October is OVER!

Yay.

I realize that for most of you, October was over the day before yesterday. But for me it ended when I finally got my latest assignment completed at 3:35 a.m. today.

So before I start November and Nano, I'm taking a nap. Hopefully I'll wake up in time to meet dd at the bus. ;-) (Just kidding. I have plenty of time.)

Sleep well. Er, I mean: Work hard today everybody! Get those fingers flyin'on those keyboards!

Nano MLs

Municipal liaisons are some of the luckiest Nanowrimoers on the planet.
Not only do we get to write our own novels, but we, as the liaisons for our regions/areas/ get to meet some of the coolest writers on the planet.
I say that because, as far as I'm concerned, any writer is cool. You're living your dream, and creating the story that's sitting there, in your head.
50,000 words in a month isn't - that - difficult. 1667 words a day, or more, and you'll be fine. And before anyone starts to tell me about the myriad of full time work, parenting, other hobbies - I know. Full time student, full time mother, full time writer. I do the work of three or four people (like the rest of us ;)) and I do the Nano and ML. Its a great life.

But I think, its important to say something about the ML's because, to be totally honest, if you're stuck - or confused - sad, lonely, or in need of a sympathetic WRITERS ear, the ML, especially during the Nanowrimo is a great stop.
We're YOUR MLs - we're here for YOU. We are the people that know (and arrange) the write ins. We also get goodies for you - badges, tattoos (last year) and other fun stuff. And of course, you'll be able to find other writers, in the same area, in the same boat as you.
So, remember, find your regional rep - and talk to your ML and find out what's happening in your area. As a community, the Nanoers can't be beat.

Two Weeks to NaNo

I shall be NaNoing this year. Again.

I'll let you in on a secret, I have only finished once. I think I've done it five years now. Four of those I've been municipal liaison for my city.

The thing is, I don't see my November job as NaNoWriter, I see myself as NaNoEncourager. I'm the one that sets up the real-life meetings and gets some swag together so the writers have a little momento for their efforts.

Last year we were so poor that when I picked out swag at the dollar store I went to pay for it and had no money, I was overdrawn and couldn't buy $50 worth of dollar store goodies. But I went home, lifted cushions and checked my piggy bank and my husband's wallet (kind of the same really...) and got the swag together. I just wanted to do it. I wanted to do it for the writers who would show up all filled with hope.

So despite the fact that I'm busy and tired... I'll do it again this year. I may never finish a novel, but I hope that I start something in someone else that becomes something bigger.

Cheating at NaNo

November is coming, with it's holiday busy-ness and something else exciting: National Novel Writing Month. Why they couldn't have picked January or February, I'll never know, but November is the month non-fic writers like me turn into novelists.

NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization designed to help us do just that. You can learn all about it at their webisite, but I'll give you the quick version: You sign up to write 50,000 words of your novel in a month's time. No concern over quality - the goal is just OUTPUT. Just Write It. Just get the words down and later you can edit. (There's a month for that too, I believe.)

If you do it, you "win." If you don't do it, you sigh and think, "Next year."

Last year in November, I sighed and thought "Next year." I had something like 11,000 words. It was a very busy month for me, with travelling and visiting relatives and Thanksgiving with family, etc. (Lots of excuses to be found if you just look hard enough!)

Anyway, the novel I started was going to be GREAT. I still think it is going to be great. I still have 11,000 words.

The NaNo rules explicitly state that you work on a NEW novel. You can plot and plan in October, but no writing is allowed. Writing begins on November 1.

But how can I abandon my old characters at 11,000 words? My main character is still circling the living room, if I remember correctly, planning her next move.

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to cheat. If it compromises the integrity of the process, I won't officially sign up at the official site, but I know of a few places where I can still hold myself to a word count. Maybe here would be one place. I might get one of those tickers or something that shows my progress.

Anyway, I have a few weeks to think it over before I actually commit to NaNo, cheating or otherwise. But until then, I want any NaNo cheaters to come out of the woodwork. Are you going to cheat? Tell me. Confess. Don't leave me out here in the cold, looking like the only cheater. Please.

NaNo Cheaters unite!

Carolyn