Preparing for NaNoWriMo

I have been getting myself ready for November. Honestly, I have never written anything in my entire life that was longer than a high school essay, and then, even that was in French and I'm sure I did the minimum amount allowed!
I am looking forward to this challenge and I am still positive about it. I think there is a huge difference between being told to write (by a teacher for example) and choosing to write.

I did think I could use some help in getting organized though, so I checked out a couple of books at the local library and I have been writing my notes while reading "Write Away" by Elizabeth George. Learning about designing my characters, thinking about the setting, plot, etc...doing my homework basically! I still don't really have any idea what my novel is going to be about or even what type, but I keep reading also that it's OK! I am leaning towards fantasy because that is what I enjoy the most. I shared my plans with the kids tonight at dinner, and asked them casually what genre they think my novel should be. Fairy said a murder story and Dragon said a horror one! I did mention to them that this challenge was available for them too, the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program , but I didn't get the impression that they wanted to participate. There's still time...

I found a couple of links that might be helpful for this challenge and wanted to share.

The first one is a character analysis worksheet. Also, I have noticed the Snow Flake method mentioned a few times, it is one way of planning out and writing a novel. Finally, the Young Writers site has three great workbooks you can download.
*One more I forgot..."NaNo for the New and the Insane" a free download book by Lazette Gifford.

The last couple things that I will need in November...see below! Good thing I am still running and biking too!!!