Writing a story on a deadline can be stressful and feel like a monumental task, but it can also be fun and very rewarding. Even if you don't reach the 50,000 word count when NaNo ends, the words you do write will total more than zero, and you will have the seeds of a story on the page.

Many of you may be saying "This isn't for me, I'm not a plotter." We know many writers don't use outlines before they put pen to page, and we honor and celebrate every writer's creative methods. We are not here to make you conform to a set of rules. We are here to support you in your own creative process and help you make the most of your time as you work toward that Nov 30th deadline.

here in this chapter or on our BCM Discord server (link in bio) for chatting, prepping, and venting as we task our writing brains with the ultimate challenge.

For our writers who enjoy a good process, here are some tips for outlining a story:

This is the underlying idea for your story. A good way to find the premise is to ask yourself the question For example: What would happen if a young man who survives a shipwreck spent months in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger? (Life of Pi, 2001)

Here are a few more key questions to expand on the premise and generate new ideas: Who is the main protagonist? What do they want? Is there an opposing force keeping them from what they want? How do they change from the beginning of the story to the end?

Time and place can be just as important as the characters and are dependent on the type of story you're telling. Do as much research as you can. If your novel is set in the real world, find photos and descriptions to bring your ideas to life, even down to the details of how something might smell, taste, feel or sound.

Write character profiles. Visualize them. Pretend you're introducing them to your friends. What would you say about them? What details would you include, and what details would you omit—and why? What kind of journey will each character undertake in the novel? Where will they start, and where will they end up?

Write character backstories. Think of the moments in each character's life that led them to the point where they are introduced. What elements have shaped their personality? Do they have unresolved issues that are crucial to the plot?

Write down everything that happens in the story from beginning to end. Where do events take place, and who is involved. Include the outcome of events and how they will impact the story's overall plot, if you know this already. These can help form the foundation of additional subplots.

Once your plot outline is in place, you'll have a better idea of scene structure and where they should be placed. Flesh them out—everything from where the action takes place to who is involved, even dialogue if you know what you want your characters to say. Don't worry about things making sense, you'll go back later and highlight anything that feels out of place.

Once your outline is complete, you can start writing your first draft with the knowledge that if you falter, you will have notes to refer to.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE EXTRA TIPS!

📌 TIP: If you're in doubt about how to format your outline, you can use a such as Save the Cat or Romancing the Beat.

📌 For tips on , visit our 2022 Wattys Bootcamp book and look for the chapters with those workshops. These workshops are also still accessible on our Discord server.

📌 For tips on , visit our 2021 Wattys Bootcamp book and look for the chapters with those workshops.

📌 For tips on , , and , visit our 2020 Workshops book.