1. Use the 📓Draft database to store your manuscript. Hover over each day and click, 'open' to create a new page in which you can write or paste your daily quota.
  2. You will need to enter your word count manually in the "Word Count" column of the Draft database. The remaining word count and percentage will be calculated automatically. To find out the word count for any Notion page, click the three dots in the top right-hand corner.
  3. You can fill out the "Summary / Beats" column before NaNoWriMo, so you know what to write each day, or after each day's writing, to remind yourself what you wrote.
  4. In the 📓Draft database, you can swap between the "Calendar View" which places each day's writing on a monthly calendar according to their due date, "Scene View", which lists all properties in table format, "Storyboard View" which gives you a sticky note/index card overview, and the "One Page Novel View" which offers a Kanban-style board so you can easily arrange scenes into stages.
  5. Add properties to the 📓Draft database for anything else you want to note down, such as characters, settings, your daily mood, or writing reminders. You can also create separate databases for elements of your story (such as characters), and link them to the main 📓Draft database. (Click here for more info on linking databases.)
  6. Use the Research & Inspo folder to keep any important website URLs, inspiring quotes, or your favourite images.
  7. You can turn reminds on in the "Due Date" column if you'd like to receive a notification to remind you to write or to update your word count. (Click here for more info on notifications.)
  8. Customise the Dashboard to suit your needs, and to inspire you when you sit down to write every day! How about adding a writing playlist, a picture of a treat you'll give yourself when you reach a certain milestone, or a quote from your favourite writer?
  9. If you're using this template for a challenge other than NaNo 2021, you may want to edit the "Due Date" column in the 📓Draft database to reflect the correct deadlines.
  10. Remember to BACK UP your writing regularly. Don't just rely on Notion! BACK UP!!

GOOD LUCK!

The One Page Novel

The stages in the 📓Draft database refer to the One Page Novel plotting method. It's a quick, fun option if you're hurrying to prepare for NaNoWriMo.

Click here to learn how to use it.

☞ If you're enrolled in the One Page Novel course, you can download a 30-day Prompt Schedule in the Bonus Materials section. This schedule has daily prompts to help you move your character through the 8 stages, as well as rough word count estimates to help you gauge your writing time.

How to Change the Daily Target

By default, the daily word count is set to 1667. If you'd like to change it, edit "1667" in the formula field of the "Words to Go", and "Percentage Complete" properties of the 📓Draft database.

Credits