22 October 2024

Preptober for the Author Who Wants to Write Everything

Rhiannon D. Elton

It is the curse of most authors (specifically fiction authors) that they are struck with inspiration and a drive to write the stories they want to write everything. Most of them, if given a good goal, could write anything. But when it comes to planning and getting things actually done, few authors know this better than me: that although you want to write everything, you must start with something. And that something is a choice.

Focus To-Do Timer & The Pomodoro Technique

One of the most effective techniques for staying productive without burning out is the Pomodoro Technique. Work in 25-minute sprints with a 5-minute break afterward. If you find that breaking your flow is detrimental, try adjusting the interval to 40 minutes. The short breaks give you time to reset without losing momentum, making you far more productive over time.

I recommend giving this a try for one week to see if it works for you. Trust me—25-minute sprints might be all you need to get into a productive rhythm. You can even put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign, get your coffee ready, and disconnect from the world for those 25 minutes. Your writing demons deserve full attention!

Goal Setting: Get to Your WIP Word Count and THEN Play

NaNoWriMo sets the challenge of writing 50,000 words in a month—1,666 words per day. While that may sound daunting, especially if life throws curveballs, breaking it down into daily goals makes it manageable. After reaching your word count goal, reward yourself by playing with your other ideas or taking a creative break.

The most important thing is to remember that writing fiction is a gift—both for you and your readers. Whether you’re writing to escape into a magical world, heal an inner wound, or connect with others, the process itself is deeply rewarding. Start with a feeling goal: What feeling do you want your readers to experience? That feeling will guide you to your genre, your word count, and your deadline.

The best-laid plans may go astray, but planning itself gives you direction. Block out your time each day, ideally in the early morning when interruptions are minimal. Use dictation, find your focus, and most importantly, keep writing!

Closing Thoughts

You’re about to embark on a month of relentless writing, exploration, and growth. It may be daunting, but with the right tools and mindset, you’ll achieve more than you expect. Keep your goals realistic, your writing fun, and remember—this is your creative journey. Even if you don’t hit 50,000 words, the fact that you’re showing up every day is monumental.

So, here’s to an incredible NaNoWriMo! Let me know what you’re working on and share your progress in the comments below. I’m cheering for you every step of the way.

Happy writing, and may your words flow as freely as your imagination!

Prepare before NaNoWriMo

The lead-up to NaNoWriMo in October can sometimes feel more stressful than November itself. In November, your only job is to write, but without a plan in place, which becomes much harder. If you’re scattered, even after choosing your priority story, it’s easy to get distracted by other projects that tug at your heartstrings. That’s why you need tools to stay on track.

Coloured Notepads and Digital Sticky Notes

I’m one of those people who thrives on colourful stationery—sticky notes, notebooks, and even washi tape. Writing things down on paper makes me feel more organised and accomplished, even if they’re small tasks. I also keep digital sticky notes on my computer for quick thoughts and ideas, which helps keep me from getting overwhelmed by digital distractions.

Make sure you designate a special place for ideas about your secondary stories when they pop up, whether it’s a notebook, a specific-coloured sticky note, or a digital folder. This way, you’ll avoid the golden shackles of your main work in progress while continuing to make progress on other stories.

Tools for Scattered Writers

We may have made our list, and we may have decided on which project we need to focus on for writing and preparing throughout October, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to maintain an iron focus the whole time. If you’re anything like me, with a touch of ADHD or simply a scatterbrained tendency, you’ll need a few tools to keep yourself on track, make the most progress, and avoid beating yourself up at the end of the month for not hitting all your goals.

Tools for Preptober

Before we dive into goals, let’s first look at the tools that will help you with planning and staying on course. Once you’ve got these ready, the writing heights of NaNoWriMo will feel more within reach.

Dictate the Brain Thoughts Down

One of my favourite tools for capturing the chaotic storm of thoughts is dictation. In fact, this entire blog post was dictated into Microsoft Word, which is one of the few subscriptions I allow in my life. It does a decent job of understanding my Australian accent across both computer and phone, so I can transfer text between documents. Dictation allows me to focus purely on getting the words out rather than perfecting them as I go.

For instance, with this blog post, I dictated over 8,000 words in two days, carefully planning and refining as I went. If I was just throwing ideas onto a page, I could easily hit 20,000 words in a day. While dictation takes practice, I cannot recommend it enough to authors to capture fleeting ideas without being bogged down by the mechanics of typing.

