Understanding the Writing Marathon
NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) started out as a national program to motivate first-time novelists to write their book. Writers are challenged to write a 50.000-word novel in only 30 days, and if they achieve this goal, they “win” NaNoWriMo. Throughout the month, they share their word goals and progress on social media, and motivate each other to keep going.Â
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AcWriMo
This model has become such a success, that it has inspired many spin-offs and variations. The most interesting of these is AcWriMo, for academics. And what I really like about this is that it doesn’t have a specific word count: for AcWriMo you can set your own writing goals. I actually participated in AcWriMo in 2019 and I’ve never been as productive as I was then!Â
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ADHD pitfalls of the writing marathon
However, the reason why I could be so productive is that I spent a lot of time preparing for this month. Just like you would likely kill yourself if you ran a marathon without preparation, the high pressure and constant progress that NaNoWriMo and AcWriMo demand can be quite exhausting. What you need to survive is to prepare your body, brain and your tools; and a plan. Â
That’s especially important when you have ADHD: when we are tired, our symptoms get exacerbated. And you don’t want to waste the second half of the month on distractions and negative thought spirals, do you?Â
The Preptober ADHD advantage
To prepare for the November marathon, therefore, in writer’s circles, October is dubbed Preptober. That gives you an entire month to easily, step-by-step get everything in place for a successful November.Â
And you know what the cool thing is? Preptober always coincides with ADHD Awareness Month! Now, I’m sure that’s all a coincidence, but for my purposes it actually makes a lot of sense.Â
Though we are incredibly bad at it, and are notoriously blind to it, no one needs preparation more than an ADHD writer about to embark on a huge project.Â
We tend to get overwhelmed by big tasks, we don’t have the time horizons to oversee an entire month’s worth of goals, and when we get tired we are more easily distracted and lost in negative self-thought.Â
But all these problems, we can prepare for!Â
I can help you set an achievable goal, break it down into smaller tasks and mile stones, organize your schedule and writing environment to maximize productivity, and much more! That is what I designed the Preptober Productivity Program for Procrastinators for.Â
The Preptober Productivity Program for Procrastinators
Quick facts
- Oct 1 – Oct 31
- Online
- € 275 (appr. $ 275)
Included
- 1 60-minute intake session
- 4 1-hour coaching video calls
- 10% off on NaNoWriMo coaching (see below)
How this will help you
This program will help you remove your roadblocks and anticipate your challenges before November even starts! Instead of burning yourself out in the first week, being stressed and disappointed with yourself for 30 days straight, and dealing with constant distractions – you can have a productive and pleasurable NaNoWriMo or AcWriMo. By the end of 2023, then, you can actually have achieved your writing goals!Â
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Bonus: extra discounts
Together, we’ll put everything in place that you need for a productive November. But even though the foundations are there, that doesn’t mean I’ll no longer be available to coach you through the month itself. And then, of course, there’s the question of what to do with your writing once you’ve finished it!Â
So I have come up with a tiered system for you:Â
- If you participate in the Preptober Productivity Program, I’ll give you a 10% discount on the NaNoWriMo coaching program.Â
- If you participate in either the Preptober or NaNoWriMo program, you get a 10% discount on editing if you order in December.Â
- And if you participate in both the Preptober and NaNoWriMo program, you’ll get a 20% discount on editing if you order in December.Â
That means that if the text you want me to edit is over 20.000 words, you can pretty much get 8 weeks of coaching for free!
How to join
Enrolling in the program couldn’t be easier. Simply use the tool below to find a time slot that works for you, and enter your name and email address. And don’t forget to tell me that it’s the Preptober Productivity Program you’re interested in!Â
Once you’ve scheduled your meeting, all you have to do is show up and I’ll take care of everything else.Â
Final points on the Preptober Productivity Program
If you want to race towards your writing goals in November, it’s time to start planning now (even if October has already started). I know that you are a procrastinator, but preparing in advance is the only way to run the marathon without collapsing.
If you want to have a successful NaNoWriMo or AcWriMo, the Preptober Productivity Program can help you do it. Simply schedule a meeting using the tool above.Â
I’ll see you soon! Â