NaNoWriMo Buddies serve many purposes. They are there to encourage us, bounce ideas off of, to gain insight from and to be encouraged by – and we are there to do the same for them in return.

Here are some tips that will help you make the most out of your relationships with your buddies. They are a resource for you and the writing challenge you’re invested in. They’re invested too and can benefit just as much from open lines of communication.

Making the Most Out of Your Buddy List

Don’t be tempted to send out open invites to buddy up with just anyone. I made that mistake yesterday before thinking it through. You will make a mess of your list and probably won’t benefit as much as you would if you take some time and do some vetting.
Connect with people who you share your genre, inspire you, or that you’ve gotten to know through the forums.
When someone ads you as a buddy, you can return the favor by selecting their name and adding them back.
Don’t add everyone. You want to keep your buddy list manageable and fill it with people who will help you to succeed.
Take the time to check out your prospective buddies bio’s, novels, and excerpts.
Reach out to your new buddy, make it personal.
Check your buddies word counts and cheer them on.
Check your NaNo email every day.