Dragon Dictation is another favorited tool among prolific authors I know, some of whom swear by its accuracy. It’s how they manage to churn out 10,000 words a day. If you have other dictation software that works well for you, drop it in the comments below. And no, I’m not a fan of subscriptions unless they offer lifetime membership. If I only must pay once, you’ve got my love.

The Novel Factory

The Novel Factory is one of my longest-loved tools for organising thoughts and stories, and I’ve stuck with them since I started writing professionally. It was the first program I found that let me write with a story structure in mind, and I credit it for helping me finish my first books. The team behind it, based in the UK, are constantly evolving the platform. It’s a tight-knit team, and Katja, who runs it, genuinely cares for the community.

This program helps keep your notes in one place, track where you're at, and fix plot holes using their step-and-expand method. It’s invaluable during NaNoWriMo, especially when your ideas start to meander. If you want to try out The Novel Factory, I've got a special code for you.

Journal

Writer's block or a scattered brain during Preptober? Journaling can be a lifesaver. I use freeform journaling to dump all the "gunk" out of my head, reduce anxiety, and clear space for creativity. There’s something about handwriting that has a special connection with the brain. It allows your mind to offload worries and reset itself.

You don’t have to read it back or show it to anyone—it’s pure garbage. It’s a way to declutter your thoughts so you can focus on what matters: your stories. I recommend journaling daily, even if it’s just for three pages. The practice will free your mind to write the gold.

4thewords.com

For those of you who love a good game, 4thewords.com gamifies the writing process. It’s a whimsical, fun platform where every word you write helps defeat adorable monsters, pushing you to hit word count goals or timed challenges. You can even write with friends to battle larger creatures. While I lost my writing streak after falling sick in July, this platform is incredibly motivating.

It’s not perfect for organising your work, which is why I stick with The Novel Factory, but it’s a delightful way to boost your word count and stay accountable. Your first month is free, and you can continue your subscription with in-game currency.

Step Four: How Much Does It Delight Me?

It always surprises me to find that some authors don’t enjoy every part of the writing process. But if I’m being honest, I don’t find equal joy in each step either. I get the most joy from planning and finishing the story, rather than writing and maintaining it. But what does each of these stages truly mean?

As you already know, I’m an author who loves a bit of math. I break down my stories into quantifiable areas because it helps me organise my thoughts and my process. Joy can be analysed too, and this helps me understand what really drives me to pursue certain projects. I find this more important than the deadlines or rewards—what calls to your heart speaks volumes about your soul as a writer.

So, let’s put numbers to the joy I get from each part of writing, and see which books my heart wants to pursue, now that we’ve organised them logically.

Joy from the Planning

Planning is one of the most liberating and exciting parts of writing. I hate to admit it, but as a perpetual planner, I don’t entirely trust pantsers. Sure, sometimes inspiration strikes out of nowhere, and you’re forced to run with it without knowing where it will lead. But that can’t be my default for building books. I say this with humour, as I know there are plenty of authors who thrive this way. However, for me, planning is pure play. It’s how I get the garbage out of my head and prepare to write the planned gold.

For planning, here’s how I rank my joy:

Wolflock Cases: 10/10 – The more I plan this series, the freer I am to write it. Mysteries, especially, demand meticulous planning to avoid getting stuck in messy rewrites.
Regency Romance Series: 10/10 – The intricacy of weaving six books together delights me.
Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 7/10 – Nonfiction is harder to plan because I tend to wander off on tangents. I don’t get as much joy from this.
Erotica Stories: 4/10 – These are quick and fun but planning them doesn’t excite me as much.

Joy from the Writing

Writing itself brings a different type of joy—it’s freedom. Within the guidelines of a plan, I get to see what the story means as I write. Sometimes, unexpected characters pop up, or a random idea sneak in that wasn’t in the original plan, but it fits perfectly. Writing is like flying. The world around me disappears, and anything that pulls me back to reality feels criminal.

For writing joy, here’s the breakdown:

Wolflock Cases: 8/10 – Once planned, writing these is exhilarating because I know exactly where I’m headed.
Regency Romance Series: 8/10 – The romance genre flows easily for me, making the process enjoyable.
Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 5/10 – Writing nonfiction is more structured, and I often stray from the main idea, reducing the joy I get from the actual writing.
Erotica Stories: 8/10 – These are quick and fun to write, and I love diving into their cheeky, playful tone.

Joy from Finishing

Finishing a story brings a sense of relief and accomplishment. That moment when you come to the end of the first draft or the final edit—that’s when you feel the weight lift. It’s like you’ve appeased your daemon, and a new creation has been born into the world. The excitement of what comes next is palpable, but sometimes the length of the process dulls the joy.

