline format (Traditional Outline ): flesh out the logistics of how your protagonist gets from the beginning of the story to the climax of the story. Add more timeline details and consider plotting out scenes by chapter.
The Snowflake Method : Using your synopsis, list the scenes needed to create your novel. Each scene should include the POV character and the action.
Bonus: Literary Devices ▼
Select three literary devices from the list provided and work them into your outline.
OPTIONS:
Foreshadowing: Hints of something to come.
Chekhov's Gun: The gun on the wall in Scene 1 is eventually fired.
Repetitive Designation: An object or fact appears over and over.
Symbolism: Small facts, objects, or characterizations represent something bigger.
Self-fulfilling prophecy: Protagonist attempts to thwart prophecy but in attempting, fulfills it.
Poetic Justice: Good guys are rewarded and bad guys are punished.
Plot Twist: Surprises the reader with something unexpected.
False Protagonist: The protagonist dies or turns out to be something other than the protagonist.
Red Herring: A false trail diverts the reader's attention from what really happened.
Unreliable Narrator: The narrator has been misleading the reader all along.
Irony: The exact opposite of what the reader expects happens.
Reveal: A hidden connection between characters or facts is revealed in time.
Plot Device: Advances the plot forward, often pushing the main character past a hurdle.
Object of Power: Either the protagonist wants it, or the object drives the plot of its own accord.
MacGuffin: Something the protagonist wants for unknown and unimportant reasons.
Quibble: Following the letter of the law, contract, or agreement instead of its intent, changing the outcome.
Narrative Hook: Story opening that grab's the reader's attention.
Cliffhanger: Ending a scene, chapter or story in the middle of action, hooking the reader.
Ticking Clock Scenario: The threat of impending doom if the protagonist's objective is not met.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: A character speaks directly to the reader.
Or anything from this list: http://literary-devices.com/
Friday, Oct. 28
Required: Setting Description #1 ▼
Describe a setting in words. Use all five senses and make your reader experience the setting as if he or she were there. Add the setting to your setting database (if applicable.)
Bonus: Setting Drawing OR Settings Image Search ▼
Drawing: Get out your pencil (or Excel or Visio or Autocad if you're the nerdy type) and draw a physical sketch of your setting. This can be a map of a town, woods or valley, a layout of a room with furniture and walls, a floor plan of the castle, or any other physical setting. It doesn't matter if your art skills are lacking. Just get a feel for where obstacles and objects are in relation to one another.
Settings Image Search: Use Google Image Search (or comparable) to find images of your setting, as well as any other settings in your list. Add links to your settings database (if applicable.)
Saturday, Oct. 29
Required: Contest Round 4: Setting Description #2 ▼
Describe a setting in words. Use all five senses and make your reader experience the setting as if he or she were there. Add the description to your setting database (if applicable.)
*Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 30 to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of this IM Console . If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize per the standard Prep guidelines.
Sunday, Oct. 30 Off/Freebie Day ▼Take a break or catch up.
Monday, Oct. 31
Required: Idea/Premise Revision ▼
Now that you have spent a month planning your novel, revise your initial premise. Identify the following:
(1) Protagonist(s). Who is(are) your main character(s)?
(2) Goal(s). What do they want?
(3) Conflict. What is keeping them from their goal?
(4) Antagonist(s). Who(what) is creating the conflict?
(5) Theme: What is the theme or moral of the story? (If applicable.)
Bonus: Workspace Preparation AND/OR Procrastination List ▼
Workspace Prep: Plan out where you will work, what computer you will use, and what supplies you will need. Create a music playlist, if applicable.
Procrastination List: Write a list of all the things you tend to do to procrastinate and establish a writing schedule for the month of November.
Tuesday, Nov. 1 - NANOWRIMO BEGINS ▼
Start writing your novel!
WRITING TOOLS:
(Optional tools to help you complete the assignments. Click each for more info.)
BRAINSTORMING TOOLS AND PROMPTS ▼
SETTING TOOLS ▼
CHARACTER TOOLS ▼
PLOT GENERATORS ▼
OUTLINING TOOLS ▼
NANOWRIMO TOOLS ▼
The calendar accompanies:
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