Handwriting and Planning Your NaNoWriMo Novel
Many people’s bucket lists have travel wish lists, daring opportunities, food to try, and people to meet. A common wish, though, that is much less impulsive but just as adventurous is to write a novel. Luckily, the opportunity to check this achievement off your list is coming very soon!
National Novel Writing Month, commonly known as NaNoWriMo, is an initiative that challenges authors to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. For you numbers people, that’s about 1,667 words a day! NaNoWriMo happens yearly in November, and there are a number of “Camp NaNoWriMo” events throughout the year, where you can set your own word count goal.
If you’re going to be using your pens and notebooks for so much writing, you’ll want to enjoy the experience! Pictured here are the YStudio Classic desk pen, 15ml Pilot Iroshizuku ink bottle, Apica CD11 notebook, and Life Noble notebook.
Whether you’re a planner or a pantster (someone who plans their novel meticulously or writes by the seat of their pants, respectively), it’s an exciting and nerve-racking experience to think of writing such a big piece of creative fiction in such a short amount of time.
Luckily, there are some ways to keep your creativity running all month long. If you’re written a novel before, you might already have a system of planning that works for you. For those just starting out into the world of creative writing but want to plan ahead, there are plenty of things that you can do to set your novel on the right foot come November 1.
Did you know that we have quite a few published writers that frequent Phidon? Many use fountain pens and notebooks to write their first and second drafts! In a digital world, this may seem completely foreign to anyone who uses a computer to write anything from emails to blogs.
What these authors often say, however, is that there is nothing creative about staring at a blank computer screen and watching each letter be typed out individually; writing by hand encourages creative thought because the words can appear, however messy, exactly as you imagine them in your head. There’s a personality that comes from writing that you might not get with a laptop.
Writing by hand also prevents you from editing your work as you go along. Remember, the first draft isn’t meant to be perfect, it’s just meant to be written! You’ll never finish if you keep editing instead of writing, and that’s what NaNoWriMo is all about. Even if you’re planning to write all of your drafts on a computer from the get-go, the creativity that handwriting provides can help you plan your novel starting today. Jotting ideas using a pen and paper can also help you mindmap plots, character backstories, and relationships. You can also use your planning notebook to make a vision board of your goals for when you get busy!
When planning your novel, it’s a good idea to have a notebook that you can take on the go. Pictured here are J. Herbin Perle Noire, the Kokuyo Idea notebook, and Graf von Faber Castell Classic in Pernambuco.
For long writing sessions, a fountain pen is an excellent option. Because fountain pens require no pressure to write, you can write for pages and pages without your hand starting to cramp. They’re easy and economical to refill when you’re looking for a smooth writing experience for the long haul. Besides, if you’re going to be writing that much, you’ll want to write with a pen that you enjoy using! Options like the Classic pens from YStudio, whether the desk version or the portable version, are heavy enough to easily control, but not heavy enough that it will be too heavy in your hand. Other good options for long writing sessions are the TWSBI Classic, Graf von Faber Castell Classic, and the Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen.
At the same time, a pen is only as smooth as its paper, and if you’re going to be using your notebook for something so important, you’ll want it to be both sturdy and fun to write in. If you’re looking to plan your novel, a thin notebook like the Kokuyo Idea Notebook is great to take on the go for whenever inspiration strikes. Since these slim notebooks come in a pack of two, you can even plan the sequel at the same time! Other options that are great for novel planning are the Leuchtturm1917 B6 softcover, Apica Basic notebooks, and Laika notebooks.
If you’re looking to write the first draft of your novel by hand, you’ll likely want something with more pages, like the Life Noble notebooks in A4. A larger notebook will give you lots of room to imagine without worry of running out of space. Other thick options with lots of pages are the Florentina notebooks, Nuuna notebooks, and the Clairefontaine Age Bag Clothbound notebook in A4.
Are you planning to take part in NaNoWriMo this year? Do you have any essential stationery items for your planning or novel-writing? Let us know in the comments, and good luck in your literary adventures!