National Novel Writing Month

Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month, mostly known as NaNoWriMo, or just NaNo. (Yes, it makes me want to split my fingers into a Mork from Ork handshake) During this month every year, tens of thousands of people all over the world pledge to write 50,000 words in a month. This is no small feat unless you are Stephen King who already writes 2500 words every day. It is an intense writing month that will change the way you write forever. HOWEVER, whomever founded NaNo clearly did NOT have kids because to start such a big project the day after Halloween is just craziness. However, here I am, ready to start. Except for a few things that get in my way. Always.
1. The idea I've had for weeks, that seemed like the perfect plan for NaNo now seems like a terrible idea, loathsome, and I can't for a second imagine writing such drivel. Except I have no back-up plan.
2. To gear up for NaNo, I've been reading some work from the best of the best. So now I'm simultaneous inspired (yes, a book can change the world!) and depressed (no way can this crappy idea change anything).
3. I"m exhausted from Halloween. Yes, this is the case every year, but every year it seems more exhausting. Plus, my fingers are swollen from all the candy I've eaten, so it's hard to type.
4. There is a neighborhood dog that barks CONSTANTLY, and he is driving me CRAZY!
5. I can't help but think of recent book contracts in the news like Snooky and other examples of fine literary genius getting piles of money in an advance because it's sure to sell a million copies.

I promise I won't go on and on about NaNo this month, but I did want to put this out there for all of you who are doing it for the first time, it is hard for the veterans, too. But the results are always worth it.

From Jane Yolen upon the completion of her 300th book: "The two keywords here are passion and joy. I simply have a passion for writing and I do it with joy. How any writer gets through that amount of words without passion and joy, I simply don't know."

Bring on the passion and joy.

LOCK AND KEY by Sarah Dessen and Flu is in the House

I have a new favorite Sarah Dessen novel, and it's LOCK AND KEY. In this sweet story about sisters, family, and heartbreak, the protag is abandoned by her mother, taken by Social Services (a policeman pulls her out of class at her high school), and then brought to live with her sister. Her sister and she have been out of touch by her sister's choice, or at least that's what she's always thought...At any rate, from the transition to a new school to the awkward carpool with the hottie next door, you'll feel for her. Elements of this story bugged me, I'll be honest, because some things were just too easy. But the huge amount of heart carries the story, and I liked it very much. (But I was a little confused about the end, so if anyone's read it, e-mail me so we can discuss) The brother-in-law, Jamie, is a wonderful character who held everything together. I think I have a little crush. Anyway, pick it up. It's an enjoyable read.

We've got a little flu in the house. Hopefully it'll come and go fast without spreading like wildfire, but what can you do? Just love 'em up and hope for the best (and beg the pediatrician for some of that tightly-held Tamiflu). Anyone else out there had the flu in your house and can give me an idea of what to expect? How many days? What's the course? Did the make-up work hurt worse than the flu?

Last night my daughter was working on a paper, worrying that her writing was "too good", her teacher might think she was plagiarizing. Ah, the confidence of youth.

Nano is fast approaching and I have NO IDEA what to write about. Something's gotta give and soon because I'm dying to start writing again with that kind of intensity, but, uh, I need a story a character....okay, I do have a few thoughts but nothing's hooking up yet...Who else out there is doing Nano? If you've never done the National Novel Writing Month, you should consider it. It's hard but fun and the results will astound you. Click on the link I've provided at the left and learn more! Better yet, sign up and be my Nano friend on the site.

Gulp--I registered

Many of you know that since July, I've taken a break from novel writing, and I've been primarily writing for magazines. Right now, I'm enjoying this pursuit a great deal, but I need to revisit novels again soon or I'll never go back. SO at the suggestion of many writer friends, I've decided to take the plulnge and commit to NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo, for those of you who don't know about it, is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Not a perfect novel, mind you. It's an exercise in discipline, to simply get about 1700 words down on paper every day for 30 days. Read more about it on the website, and if anyone out there has ever considered writing a novel, I highly recommend you register to participate. If any readers register, please let me know either through a comment or an e-mail. All you readers will, of course, take this journey with me.

Additionally, I begin a new course this Tuesday on writing picture books. It's interesting to me how this time last year (and for several years)I've been hammering away at my novels, but now I'm very excited about exploring more picture book writing and magazine work. Chautauqua certainly played a role in that, I think.

My children are all doing well, settled into the school year and so forth. We had a nice mellow day today after church--kid playing, football watching, catnapping, excessive snacking,trampoline jumping, spider project working, soup-making...the perfect autumn afternoon. Also all the soccer games were rained out yesterday, so the kids had lots of rest yesterday, too. All of a sudden our weekday schedules are crazy with four kids and soccer, dance,art, and scouts. We're so blessed to live in a tiny town where everything is close, there's only one soccer field, etc., so I have no idea how people do it in larger towns.

I went to a scrapbooking thing on Friday to learn about digital scrapbooking on my laptop only to find that my processor was too small to do it. That was a bummer, and it felt like such a waste of time, you know? But the thing is I had a great time with the other girls there, so I guess it wasn't really a waste. But it made me think about how seldom I actually waste time. I'm budgeting time and things down to the minute, and I ended up with nearly a whole day with nothing in particular I had to do. It was wierd. I wrote a lot, went on facebook, and ate a fair amount. It was fun, but I still felt guilty. I need to get over that.

WE finally finished counting Sally Foster--yee haw. I'm so grateful to NOT be pta president this year, just co-chair of SF. I've enjoyed volunteering at school IN the classrooms much more. Oh, btw, I'm supposed to teach a session in a psat preparation course on Tuesday morning on the essay part of the psat. But I read online today that it was eliminated in 2004 (the essay portion, not the whole psat). Does anyone out there know if that is true? PLEASE let me know if you know anything about that.

Well, I've successfully blogged about nothing, I suppose. Too bad I can't be as entertaining about nothing as Seinfeld. I can't even think of any redneck tips or anything. It's been a while on those, so I promise to get some out this week.

Also, anyone out there seen Nights in Rodanthe? It was filmed not too far from here, and we drove up there to see them when they were filming, so I'm dying to see the movie. Maybe we'll walk down one night this week. I hope they'll add another showing besides 7. It's just too hard to get everyone settled enough by 7 to do anything.

Have a great week. Consider NaNoWriMoing with me. xox