NaNoWriMo: Why My Life is Going to be LOCA in November!

With less then a month until November begins, I figured it was time to share my big news. This November, I will attempt to write a 50,000-word novel. (!!!)

Yes, I'm serious. I'm going to be joining thousands of other crazy people who will take part in the annual November endeavor, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.

I first found out about this a few years ago, when I was still in grad school and it seemed much too daunting for a student. This year, I'm planning to pack the house and move halfway across the country in November. Not to mention the fact that we go camping at the beach every Thanksgiving. Do you think I'm crazy yet?

The truth is, I've decided there will never be The Perfect Time to take part, so I just decided to do it. I've been reading books on writing and pondering possible plot elements, and basically getting totally psyched up for it. I even have a new friend who's joining me. I'm nervous, anxious, excited and a little intimidated but I'm going to go for it.

What I love about NaNoWriMo is that it's about accomplishment. Every writer who reaches the 50,000 mark is a winner. The philosophy behind the movement is Quantity, Not Quality. There's no editing (that's for the next 11 months), and it doesn't matter if your "novel" ends up crappy. You can always rework and rewrite later. Even though there's an insane 30-day deadline, there's very little pressure.

And the deadline is the most important part. I'm sure everyone who's had to write a research paper knows that without that deadline it never would have happened. And those of you who know that I've attempted (and never finished) fiction projects in the past will believe me when I say, I need the deadline. I think it will help me finally cross-off that item that's on many people's lifelong to-do list: write a novel.

I plan to give weekly updates on Saturdays, as I countdown throughout October and then as I progress through November.

So wish me luck! And please, pray for my soon-to-be neglected house & family. :)