My Mission Statement

I write to serve, to unite, to educate. I write to share literature and flesh out ideas that may be of interest to others. I write to document an emotion, experience, or a blip in time. My mission is to write in such a way that the reader is reminded that we can find humor in all situations. It's one of the great blessings of life.


Monday, October 18, 2010

Haiku the Sunday New York Times and NaNoWriMo

The great deflation
Of Japan: living standards
decline. Deflation.

Budget deficits.
Does Japan's present forecast
Future of U.S.?


Democrats count on
African American
Election turnout.


Danger in Iraq
Awakening members go
Back to Al Qaeda.

Election results
Frighten Sunnis and send them
Back to comfort zone.


U.S. had warning
Of Mumbai terror attack
Headley's two wives snitched.


Arkansas Lincoln
Incumbent Senator sweats
As her support wanes.

Hunting tournament
In Kentucky seeks skillful
Hunters, but no kills.

The Great Tenor Hope
Vittorio Grigorolo
Would love to see him.

Secret donors live.
Pushing election season
By financing ads.

The great exit plan
For Afghanistan marked by
'Ifs'--is that a plan?

India grants each
Citizen ID numbers.
Fingerprints, eye scans.

Mozilo saw it
Coming for Countryside, or
Did he just sense it?

Deep in Ecuador
Tribe protects culture with strict
Plan for tourism.

Santa Monica
for a day. Art, oysters, views,
Then disco at night.

GREAT HOUSE out by Krauss.
Lovers of her last novel
Not disappointed.


SO, all you writers out there. Those of you with the keys worn off your laptop and those who you who have just *thought about* writing, this NOVEMBER can change your writing life!! How, you may ask? By joining and committing to National Novel Writing Month. I can GUARANTEE it will be the best thing you have ever done in your writing life. The goal is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. This kind of intense writing month will teach you so many things about yourself as a writer, the writing process, and the magic that always ensues when you undertake something that seems impossible. Go RIGHT NOW to www.nanowrimo.org and REGISTER to participate in NaNoWriMo 2010. It begins November 1st (many people choose to begin at midnight November 1st and hit the ground running. I, however, prefer a good night's sleep.) The site will hook you up with NaNoWriMo-ers in your community (unless you live in a tiny little town like me) where you may participate in write-ins and other fun NaNoWriMo activities. But best of all, when you register, some really cool things can happen on your page.
1. You download your words every day and a cool little bar graph shows you how far along you are toward your goal. It is so satisfying to see that little bar grow every day. Sounds silly, but it is motivating. If you are the competitive type, you can compare your progress with other writers that you 'friend' on the site. (If anyone wants to friend me, my site name is Koppelmom)
2. NaNoWriMo sends awesome, motivational pep talks from well-known writers via email. Every day you will get something, and they are very encouraging and interesting.
3. You will be hooked up with the NaNoWriMo group nearest you, so you never, ever feel like you're in it alone.

SO JUST DO IT. Seriously. The first year I did it, I didn't even finish (because my youngest son got pneumonia and missed two weeks of school, up at night, etc.), but it STILL was the most amazing, growing experience I had ever had as a writer. So man up, peeps. If you want to write, then no more excuses. Just do it. It will never be easier or more fun. At the least, go to the website and check it out. You won't BELIEVE how many people are doing it around the world. Join us!

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