• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Apron Warrior

Adventures of a Homeschooling Foodie

  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Mains
    • Holiday
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Soups
  • Natural Living
  • Entertaining
  • Bakery Shop {LOCAL ONLY}
  • 0 items$0.00

NaNo Prep: The NaNo Jar

NaNo Jar

There will be times when you’re completely stuck and there will be times where you may not like where you’re story is going. To help with this issue, I decided to come up with a creative way to break free: the NaNo Jar.

The NaNo Jar sits on my desk and is full of 30 different jumbo popsicle sticks with different instructions. I pick one stick a day and have to do whatever it says on the stick. If I don’t particularly like what it says on the stick for what I have planned that day, I will allow myself to pull one other–with the understanding that I now have to use the original stick the next day. I can only switch out one stick a day and have to keep to that.

Here are the 30 prompts I used! 

1. What is your protagonist afraid to admit to himself? Bring it up and make it impossible to avoid.

2. What’s an event that passes with little notice? Invent a dire consequence that no one sees coming.

3. Add: A character that is modeled after someone you know that sparks some sort of emotion.

4. Add: A character from a different social strata, a symbol of these times, a harbinger of the future, or a sign from the gods.

5. What is your character’s conception of god? Humble = reward, Not = punishment, or vice versa.

6. Create an event/action that reminds your character he is not in charge of his own destiny.

7. List 20 things your protagonist notices in the story that no one else does. Plant each one.

8. Have a character act strangely in a scene so that the reader questions/wonders the reason behind it.

9. Make a main character a victim of some event.

10. Write a scene where the main character shows humanistic virtues.

11. Show a character  reach rock bottom. All hope is lost.

12. Present the opposite argument as powerfully as the truth, weave it into your dialogue.

13. Reverse a predictable plot. Take any idea and immediately discard the first thought. Do the opposite.

14. What’s the worst thing that could happen to your character right now? Do it.

15. Have something revealed to the characters. Bring in another question to replace the original and make it even more pressing/interesting.

16. Raise the stakes.

17. Set up dangerous work to build tension/increase jeopardy.

18. To give the readers what they want, we must deny characters of what they want. Take something away from them.

19. Add: Roadblock between characters.

20. Put a character in a situation/relationship that goes against his values.

21. Take an emotion that is in the current scene. Replace it with something less expected.

22. Make a character lose something important and can never get it back. Make it something he wants most, but rejects it.

23. Have a character lose control of himself/emotions. What are the repercussions? Make it worse.

24. Make a character do something he finds embarrassing on accident. Who notices, yet says nothing.

25. Spill a secret at the worst possible time.

26. Who is your protagonist afraid to let down? What is the sacred trust between them? Break that trust.

27. There is something your protagonist can’t let go of. What is the reason? Who knows that reason before your protagonist does?

28. What is the hardest action your protagonist will have to perform? Make it something he’s sworn he will never do.

29. Assume the reader saw something coming. Change it to something that will blow their minds.

30. What truth does your protagonist cling to the hardest? Reinforce that truth three times throughout the story. Then destroy it–it’s wrong. 

The instructions come from my own personal learnings, but mainly from two outstanding books:

The links below are affiliate links. This means that I may receive some commission at no additional cost to you. All of these items I use personally and find them valuable. I would never recommend something I don’t approve of. Thank you for your support! It’s what keeps Apron Warrior alive!

 

 

More in this series:
The Basics.
– Pantser or Planner: Ways to help prepare you prepare for your story.
– The NaNo Jar.
-NaNo Jar 2.0
– Food Prep: What to eat and the easiest way to do so.
– A Space of Your Own: Creating solace in a time of chaos.
– Holidays and Family: What to do when you have to go out.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
ApronWarrior

ApronWarrior

ApronWarrior

Latest posts by ApronWarrior (see all)

  • My Thoughts on Tomorrow’s Cochlear Implant Surgery - April 19, 2022
  • Spicy Scalloped Yams - January 22, 2022
  • The Best Hot Cocoa - December 12, 2021

Filed Under: NaNoWriMo, writing Tagged With: camp nanowrimo, nano, nano jar, nanowrimo, national novel writing month, novel, november, writing, writing advice

« NaNo Prep: Planner vs Pantser: Ways to help you prepare for your story.
NaNo Prep: Food Prep: What to eat and the easiest way to do so. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatar for ApronWarriorKat says

    October 24, 2013 at 10:39 pm

    Awesome post, Carolann! (And congrats on being featured in the Procrastination Station!) Posted a link to this in my “50K in Five Days” group on Facebook. 😉

    blog.katmellon.com

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 25, 2013 at 12:04 am

      Thanks Kat! I had no idea it had happened! Thanks for the link on your site too! Wow 50k in 5 days is amazing! I’m going to follow your journey on your blog! Best of luck!

      Reply
  2. Avatar for ApronWarriorwordfoolery says

    October 25, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    Love this idea! I’m going to suggest it to my region (Ireland NorthEast). Grace the ML.

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 27, 2013 at 12:52 am

      Thank you Wordfoolery! Please let me know if it helps! Good luck with your novel!

