Oct 44 min read

October Writing Prompts: Gearing up for NaNoWriMo

Updated: Oct 18

As November approaches, writers all over the world are gearing up for the whirlwind that is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Whether you're diving into your first NaNo experience or you're a seasoned participant, it's time to get those creative juices flowing! But how do you prepare for a month of intense writing, especially if you’re balancing life’s many demands? Here’s a guide to getting ready, plus 15 fresh writing prompts for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers alike to get your ideas bubbling.

Prepping for NaNoWriMo: A Few Quick Tips

1. Set Your Goals Early: While the official NaNoWriMo goal is 50,000 words in 30 days, it's okay to set your own target. Whether it’s 30,000 or 100,000, know what you want to achieve and commit.

2. Outline Your Plot (Even Just a Little): If you’re a plotter, spend October mapping out your major plot points. Pantsers, you might still want a loose idea or theme to keep your momentum going when the words get tough.

3. Create a Writing Routine: Set your writing schedule now so that November feels natural. Whether you carve out an hour each morning or several hours on the weekends, make writing a non-negotiable part of your day.

4. Find Your Writing Community: Whether online or in person, having fellow writers to cheer you on is key. The NaNoWriMo website offers writing buddies, and social media groups often have daily check-ins to help you stay motivated.

5. Stock Up on Snacks & Rewards: NaNoWriMo can be grueling, so give yourself reasons to keep going. Stock up on your favorite snacks, or plan little rewards (a new book, a night out, a cozy evening in) when you hit certain word counts.

Now, to get those creative ideas flowing, here are 15 writing prompts divided into fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Use them to kick-start your NaNoWriMo project or for warm-up exercises before diving into your main story.

5 Fiction Writing Prompts

1. A World Without Stars: One night, every star in the sky disappears. Scientists are baffled, and soon, society begins to crumble as myths and superstitions take over. Who is your protagonist, and how do they navigate this new world?

2. The Artifact: Your character discovers a family heirloom that can communicate with them—but it only speaks in riddles. What is the heirloom trying to tell them, and how will this revelation change their life?

3. A Life Rewritten: After a near-death experience, your protagonist wakes up to discover that every decision they’ve ever regretted has been undone. They now live a completely different life. Do they try to get their old life back, or embrace the new one?

4. The Exiled King: In a futuristic society where monarchy is a thing of the past, an ancient king awakens from centuries of magical sleep. He’s determined to reclaim his throne, but society has evolved beyond his understanding. What happens next?

5. The Curse of the Writer: A struggling writer is given the power to make anything they write come true—but they can only write 500 words a day. How do they use (or misuse) this power, and what consequences do they face?

5 Nonfiction Writing Prompts

1. A Turning Point: Reflect on a moment in your life when you were forced to make a difficult decision. What led up to that moment, and how has your life been shaped by that choice?

2. The Stranger Who Changed Everything: Write about an encounter with a stranger that had a lasting impact on your life. This could be a chance meeting, a brief conversation, or a single act of kindness that you still remember.

3. Lessons from Failure: We often grow the most through failure. Write about a time you failed at something important to you. What did you learn, and how did that experience change your approach to future challenges?

4. Exploring Faith: Think about a time when your beliefs (spiritual, political, or otherwise) were challenged. How did you grapple with that challenge, and what did you take away from the experience?

5. An Unexpected Mentor: Write about someone who became a mentor to you, even if they didn’t realize it at the time. How did their guidance or example shape your path?

5 Poetry Writing Prompts

1. The Color of Memory: Choose a color and write a poem about a memory associated with that color. Let the sensory details and emotions guide your words.

2. In the Stillness of Morning: Write a poem capturing the quiet moments of early morning, just before the world wakes up. Focus on small details—the chill in the air, the light breaking through, the sounds of nature.

3. Echoes of a Forgotten Dream: Have you ever woken up from a dream and immediately forgotten it? Write a poem about the fleeting sensation of a dream slipping away, using imagery and metaphor to describe that loss.

4. Weathered Hands: Write about a pair of hands—either your own or someone else’s. What stories do those hands tell? What have they built, touched, or let go of?

5. A Season of Change: Write a poem reflecting on the transition from one season to the next. What feelings arise with this shift? What metaphors can you draw between the changing season and your own life?

NaNoWriMo is a month of creative chaos, and the key to success is preparing your mind, your workspace, and your heart for the challenge. Whether you’re outlining a novel, planning essays, or crafting a series of poems, these writing prompts will spark your imagination and set you on the path to success. So grab your notebook or laptop, and get ready—November is almost here, and the world is waiting to hear your story!

Good luck, writers!