Here’s how I feel about finishing each of these projects:

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 6/10 – Finishing this will feel like a new beginning because it leads to courses and expansions. It’s satisfying, but daunting.
Wolflock Cases: 10/10 – Finishing one of these feels magical. I’m reconnecting with characters and a world that feels like home to me.
Regency Romance Series: 7/10 – Once the first book is finished, it will feel like the beginning of a major project. Finishing all six will be a significant accomplishment.
Erotica Stories: 4/10 – These are quick to finish, but since they’re not heavily edited yet, I hesitate to publish them, which takes away some of the joy.

Joy from the Maintaining

The last step is maintaining your stories—keeping them alive and in the public eye. This includes things like social media, marketing, fixing any errors that readers point out, and adjusting when needed. My Favorite part is the marketing, especially as I get more aesthetic-minded with age. Watching my work grow and thrive feels like parenting—nurturing something I’ve given life to.

Here’s how I rank the joy from maintaining each project:

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 6/10 – I love helping other authors find their passion for the business, but the maintenance side feels more like work.
Wolflock Cases: 9/10 – I adore every aspect of maintaining this series, though I often put it off as a reward after tackling tougher tasks.
Regency Romance Series: 6/10 – I’ll love maintaining this, especially with its stunning aesthetic and related activities, but I feel blocked from starting until everything is perfectly set up.
Erotica Stories: 7/10 – Maintaining these will be fun and cheeky, offering a sense of playful freedom I don’t get in my other projects. It’s simple, but enjoyable.

Now that we’ve seen how much joy these books bring me, we can see that Wolflock Cases comes out on top, followed closely by the Regency Romance Series. The Fiction Author’s Guidebook feels like a significant commitment but brings less joy in the writing process, and the Erotica Stories—while fun—are more of a side project for quick satisfaction.

This gives me a clear sense of which books should be prioritised based not only on deadlines and effort but also on the joy they bring.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook
- Planning: 7/10
- Writing: 5/10
- Finishing: 6/10
- Maintaining: 6/10
- Average Joy Score: (7 + 5 + 6 + 6) / 4 = 6/10
Wolflock Cases
- Planning: 10/10
- Writing: 8/10
- Finishing: 10/10
- Maintaining: 9/10
- Average Joy Score: (10 + 8 + 10 + 9) / 4 = 9.25/10
Regency Romance Series
- Planning: 10/10
- Writing: 8/10
- Finishing: 7/10
- Maintaining: 6/10
- Average Joy Score: (10 + 8 + 7 + 6) / 4 = 7.75/10
Erotica Stories
- Planning: 4/10
- Writing: 8/10
- Finishing: 4/10
- Maintaining: 7/10
- Average Joy Score: (4 + 8 + 4 + 7) / 4 = 5.75/10

These average scores give us a clear perspective on which projects bring me the most overall joy. The Wolflock Cases leads with an impressive 9.25/10, followed by the Regency Romance Series at 7.75/10. The Fiction Author’s Guidebook has a moderate score of 6/10, while the Erotica Stories come in last with 5.75/10.

Step 3: Expected Rewards

As someone who is a chronic over-estimator of the benefits I'll receive when finishing a task, I’ve learned that many people can’t even make it to that stage. Thank goodness you aren’t burdened with my curse! Knowing how much payoff you’ll get at the end of your book can make the process even sweeter. But if you've never finished a book before, how can you possibly know what the rewards will be? There are many potential rewards:

Money (if you have a platform set up and a concept intriguing to your niche)
Recognition from peers, audience, friends, or even family
Awards (you can nominate yourself, by the way!)

As a self-motivation fiend, I love a good bit of Tony Robbin and a lot of the benefits of writing a book fall under his six human needs.

Certainty: Financial security, comfort, a roof over your head.
Uncertainty/Variety: The sense of novelty and excitement.
Connection: Feeling appreciated and understood by your community (family, friends, audience).
Significance: Awards, recognition, or accolades (especially for those seeking traditional publishing or film adaptations).
Growth: Accomplishing something new and improving as a writer.
Contribution: Making a meaningful difference in your community through your writing.

What they don’t tell you is that none of these rewards come without effort. As a self-published author, all these things come from me doing them directly, meaning I have control over them. I can also track them better than if I were traditionally published.

