10 Ways Not to Prep for Nano

Everyone has been writing  these great posts about prepping for Nano, and I have been trying to follow them... Try being the key word here. Mostly I've been doing anything but prepping, I've been pretending to, I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I'm serious about this and I do plan on trying to reach my goal. It's just outlines have never worked for me ever, but I know they are kinda essential for Nano so I have a rough one.
I wrote Falling Snow off of a weird picture I formed in my mind of a circus carriage, so I've worked with far less.

I have a bunch of ideas and a semi established world. It's not enough for the complex world I want for Fool's Bet. I want the fae courts to make sense and the political games that are being played to be intriguing . I want the character motivations and arcs to all flow in a natural way. I want a lot of things basically, but you wouldn't be able to tell by my sad and empty notebooks.

So here are the things you shouldn't do to prep for Nano.

1. Get lost in the abyss that is Pinterest

This was the first thing I did when I started "prepping" basically I was just procrastinating and looking at pretty pictures. I have a nice aesthetic board for it, if that counts for anything. (All of these images are from Pinterest)

2. Waste hours and possibly days on YouTube

Originally I was looking for songs for my book and character playlists. Did I get distracted by Buzzfeed Unsolved, The Mind of Jake Paul Series, and Mykie's awesome Halloween makeup videos. Yes, of course I did. Don't worry guys I will be using Spotitfy for Nano so this doesn't happen.

3. Get a bunch of new books

While I agree that reading is important and part of writing. It's probably not the best idea to buy new books that will distract you during Nano, especially when you have like 500 still to read at home.

Anyone else do this... just me.
Great.

4. Waste time figuring out what your characters smell like

Does this one seem a bit specific and weird. Probably, um I was shopping the other day. I was buying a few things to reward myself with during Nano, I heard that's a good way to keep yourself writing. I found this amazing body wash and it's excatly what Cynfael would smell like. This could count as research I think.
For those of you who are curious.

5. Find a slew of new shows to watch

To be honest I already have started a million shows and I never seem to get around to finishing them, but fall is when they release some new ones. I always find myself getting distracted by new ones. I also watch a bunch of genres so I can always find something. I just wish I had more self control.

6. Crying face-down on the floor

This one might make you feel better but you won't accomplish anything 5/10
Probably will be doing it again.


7. Suddenly deciding to try to get my whole life together

To be honest this is probably just another form of procrastinating. Because suddenly needing to paint, draw, read, play instruments, and get in shape. Are all good things but right now they are just keeping me from outlining. I am pretending that I'm being productive.

8. Overcaffienating

This one just applies to my everyday life, but lately it's getting out of hand. I drink a lot of coffee, then I shake like a chihuahua. The shaking makes it hard to write stuff.

9. Sleeping too much or not at all

I can say from personal experience this is the worst. You will look and feel awful.

10. Writing a post like this

You probably knew this one was coming. Yes, I am procrastinating even more by writing this.
I will now try to do something that is mildy productive. We can do this!!!