As you plan for NaNo, be thinking about your writing schedule this November. There are many different ways to figure out your work flow and schedule. In the free Preptober BFF Planner, I have two pages laid out where you can chart realistic times to write. You can also figure this out on a monthly calendar.

Whether in Step 5 in my planner or a calendar, you’ll be able to fill in the chart with your weekly activities. That will enable you to realistically see what time you have available to write. 

After that, I took it a step further. I looked at my writing patterns to decide what is realistic to write 50,000 words in one month.

Here is my sample writing pattern:

• My min. word count when I write is 2,500 words
• Sometimes I need 1 day off to plan. It helps me generate ideas and energy for a scene or chapter

Therefore, to complete 50,000 words in one month based upon my writing patterns, I will be successful if I write 20 days out of 30 (20 days x 2,500 words = 50,000 words).  That leaves me 10 days to think about story, character development, etc. Some days I will write more than 2,500 words. Those extra words will be a bonus.

What about your writing patterns?

If you like to write every day, NaNoWriMo states that you can write 1,667 words each day and reach your 50,000 word goal.

Your available time and writing habits may be different than the above samples. What is important is to think about what you need. Break down the facts of how you write, when you can write, and what you need to succeed.

You may have time to write in the morning, an hour at lunch and two hours after dinner. Some of you may have all day to write. You may have one day per week to write. Your writing schedule is individual. It’s based upon your needs and patterns.

Planning your schedule ahead of time can help you figure out your best course of action. A timeline can help you achieve your goal!