Because I am in control of these things let's have a look and see what my expectations are for the general rewards of each of these books give them a score out of 10 and see if that changes their position for my Preptober choices.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career

Certainty: Nonfiction sells better than fiction. Writing this book, and later producing online courses from it, will secure my income and bills easily. 8/10. It’s not 10/10 because the auxiliary components of this book will take additional work to be successful.
Variety: I haven’t written nonfiction like this since I began my career, so it feels new and fun. 7/10. It’s not a 10 because it feels more like business than pure fun.
Connection: Many authors have been asking me to write this book for years. Even before it’s published, it’s deepening my connection with the writing community. 9/10. It’s not a 10 because the conversations will mostly be about business rather than the craft of writing.
Significance: No one has done business for fiction authors quite like this. It’s already connecting me to influential people in the Australian literary scene and has potential for global impact. 10/10.
Growth: Releasing this book will help me grow exponentially as I refine the process with feedback from a vast number of authors. 10/10.
Contribution: I hope this book will reshape how fiction authors think about their careers, helping them build their own "wizard towers" and thrive in their communities. 10/10.

Average Score: 9/10

The Wolflock Cases

Certainty: There’s always uncertainty with fiction, but I know through Patreon and my existing audience that I can expect consistent sales. 7/10.
Variety: The growth of characters and new settings, alongside exploring magic systems, adds a lot of variety. 10/10.
Connection: Though the Wolflock reader base may not be as large as some of my other projects, the connection I feel with my readers is profound and special. 9/10. It’s not a 10 because I still get nervous about critiques.
Significance: Being a fiction author can make you feel both highly regarded and easily dismissed, depending on who you talk to. For me, the Wolflock books don’t carry the weight of winning awards, but I do aim to provide comfort and magic to readers. 7/10.
Growth: Every time I publish another book in this series, I grow as an author, and I aim to create a world that provides the kind of magic readers can carry with them. 8/10.
Contribution: I donate books to local libraries, give away the first book for free, and frequently donate books to charity. However, writing fiction can often feel like a selfish endeavour, even though it touches readers' souls. 7/10.

Average Score: 8/10

Fantasy Erotica Stories

Certainty: These stories would be published under a new pen name in a genre I’ve helped others succeed in but haven’t explored for myself yet. 6/10.
Variety: Writing quick, fun, sexy stories is always entertaining, but after a while, it becomes harder to innovate in such a formulaic genre. 7/10.
Connection: I don’t want to deeply connect with readers of these books. I prefer to remain anonymous, so this feels more like providing a service than creating art. 4/10.
Significance: The significance here comes from sales rather than accolades, and while the reviews will provide fleeting joy, they won’t carry lasting weight. 5/10.
Growth: Although I’ve written plenty of erotica in the past, there’s only so much room to grow in this genre. It’s about proving to myself that I can succeed with minimal effort. 5/10.
Contribution: In such a saturated market, I don’t expect to make a huge impact. But any lessons learned can be funnelled back into the literary community. 3/10.

Average Score: 5/10

Fantasy Regency Romance Series

Certainty: With the continued popularity of Bridgerton and the rise of fae romance, there’s a strong chance this series would be successful. 8/10.
Variety: Romance allows for incredible variety and storytelling. I’m excited to pursue the different facets of this genre. 10/10.
Connection: Romance authors and readers are some of the most genuine people I’ve met, and I look forward to becoming part of this community. 8/10.
Significance: While this genre is already saturated, there’s an opportunity to put my unique spin on it. However, I’m not expecting to be a trendsetter yet. 7/10.
Growth: Entering a new genre means steep growth but maintaining that pace while juggling other projects may be challenging. 7/10.
Contribution: Much like writing erotica, it’s hard to gauge the impact beyond reviews, but I aim to lay out a path for future romance authors. 6/10.

Average Score: 7/10

After doing these evaluations, it’s clear the bottom two projects have swapped places, but the top two remain firmly in place. The evaluations also help put the expectations for each project into perspective.

Knowing both traditionally published authors and self-published authors, I’d always choose the self-published route. Running your author career like a business means I’m responsible for my own success. I can trust myself, and I know my own pitfalls well enough to adjust accordingly.

It means I must spin a lot of plates and juggle a lot of tasks at the same time. But because of that, I know exactly where everything is—what I’ve nominated for, what message I’m putting out to my readers, and so on. Even if things get inconsistent when I’m burnt out (like I was last year), my readers still know they can expect intrigue, riddles, and fun from me, with just a touch of magic added to their day.

I don’t think I’d get that same control from being traditionally published. I’ve seen successful authors slowly lose momentum because their publisher offers smaller and smaller advances with each subsequent book. I’ve also seen traditionally published authors get stuck when their publisher won’t provide them with books to sell at markets, expos, or conventions, or when they aren’t allowed to change an ineffective cover. Publishers often keep authors in the dark about processes the author might want—or need—to know.

