The last couple of years I have signed up for NaNoWrMo only to fail badly--it's got to be the worst month to have a 50,000 word novel writing contest. This year is no different with a vacation, potential jury duty, and thanksgiving--the month is busy! So I'm doing what I haven't done before and planning ahead. I usually start with a what-if and roll with it--great for when there are no time constraints--however, this is a very different situation and I want to succeed with it, because it might help me turn out work faster. I'll never know unless I try, right? I have a month before the writing begins to learn who my characters are, what they desire, who's trying to stop them, what haunts them, and will they evolve from the experience or not. I don't like outlines, but I will have notes on key plot points pinned to my bulletin board, so that I can quickly refer to them and veer the story in the directions I need to. Good luck, if you too are going to attempt NaNoWrMo!