NaNo with ME
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Em’s Outline Template
Click File > Make a Copy to save this outline to your own Drive.Author Pep Talks:
Feeling Stuck?
Here is a list of plot ideas to help you reach 50k and beyond! If choosing is difficult, let randomness decide.
Maim a character.
Have a character tell a lie.
Have a character fall on hard times financially.
Make a character sick.
An item a character loves goes missing.
A character encounters a horrible reminder of their past.
Mother Nature has a grand mal seizure.
A gift to a character is left by person(s) unknown.
A piece of clothing or equipment breaks… inconveniently.
A character has a run-in with the law.
Have a character die. (Natural causes or murder.)
A character commits an act of betrayal. *Gasp*
A socially disastrous rumor is spread about a character.
A character shares a drink with an unlikely person.
It’s party time! Give your characters something to celebrate.
A character is fired/demoted and/or hired/promoted. (Confused? My work here is done.)
A character is given a dire warning. *Spooky*
A character sleeps with someone they shouldn’t.
A character intentionally breaks a valuable object.
A character gets stuck overnight with someone they don’t like.
A character is deliberately or unintentionally poisoned.
A character’s like/love interest leaves for reasons with which the character does not agree.
A character must choose between doing the right thing or benefiting socially/financially.
There is a rumor of a vicious animal attack.
A character is bullied.
A character has a falling out with a friend or family member.
A character struggles with an addiction or obsession.
A character gets married.
A character steals information.
A character takes an outspoken stance on a divisive social issue.
Characters experience prolonged drought/cold or extremely hot/wet weather.
A character is caught with contraband. (Oh no!)
A character gets drunk, like marinated until pruney.
A relationship comes to an end. Think both waterworks and/or fireworks.
A character becomes pregnant or a character is born.
A character makes a sacrifice. (Food, money, another character.)
A piece of technology (campfire to computer) that is supposed to make life easier doesn’t.
A character endures a mental breakdown. 😀
A character gets punched.
A villain voluntarily performs a classically ‘good’ act. (Evil motives are acceptable.)
A hero chooses the stereotypical ‘bad’ option. (Good motives are acceptable, I guess.)
A character makes amends.
A character is stalked or a character stalks someone.
A character experiences culture shock.
A character is given incorrect directions and is lost for spell.
A character makes a bad financial decision and loses all their money.
A character loses a sense. (Sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, or a 6th one.)
Characters play a game that becomes too personal for those playing.
Have a character start choking uncontrollably during an important conversation.
A character tells a secret.
A character visits a historic site and finds an artifact.
A character goes missing and possibly reappears later at an inopportune time.
A character has a bad date… There’s a smell.
A character can’t breath. (Bee sting? Asthma?)
A character shows off a new purchase.
A character, who can’t swim, is pushed into the water.
Food spills onto a character’s lap.
A character receives mail from someone who has died.
A character has a run in with a famous/infamous person.
Two characters who do not like each other are discovered kissing.
A character throws something in anger.
A character find an image of their parent with a stranger, and they look mighty friendly.
Sudden flood. Water everywhere.
Two characters argue and reopen old wounds.
A character over reacts to some mild news.
A character visits a natural wonder (Canyon? Waterfall?) and someone has a near death experience.
Characters hear music in the distance… or do they?
A character self-consciously fidgets with something they are wearing or carrying.
A character hits their funny bone doing something not funny. (Tears of laughter or pain, your call.)
A character remembers their childhood when they see a candle atop a dessert.
A character eats the last of the food or drinks the last of the water.
A character becomes financially obligated to another character.
A character redecorates and is judged harshly for it.
A character makes a persuasive speech that has unintended, problematic consequences.
A character offers some homemade spirits that taste… off. Is it supposed to burn that much?
A character tries to comfort someone who is crying and makes the crying worse.
A character can’t sleep because someone or something is making a racket.
A character falls asleep when someone is talking to them. Maybe there’s snoring or drooling.
A character suspects a loved one of bad behavior.
A character is asked to keep a secret.
A character visits a graveyard/cemetery.
A character tries to prepare an important meal when things go awry.
Characters plan an event of personal/social significance.
A character tries to impress someone they fancy.
A character shows up to a birthday party with no present, causing whispers.
A character discovers an uncomfortable truth about their heritage.
A character adopts an animal/plant as a pet or an animal/plant adopts a human as a pet.
A character is deliberately or unintentionally abducted.
A character gets kicked repeatedly for no obvious reason.
A dense fog surrounds the characters and they must navigate through it.
A character is caught in the rain (which can be acidic).
A character has something stolen (or maybe it’s misplaced) that they need to survive.
A character obviously has romantic feelings for someone who doesn’t reciprocate.
A character sees something about them written on a wall, carved in a tree, or etched into a stone tablet.
A character follows another character around and copies what they do.
A character receives help from someone they don’t know (and maybe wouldn’t like if they did know).
A character comes home, finally.
A character tries to play an instrument in public for the first time.
A character falls down (hill, flight of stairs) on their face in front of someone important to them.
Make a character using the NaNoWriMo name (Mr Ian Woon and others). Make them a writer, journalist, or some other kind of word enthusiast.
What is NaNo?
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual writing challenge that takes place every November. The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. In April and July, there are Camp NaNos where participants (i.e., WriMos) can adjust the word amount they wish to write for the month. The purpose of these challenges is, in part, to help writers move past self-editing and turn their focus to actually writing (i.e., getting words on the page).
Our Rules
We are following the “traditional” NaNo rules, but many writers may set different challenges for themselves and that’s okay.
Do not begin writing until NaNo begins. Planning/outlining is okay.
Write 50,000 words of a novel, completed before 11:59 pm on November 30.
For Camp NaNo, choose a word count goal and complete it by the end of the month (April and/or July). You can also choose to edit a previous project during Camp NaNo.
Em's Goals
Write 50,000 words of current project.
Share resources and experiences to give back to the NaNo community.