I’m sure traditional publishing is perfect for some people, and that’s fine! But as for me, I could never let someone else control my fate the way publishers control my friends. For me, it would take the joy out of the process entirely.

Step Two: How Much Effort Will It Take?

The often-dreaded question, “How long will it take?” can be broken down into two parts: how long you want your story to be and how much effort it will take to write it.

First, think about your word count. If you don’t know how long your story should be, look at books in your genre or similar ones. Consider the age group you’re writing for; if you’re unsure, it’s probably people around your own age. And please don’t say your book is for everyone, because it’s not!

Now, back to effort. We’re going to calculate how much effort it will take based on your word count, how easy the writing feels, and how much time you’ve given yourself. You can estimate the effort using the following formula:

Effort = (Word Count ÷ 1,000) + (Ease of Writing × 2) − (Time to Write × 5)

Let’s break this down:

Word Count: The total number of words you expect to write, divided by 1,000.
Ease of Writing: How hard the story feels to write on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "very easy" and 10 being "extremely challenging." Multiply this by 2 to factor in the difficulty.
Time to Write: The amount of time you've allotted to write the story in months, multiplied by 5. This figure gets subtracted because the more time you have, the less pressure you’ll feel, reducing the overall effort required.

For example, I know that a Wolflock Cases book is between 30,000 and 50,000 words—nice and short because it’s aimed at people who prefer quick reads. The entire 10-book collection is structured like a single long mystery, with each book contributing to a larger mystery arc that only resolves at the end of the tenth book.

Using this formula, I can estimate how much effort it’ll take to write the next Wolflock Cases book based on its word count, how challenging I find the writing, and the time I’ve set aside to complete it.

I’m aware that many authors are terrified of math. Some of us enjoy looking at timelines; others enjoy tallying up betrayals and illegitimate children in novels. But trust me—during Preptober, when you don’t know which book to focus on, this formula helps so much. It can also let you know if you haven’t given yourself enough time or if you’ve set too large a word count to enjoy the writing process. It also reveals how easy you think certain books are to write.

Here’s a breakdown of common types of books and their effort scores:

Novella Example (20,000 words, Easy, 1 month):

Word Count = 20,000
Ease = 3 (Fairly Easy)
Time = 1 monthSteps:
Word Count part: 20,000 ÷ 1,000 = 20
Ease part: 3 × 2 = 6
Time part: 1 × 5 = 5 (subtract)Effort Score: 21

Average Novel Example (70,000 words, Moderate Difficulty, 6 months):

Word Count = 70,000
Ease = 5 (Moderate Difficulty)
Time = 6 monthsSteps:
Word Count part: 70,000 ÷ 1,000 = 70
Ease part: 5 × 2 = 10
Time part: 6 × 5 = 30 (subtract)Effort Score: 50

Short Story Collection (30,000 words, Challenging, 3 months):

Word Count = 30,000
Ease = 8 (Quite Difficult)
Time = 3 monthsSteps:
Word Count part: 30,000 ÷ 1,000 = 30
Ease part: 8 × 2 = 16
Time part: 3 × 5 = 15 (subtract)Effort Score: 31

"Doorstopper" Epic (150,000 words, Very Difficult, 12 months):

Word Count = 150,000
Ease = 9 (Very Difficult)
Time = 12 monthsSteps:
Word Count part: 150,000 ÷ 1,000 = 150
Ease part: 9 × 2 = 18
Time part: 12 × 5 = 60 (subtract)Effort Score: 108

Flash Fiction Collection (10,000 words, Very Easy, 0.5 month):

Word Count = 10,000
Ease = 2 (Very Easy)
Time = 0.5 monthSteps:
Word Count part: 10,000 ÷ 1,000 = 10
Ease part: 2 × 2 = 4
Time part: 0.5 × 5 = 2.5 (subtract)Effort Score: 12

The formula works across all types of books, scaling for anything you’d want to write.

