Every weekend during National Novel Writing Month, we will post a list of one word prompts from our November Novel Planner to inspire you to get the words down. If you’re struggling a little more with writer’s block than usual, take advantage of these suggestions and probing questions to help you on your way to completing your NaNo novel draft.
For the rest of the prompts, daily planning pages, and more, download our FREE Digital November Novel Planner to help you stay focused and track your word count this NaNoWriMo.
To keep up with all things Writer’s Atelier, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and join our online community in our private network!
November 8: Heal
- Does your protagonist (or antagonist) have a traumatic past from which they need to heal? If you haven’t already, now could be the time to hint at it.
- Have one of your character sustain an injury that another character hast to fix up.
- What heals your protagonist’s soul in a small way?
November 9: Sour
- What deal, plan, or arrangement could threaten to sour right now in your story?
- Are your characters hungry? Mealtime is a great way to showcase character personalities and dynamics, or to slow down the action. Or, you know, to up the word count!
- Here’s a twist on the prompt: take inspiration from one of the songs on Olivia Rodrigo’s album Sour.
November 10: Finish
- Is your protagonist the type to finish what they start, or do they just think they are?
- What does the finish line look for your protagonist right now? Will it change by the end of the story?
- What is your protagonist finished—that is, emotionally done—with right now?
November 11: Key
- Who or what holds the key to your protagonist’s heart? What about your antagonist’s?
- Place a puzzle or a locked door in your protagonist’s path. How do they find the key?
- Turns out that one of your characters has been hypnotized the entire time! What happens when someone says the keyword to break the trance?
- Can any of your characters sing on key?
November 12: Liquid
- Alcohol is sometimes referred to as liquid courage. Does the same hold true for your story’s world, or is there another beverage considered liquid something-or-other?
- What would your protagonist do if they encountered a glass or vial of an identifiable liquid? What about if it was in a huge puddle in front of them?
- Let’s talk about liquid assets. Maybe your character has to sell something valuable to move forward in the story.
November 13: Message
- Have your protagonist receive a message—possibly from the antagonist?—in any way other than ink on paper.
- Perhaps your protagonist receives a sign from their deity or deities. What is the message?
- How could your protagonist end up getting the wrong message?
November 14: North
- What or who is your character’s true north?
- Invent a new character named North and drop them into your story.
- Does your character know where they’re going? Now you do! Is it the right or wrong direction?
Bonus Prompt: Sorry
- Who’s ready (or reluctant) to apologize?
- This is also a synonym for lousy. What or who is in a sorry state in your story?
- Find this too easy? Ahead on word count? Go back through your manuscript and swap the word sorry with something else, or else vow to not use it throughout the rest of your manuscript.
