Whether you’re planning to go to Camp NaNoWriMo with me, or you’re just looking for a simple guide to draft planning and revision planning, you’re in the right place! (I was tempted to say “write place”, but I held back. You’re welcome.)

Any creative knows that the first step of the creative process is inspiration. Without that initial spark of an idea, any creativity feels forced.

That being said, you don’t have to wait for inspiration to find you; you can go out and find it yourself.

This post is all about how to find and develop that spark of inspiration. If you’ve already written a draft and are looking to “rekindle the spark”, this post is for you too.

Each task or to-do in this post is split into two separate sections: one for drafters, and one for revisers. And at the end of the post, you can download the packing list that is relevant to you. So let’s get started!

The Idea.

What is your story about? Who are the characters? Where is it set? What happens throughout the story? What are the themes?

These are the big questions you need to ask when developing an idea for a novel.

Drafters: If you already have these basics figured out, nice! Take some time to write out your answers and start to flesh out the details a little bit. And if you haven’t figured these out yet, try some brainstorming exercises, or some writing worksheets like this one on idea generation from Eva Deverell.

Revisers: You should already have all of these questions figured out. Your job is to refresh your mind and remember why this idea stood out to you and why you loved it in the first place. Looking back through these questions, you might realize that your story is stronger in certain areas than in others. It’s important at this phase to take note of those things and start to think of ways to make them stronger. Check out this revision worksheet from my forthcoming Editor’s Planner, or this worksheet from Eva all about reconnecting with your story.

The Playlist & The Pinterest Storyboard.

Sometimes, you’ll sit down to write and the words won’t come. I’ve found that the best way to find the words is to stop thinking about your story as words. Think of it visually, audibly, emotionally. Having a playlist and Pinterest storyboard is a great way to get your mind to stop obsessing about words and reconnect with the heart of your story.

Drafters: Create a writing playlist and a Pinterest storyboard. I like to choose songs that have something to do with the characters, plot, setting, or theme, but sometimes the best songs are the ones that simply feel like you want your story to feel. A Pinterest storyboard can function in many different ways – you can think of each pin as a scene, character, event, setting, or theme, or you can simply collect images that remind you of your story. Whichever way you choose to go, having a visual resource will help you out tremendously in the writing process.

Revisers: If you didn’t create a playlist or storyboard before you started drafting, create them now! And if you did, go ahead and revise them. It’s like a practice run for revising your draft. Take out the songs that don’t fit anymore or the images that aren’t quite right. Through this process of refining, you’ll get an even clearer image of what it is your story is about and how to communicate that.

If you’ve never seen a Pinterest storyboard, check out mine here or this post that shares many examples.

The Research.

This step might be big task or a quick activity depending on how much research your story requires. Either way, getting it done before the drafting or revision process will help you stay focused on the actual writing when the time comes.

Drafters: Find and collect useful articles, images, facts, and stories that relate your idea. Some authors prefer to print everything out and keep it in a binder, while others use a program like Evernote to keep everything organized digitally. Whichever system you choose, be sure that you will have the information readily available and organized for quick access while writing.

Revisers: If you conducted research before drafting, go back through the research and scrap anything that’s no longer relevant. If you didn’t, think of any elements of your story that could benefit from research (i.e., setting, themes, character interests…) and go ahead and do it now.

The Packing Lists.

That’s it for week one campers! The key to preparing and planning is to give yourself time to do it. Spend a little bit of time everyday this week developing or refining your ideas and you’ll be ready for next Wednesday’s list.

Click on the image or link below to download & print Packing List #1!

Don’t forget that you can join the WBT Cabin – an exclusive Facebook Group just for readers of WBT participating in Camp NaNoWriMo! We’ll be sharing ideas, questions, encouragement, and accountability throughout March and April, so be sure to join in on the fun. Click the image below to sign up and gain access!

Let me know how your planning is going by tweeting me @haleympettit !

Until next week, campers.