So, what are the equations for my four NaNoWriMo and Preptober options? Let’s break them down:

Fiction Author's Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career

Word Count: 75,000
Ease: 4 (Slightly Challenging)
Time: 2 monthsEffort = 75 + 8 - 10 = 73

The Wolflock Cases

Word Count: 50,000
Ease: 6 (Challenging)
Time: 4.5 monthsEffort = 50 + 12 - 22.5 = 39.5

Fantasy Regency Romance Series

Word Count: 80,000
Ease: 5 (Moderately Challenging)
Time: 4 monthsEffort = 80 + 10 - 20 = 70

Fantasy Erotica Short Stories

Word Count: 25,000
Ease: 2 (Fairly Easy)
Time: 0.5 monthsEffort = 25 + 4 - 2.5 = 26.5

This rearranged my writing priority list a little and solidified the top two for me:

January 2025 (Effort 73): Fiction Author's Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career
Ten books finished by December 2028 (Effort 39.5): The Wolflock Cases
- Book 1: January 1, 2025 – mid-May 2025
No time frame (Effort 26.5): Fantasy erotica stories
Mid 2026 (Effort 70): Fantasy Regency Romance Series

Step One: Choose What You Want to Work on in Order of Priority

When inspiration strikes and demands that you write, you can't ignore it—no author can. The more you try to squash it down, the more you lose inspiration for what you're working on. So, to avoid this trap of locking yourself in and tormenting yourself, you need to choose all the things you want to work on and make a list. For me, that list consists of:

My nonfiction Fiction Author’s Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career
My short fantasy erotica stories
My six-book fantasy Regency romance series
The next 10 books in the Wolflock Cases (The Mystentine Academy Mysteries)

To organise these in priority, I do several things and give each one a major score:

1. Deadline

The biggest factor is which projects have an actual date they need to be completed by. Sometimes this can be an event (like GenreCon, held in February), fulfilling a grant contract (like when I was finishing the last four Wolflock Cases books), or even a self-imposed deadline (which can sometimes be the hardest to keep). My list from there is newly arranged to look like this:

January 2025: Fiction Author’s Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career
Ten books finished by December 2028: The Wolflock Cases
a. Book 1: January 1, 2025 – mid-May 2025 (about 4.5 months)
b. Book 2: mid-May 2025 – early October 2025 (about 4.5 months)
c. Book 3: early October 2025 – late February 2026 (about 4.5 months)
d. Book 4: late February 2026 – mid-July 2026 (about 4.5 months)
e. Book 5: mid-July 2026 – late November 2026 (about 4.5 months)
f. Book 6: late November 2026 – early April 2027 (about 4.5 months)
g. Book 7: early April 2027 – mid-August 2027 (about 4.5 months)
h. Book 8: mid-August 2027 – early January 2028 (about 4.5 months)
i. Book 9: early January 2028 – mid-May 2028 (about 4.5 months)
j. Book 10: mid-May 2028 – December 31, 2028 (about 7.5 months)
Mid 2026: Fantasy Regency Romance Series
No timeframe: Fantasy erotica stories

Preptober, the Golden Shackles

As an author trying to finish their nonfiction book while working on Regency romance, young adult fantasy, and detective novels (which my current audience is demanding be written as quickly as possible), I know what it’s like to feel the golden shackles of planning. How can I choose what I will dedicate my November to writing? I need to finish this nonfiction book, get it edited, and ready for publishing by February for GenreCon. I also want to finish my backlog of 20 fantasy erotica stories, so I can make enough money to fund an extravagant wedding, hopefully in 2026.

My friends are preparing to launch a book café with a focus on romance and are begging me to make sure my six Regency fantasy romance novels are ready for their launch. Of course, the series that I started my writing career with, The Wolflock Cases, is crying for attention too. My existing reader base, though not large enough to fully sustain me, is enough to keep me motivated and in dire need of some love and attention.

The issue is that I absolutely love all of these books. I’m convinced my nonfiction book, The Fiction Author’s Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career, will change the literary industry forever, so of course, I should choose that one and write it. It also has the closest deadline. Logically, I should be working on this book.

But then I think to myself, I need to eat, and the easiest option—the one that just falls out of my fingers at such a rapid pace that I can write 15,000 words a day—is the fantasy erotica. After all, that’s the one that’s most likely to make me the most money, be the easiest to sell, and the one I can write the fastest. There’s minimal planning required, and if I don’t use the word member too often, my beta readers will be happy.

Then I think that under the same pen name, I need a flagship series, and I don’t want to miss the Bridgerton wagon while it’s rolling through town. I only have about five more years to make sure my Regency romance series is in full swing because there are only five more Bridgerton children left to get married off. This is also an easy one for me to write as individual books, as romance has fascinated me ever since I was a child, watching romance anime and Disney movies. But the complexity I need to weave between the six books is something I would normally rely on Preptober to organise.