      Reply
  3. Avatar for ApronWarriorAlexandra Tys O'Connor says

    October 26, 2013 at 12:39 am

    What a great idea! I love how prepared you are for your NaNoEndeavor. I wish I could say the same for myself!

    Best luck.

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 27, 2013 at 12:54 am

      Thank you Alexandra! You still have plenty of time to prep! Five more days to go! Best of luck with your novel!

      Reply
  4. Avatar for ApronWarriorsophieweeks.net says

    October 27, 2013 at 6:02 am

    These are amazing prompts. I usually have difficulty getting inspiration from prompts, but these are so well-done! Making my own NaNo jar tomorrow!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 27, 2013 at 6:22 am

      So glad to hear Sophieweeks! I really, really recommend Writing 21st Century Fiction by Maass. Actually any of his books are fabulous and filled with fantastic prompts. The majority of the prompts came from his book. Best of luck with NaNo and your jar!

      Reply
  5. Avatar for ApronWarriorDana Buchmiller says

    October 28, 2013 at 1:07 am

    !!! This is just amazing! I am so going and doing this. Thank you so much for the idea. Brainstorming before I start writing is always great, and this is a wonderful way for me to start of my NaNo day!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 28, 2013 at 2:34 am

      Thank you Dana! I hope it helps! Best of luck with your novel!

      Reply
  6. Avatar for ApronWarriorKelsie says

    October 28, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    This is brilliant!! I am absolutely doing this this year!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:42 pm

      Thanks Kelsie! Let me know how it works out for you! Good luck with your novel!

      Reply
  7. Avatar for ApronWarriorEllie says

    October 28, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    I love your NaNo prompt jar idea! Brilliant!!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:43 pm

      Thank you Ellie! Good luck with NaNo this year!

      Reply
  8. Avatar for ApronWarriorMary Alice Holmes says

    October 28, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    Fantastic prompts! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorCarolann Lucian says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:44 pm

      Thanks Mary! Please let me know if they help out with your novel! Best of luck!

      Reply
  9. Avatar for ApronWarriorMegan says

    October 15, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    Very interesting! I think this might be something that I need to keep myself focused and going during November NaNo 🙂 Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorApronWarrior says

      October 20, 2015 at 11:18 am

      Thanks so much! Let me know how it works for you 🙂 I’m working on collecting more prompts for a NaNo Jar 2 that I’ll post about soon! Good luck with NaNo!

      Reply
  10. Avatar for ApronWarriorJeannie says

    October 21, 2015 at 3:17 am

    What a great idea!

    Reply
    • Avatar for ApronWarriorApronWarrior says

      October 25, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      Thank you so much Jeannie! Let me know if it works for you 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 2015 NaNoWriMo Masterpost Link Up | With A Free Printable! | Raychel Rose says:
    October 2, 2015 at 3:03 am

    […] NaNo Prep: The NaNo Jar | Apron Warrior […]

    Reply
  2. NaNo Prompt Jar | ghostystories says:
    October 19, 2015 at 9:46 am

    […] I found this idea on Pinterest, the original post is here. […]

    Reply
  3. The Nanowrimo Diaries: Prep Time - Darkly Dosed says:
    October 28, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    […] seen people use popsicle sticks). I put scene prompts on some of the paper slips, which I found on Apron Warrior’s blog post (this may also be the origin of the Nano jar). The prompts are meant to help unstick a stuck […]

    Reply
  4. NaNo Jar 2.0 - Apron Warrior says:
    October 31, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    […] If you’re new to the NaNo Jar—the original story prompts and instructions are found here. […]

    Reply
  5. Welcome, NoShaveNaNoWriMo…erm, November | Dorian Modes says:
    December 8, 2015 at 1:26 am

    […] minds because they are disobedient creatures… I’ve made my own version of a NaNoWriMo Prompt Jar. Everything will be a rushed fog this month, and no, I won’t be shaving. Hence, I shortened […]

    Reply
  6. NaNoWriMo Survival Kit | Dana Maye says:
    December 13, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    […] out: * Coffitivity -This website simulates the sound of a cafe, great for writers on a budget. * The Nano Jar -The blog article has a great tip for writing prompts during your NaNoWriMo journey. * Writing […]

    Reply
  7. Camp ShanNoWriMo: “Packing List” – shannecdotes says:
    June 28, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    […] risks and try things you wouldn’t normally try in your writing. I made this prompt jar from a tutorial on Apron Warrior that I saw as I approached my first NaNoWriMo back in 2014. Basically my jar consists of a bunch of […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Posts

Hello!

Avatar for ApronWarriorI’m Carolann and I’m obsessed with food. Seriously, I live and sleep thinking about food. I’m on a mission to create doable, real food recipes
from scratch as well as living a more natural life style. I also believe that life should be celebrated and one of the best ways to do that is around a dinner table with friends and family (+ a game for some extra bits of laughter and edge of your seat competition). If you’re new here, I invite you to check out some of my favorite recipes or my story that lead me to real food.
Read More…

Privacy Policy

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Email Format

Popular Posts

  • Guava Syrup
  • Nut Free Baklava
  • Dairy Free Horchata
  • Cherry Cordial Bundt Cake
  • Red Onion and Fennel Summer Salad

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress