A flood of consciousness
Begin with an event and then let the thoughts carry you where they will. Have your character start a story and let the story stray off to other stories and events. Let it take off on a walk about, straying and wandering from thought to thought. This can be one way to up your word count for NaNo and also a way to allow thoughts to stream out that might spark something unexpected.
This is from #123 in Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring! by Dawn DiPrince and Cheryl Miller Thurston. Here’s a piece of her example of Uncle Milhouse’s rambling stories:
Back in 1972, you wouldn’t believe the tornado that hit our town. That was the year my dad got laid off at the factory … the pickle factory, it was. They were called Fickle Pickles, and they were the best darn pickles you ever ate. Well, maybe my grandma’s were a tad better, to tell you the truth. She said her secret was to add a little cinnamon to the jars …