Thinking about Preptober and organisation then leads me to my current baby, toddler, tugging at the hem of my skirt for more attention—the Wolflock Cases. This is a far more intricate series and requires a lot more mental effort to focus on. That’s one of the reasons I love it so much. The interweaving of history, clues, character development, the depth each character demands, and how magic can be used as forensic tools without making things too easy—it’s all so carefully constructed. I could go on about it forever.

The Wolflock Cases also have a much longer journey that needs to be carefully planned. Over the last few years, the veil between the Wolflock Cases and me has been thick, with only little trickles of inspiration coming through. It’s difficult for me to talk about because I want many of its elements to be a surprise. I hesitate to even tell my editor what’s incoming! The intricate laying out of clues, purposeful placement of iconography, imagery, and motifs make the series so in-depth. I hope that one day my readers will start seeing all of this through the letters I write at the back of the books and the subtle clues laid throughout. Even as its author, rereading the series and finding all the details I slipped in years ago is one of the greatest joys I have. So obviously, Preptober isn’t nearly long enough to organise this series. But it’s a series that needs to be refreshed.

All the other projects I’ve mentioned don’t yet have a framework or platform to inhabit, but the Wolflock Cases do—and they’re in dire need of maintenance. So, of course, I should choose the Wolflock Cases, right?

Honestly, I still don’t have an answer.

It doesn’t matter which one I choose because I love them all equally. But that also means that when I do choose one, I’m now inextricably shackled to it and have to dedicate my time and energy to it, sacrificing time for the others.

But what if there was a way to still work on all of them? What if I could give them all the love they need and deserve, and feel fulfilled with where my hours are spent? Could NaNoWriMo have one singular book being written? Could I get that book finished, or at least hit the 50,000-word goal by the end of November?

I’m going to share my plan with you for exactly how I do that. It may work perfectly for you, or it may not work at all. But this is another tool you’ll be able to put in your writer's belt and get started. As Sam Reich from Dropout says:

“The only way to learn is by playing, the only way to win is by learning, and the only way to begin is by beginning.”

It may not be what you want to hear, but Preptober always begins with a choice.

NaNoWriMo, the Great Equaliser

No matter how you feel about the controversies surrounding the organisation that runs NaNoWriMo, November is still a key month where many new and experienced authors come together, using the energy of productivity to finally get 50,000 words down. As far as I’m aware, any money raised by the event goes to appropriate literary charities, but for me, the most important part is how the writing community comes together. In this moment of frenzied panic and productive ceremony, we’re all reduced to a race—against each other and within ourselves.

Experienced authors suffer just as much from writer’s block, being swamped by commitments, and preparing for December as new authors who are frightened to put pen to paper for fear of imperfection. It is a leveling ground. It is a marathon. And it never really matters if you reach 50,000 words or not; the fact that you even thought to participate is monumental, and I commend you for it.

Embark on an extraordinary journey through the captivating world of the Wolflock Cases series, where mystery, magic, and mythology intertwine to create an unforgettable reading experience.

Address

Logan, QLD The end of Owlet Street,

Australia or Plugh, Grothener

Contact

info@rhiannoneltonauthor.com

Preptober for the Author Who Wants to Write Everything

The best-laid plans may go astray, but planning itself gives you direction. Block out your time each day, ideally in the early morning when interruptions are minimal. Use dictation, find your focus, and most importantly, keep writing!

Closing Thoughts

So, here’s to an incredible NaNoWriMo! Let me know what you’re working on and share your progress in the comments below. I’m cheering for you every step of the way.

Happy writing, and may your words flow as freely as your imagination!

Coloured Notepads and Digital Sticky Notes

Tools for Preptober

Before we dive into goals, let’s first look at the tools that will help you with planning and staying on course. Once you’ve got these ready, the writing heights of NaNoWriMo will feel more within reach.

Dictate the Brain Thoughts Down

The Novel Factory

This program helps keep your notes in one place, track where you're at, and fix plot holes using their step-and-expand method. It’s invaluable during NaNoWriMo, especially when your ideas start to meander. If you want to try out The Novel Factory, I've got a special code for you.

Journal

You don’t have to read it back or show it to anyone—it’s pure garbage. It’s a way to declutter your thoughts so you can focus on what matters: your stories. I recommend journaling daily, even if it’s just for three pages. The practice will free your mind to write the gold.

4thewords.com

It’s not perfect for organising your work, which is why I stick with The Novel Factory, but it’s a delightful way to boost your word count and stay accountable. Your first month is free, and you can continue your subscription with in-game currency.

So, let’s put numbers to the joy I get from each part of writing, and see which books my heart wants to pursue, now that we’ve organised them logically.

