Preptober: Part 2
In Part 1 of our Preptober guide, we talked about getting your story ready for November, finding a planning method that works for you, and building a writing habit before the month begins. Whether you're a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between, the goal is the same: give yourself a foundation to build on. We also covered the October Writing Challenge (there's still time to join!), setting aside time to write, and creating a space that makes showing up a little easier.
Now that you've started laying the groundwork, let's talk about setting realistic goals, handling those inevitable moments of doubt, and making sure you have the tools and support to keep going when November gets tough. Because preparing to write a novel isn't just about getting your story organized. It's about setting yourself up to finish what you start!
Decide What "Success" Means
Here's where we're going to break with some of the traditional November writing pressure.
Your goal doesn't have to be:
WRITE 50,000 WORDS OR YOU HAVE FAILED AS A WRITER.
(Your goal can be 50,000 words, if you want it to be.)
But it can also be:
25,000 words
10,000 words
One chapter a week
Writing five days a week
Finishing your first act
Establishing a daily writing habit
Finally getting the story out of your head and onto the page
The purpose of a writing challenge is to write.
Not to prove your worth.
Not to earn the title of "real author."
Not to make yourself miserable.
And definitely not to compare your word count with the person on Instagram who apparently wrote 8,000 words before breakfast.
You are building something and that takes time.
Prepare for the Inevitable Bad Writing Days
I say this with love. At some point, you will hate your book.
You will think your characters are boring. You will decide the premise was stupid.
You will become convinced that everyone else knows what they're doing except you.
Keep writing.
A first draft is not supposed to be polished. It's supposed to exist. You can fix a terrible chapter.You can't edit a blank page. So when November gets messy, remember: You are drafting. Not publishing. Yet. 😉
There will be plot holes. There will be awkward dialogue. There will be scenes that make absolutely no sense. There will probably be a character who mysteriously changes eye color halfway through the book. Aaaaand, that's okay. That's what revisions are for.
Make a "When I Get Stuck" List
Before November starts, create a list of things you can do when you don't know what to write next.
For example:
Write the next scene from another character's perspective.
Skip ahead to a scene you're excited about.
Write the argument you've been waiting for.
Introduce a problem.
Make something worse.
Ask what your protagonist wants right now.
Ask what your protagonist is afraid of.
Give your character a secret.
Write a terrible version of the scene and keep going.
Take a ten-minute walk and think about the problem.
Go back to your story's North Star.
Sometimes you don't need inspiration. You just need a way around the roadblock.
Feel free to steal this list or check out Pinterest from some inspo/writers block solutions!
Find Your People
Writing a novel can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be.
Find a friend who is also writing or join a writing group. Check your local library to see if they already have a group that meets or if you could start one!
Follow other writers online, participate in writing challenges.
Share your progress with others, send your writing buddy a text that says:
"I wrote 700 words today, so I am basically Tolstoy."
They will understand. 😂
Community can make the difference between giving up and showing up tomorrow. And that's one of the reasons challenges like the October Writing Challenge are so valuable. You're not just building a habit; you're doing it alongside other people who understand exactly why you're voluntarily making yourself suffer through fictional problems.
Give Yourself Permission to Change the Plan
Here's your official permission slip:
Your November novel is allowed to surprise you.
Maybe your outline says one thing and your characters decide to do something completely different. Let them.
Maybe your original villain becomes your favorite character. (guilty 🙋🏻♀️)
Maybe the romance becomes more important than you expected.
Maybe your 80,000-word epic fantasy turns into a 45,000-word novella.
Maybe the story you thought you were writing isn't actually the story you need to write.
That's okay.
Preparation gives you a foundation, it doesn't put your creativity in handcuffs.
And Finally: Don't Forget Why You're Writing
Before November begins, write this somewhere you'll see it:
Why am I writing this story?
Not: "Because I should."
Not: "Because everyone else is doing Novel Writing Month."
Not: "Because I need to prove I can."
Why does this story matter to you?
Maybe: it's the story you've wanted to tell since you were a kid.
Maybe: there's something you want your readers to feel.
Maybe: you have a character who won't leave you alone.
Maybe: you want to see your name on the cover of a book.
Maybe: you simply love stories and have one inside you.
Whatever the reason is, write it down.
Because when November gets hard, and it will, you'll need something more meaningful than a word-count tracker to remind you why you started.
Your Preptober Checklist
Before November 1st, try to have these things ready:
☐ Know what story you're writing
☐ Identify your main character
☐ Know the central conflict
☐ Establish your story's North Star
☐ Decide how much planning you actually need
☐ Choose your November writing goal
☐ Decide when and where you'll write
☐ Create a basic writing routine
☐ Gather your supplies and resources
☐ Make a "when I get stuck" list
☐ Find a writing buddy or community
☐ Participate in the October Writing Challenge
☐ Write down why this story matters to you
You don't have to check every box..
If all you have by November 1st is a character, a vague idea, and an unreasonable amount of enthusiasm, you can still begin.
Preptober isn't about perfectly preparing to write a novel.
It's about giving yourself the best possible chance of actually sitting down and writing it.
So make the playlist, buy the notebook, outline the first three chapters, write one ridiculous sentence, and figure out when you're going to write...
And then, when November arrives, show up.
Your first draft doesn't have to be brilliant.
It just has to begin.
Need help bringing your book to life? Meraki Press exists to serve first-time authors as they grow and launch their passion projects!
We offer complete packages or a la carte services for every step of drafting to publishing!
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