Joy from the Planning

For planning, here’s how I rank my joy:

Wolflock Cases: 10/10 – The more I plan this series, the freer I am to write it. Mysteries, especially, demand meticulous planning to avoid getting stuck in messy rewrites.

Regency Romance Series: 10/10 – The intricacy of weaving six books together delights me.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 7/10 – Nonfiction is harder to plan because I tend to wander off on tangents. I don’t get as much joy from this.

Erotica Stories: 4/10 – These are quick and fun but planning them doesn’t excite me as much.

Joy from the Writing

For writing joy, here’s the breakdown:

Wolflock Cases: 8/10 – Once planned, writing these is exhilarating because I know exactly where I’m headed.

Regency Romance Series: 8/10 – The romance genre flows easily for me, making the process enjoyable.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 5/10 – Writing nonfiction is more structured, and I often stray from the main idea, reducing the joy I get from the actual writing.

Erotica Stories: 8/10 – These are quick and fun to write, and I love diving into their cheeky, playful tone.

Joy from Finishing

Here’s how I feel about finishing each of these projects:

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 6/10 – Finishing this will feel like a new beginning because it leads to courses and expansions. It’s satisfying, but daunting.

Wolflock Cases: 10/10 – Finishing one of these feels magical. I’m reconnecting with characters and a world that feels like home to me.

Regency Romance Series: 7/10 – Once the first book is finished, it will feel like the beginning of a major project. Finishing all six will be a significant accomplishment.

Erotica Stories: 4/10 – These are quick to finish, but since they’re not heavily edited yet, I hesitate to publish them, which takes away some of the joy.

Joy from the Maintaining

Here’s how I rank the joy from maintaining each project:

Fiction Author’s Guidebook: 6/10 – I love helping other authors find their passion for the business, but the maintenance side feels more like work.

Wolflock Cases: 9/10 – I adore every aspect of maintaining this series, though I often put it off as a reward after tackling tougher tasks.

Regency Romance Series: 6/10 – I’ll love maintaining this, especially with its stunning aesthetic and related activities, but I feel blocked from starting until everything is perfectly set up.

Erotica Stories: 7/10 – Maintaining these will be fun and cheeky, offering a sense of playful freedom I don’t get in my other projects. It’s simple, but enjoyable.

This gives me a clear sense of which books should be prioritised based not only on deadlines and effort but also on the joy they bring.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook

Planning: 7/10

Writing: 5/10

Finishing: 6/10

Maintaining: 6/10

Average Joy Score: (7 + 5 + 6 + 6) / 4 = 6/10

Wolflock Cases

Planning: 10/10

Writing: 8/10

Finishing: 10/10

Maintaining: 9/10

Average Joy Score: (10 + 8 + 10 + 9) / 4 = 9.25/10

Regency Romance Series

Planning: 10/10

Writing: 8/10

Finishing: 7/10

Maintaining: 6/10

Average Joy Score: (10 + 8 + 7 + 6) / 4 = 7.75/10

Erotica Stories

Planning: 4/10

Writing: 8/10

Finishing: 4/10

Maintaining: 7/10

Average Joy Score: (4 + 8 + 4 + 7) / 4 = 5.75/10

Money (if you have a platform set up and a concept intriguing to your niche)

Recognition from peers, audience, friends, or even family

Awards (you can nominate yourself, by the way!)

As a self-motivation fiend, I love a good bit of Tony Robbin and a lot of the benefits of writing a book fall under his six human needs.

Certainty: Financial security, comfort, a roof over your head.

Uncertainty/Variety: The sense of novelty and excitement.

Connection: Feeling appreciated and understood by your community (family, friends, audience).

Significance: Awards, recognition, or accolades (especially for those seeking traditional publishing or film adaptations).

Growth: Accomplishing something new and improving as a writer.

Contribution: Making a meaningful difference in your community through your writing.

What they don’t tell you is that none of these rewards come without effort. As a self-published author, all these things come from me doing them directly, meaning I have control over them. I can also track them better than if I were traditionally published.

Because I am in control of these things let's have a look and see what my expectations are for the general rewards of each of these books give them a score out of 10 and see if that changes their position for my Preptober choices.

Fiction Author’s Guidebook to Growing a Thriving Career

Certainty: Nonfiction sells better than fiction. Writing this book, and later producing online courses from it, will secure my income and bills easily. 8/10. It’s not 10/10 because the auxiliary components of this book will take additional work to be successful.

Variety: I haven’t written nonfiction like this since I began my career, so it feels new and fun. 7/10. It’s not a 10 because it feels more like business than pure fun.