Oh November. You are one busy, crazy month, and you are almost half-over. Which means, NaNoWriMo is almost half over.

I have a whopping 3,000 words of the 50,000 needed to win. Things are not looking good.

I am not conceding defeat yet. Even if I don’t make the November 30th deadline, I plan to finish this book. I’m too giddy about it, and I’ve talked about maybe writing it for too long, to not finish. However, reality is setting in quickly. Between birthdays, holidays and anniversaries, the month is just too much already. Add in that I’ve picked up a bunch of extra nights working, and you find yourself with even less time to write. On days I plan to write, I just don’t have the interest.

Take yesterday for example. I had the whole day to myself to write. And I didn’t get a single word written. I had the Word document open! I stared at it. I meant to do it. But the story just would not flow. So I went for a drive. Then I did some laundry. Then I cleaned the kitchen. Then I cooked myself a nice, healthy, huge supper. Then I talked to my Mom. Then I talked to a couple girl friends. Then I talked to my husband. Then I took a super long, hot shower. Then I watched some TV. Then I tinkered on the CD cover project I am working on as well.

Then… well… then it was time to call it a day. In other words, in my writer’s block I found ways to procrastinate. Productive ways! But I didn’t write, nonetheless.

Again, I am not giving up. I fully intend to keep writing. I have a few days coming up that are prime for writing! I may still knock this sucker out after all. But in all reality? In all honesty? Chances of winning this year are getting slimmer by the day.

It is what it is. The book will get finished, and I will feel proud of my success, whether it is November 30th or January 30th. It will be done.

We’re only three days into NaNoWriMo and I’m already further along than I’ve ever been. That gives me a lot of hope I’m going to pull this off.

I have a lot more dedication this year. I have a solid story to share, and its falling together nicely. I’m finding that writing just before I go to sleep works well. I bring my laptop to bed, and I write until I get sleepy. With my crazy schedule, it is the only time I know I can set aside every day to do it. So I do.

My only fear is making sure it actually reaches 50K words. I’m a huge fan of short stories, which I am finding to be a hurdle to jump as I want to gloss over details that I later find I need to flesh out.

I’m resisting the urge to go back and edit every time I sit down to write. I keep wanting to go back and add details! Partly for story strength. Partly just that fear of not reaching the goal word count.

I won’t let fear hold me back, though. Especially not a fear as dumb as reaching the required word count! I can do this! I AM doing this. In fact, its time to get back to the story…

Word count as of this post: 2248

Words left to go: 47752

I tried the last two years.

I failed miserably.

I’m going to try it again.

NaNoWriMo.

National Novel Writing Month. It begins on November 1st. The goal is to complete a 50,000-word novel from scratch by the end of the month.

Yes, you read that right. 50,000 words in 30 days. Yes, all us participants are crazy.

For me, the hard part is that November is just BUSY. Lots of birthdays, not to mention Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas. Last year, I think I made it three days before I realized it was a fruitless attempt.

This year, I am more confident. I actually have a book idea. It just happens to be one I joked about writing already years ago, and my last week brought back my interest in writing it.

Tales from the hot dog stand. Or maybe the hot dog diaries. Or Chronicles of a Hot Dog Queen.

I don’t know. The title will come in time. But you get the point. Over the last several years, I’ve had many entertaining experiences in the hot dog stand. Its time to share some of them. Oh I’ll change the names and embellish to protect the not-so-innocent. But I think it’ll be fun to write, and maybe it’ll be just as interesting to read.

We will see! I am determined to finish this time. Third times a charm…

…I hope.

I’m a little sad. Halloween is drawing to a close, and the number of ghosts and goblins to visit us was definitely down this year.

I think it was in part due to it being a Sunday, a day for church as well as the last night before another week of school. Plus, several locations did “trunk-or-treat” this year… something that is brilliant for parents, but stinks for those of us who wait all year to give out candy. We absolutely LOVE to do it, and this year we were left a little disappointed.

Oh don’t get me wrong, we had some great costumes come along! Adorable princesses and witches. Stormtroopers and soldiers. Almost all of them saying “Thank you” before walking away. I hope trick-or-treating never fully comes to an end. I don’t know that Halloween is necessarily my “favorite” holiday, but I do so look forward to it every year. Its just FUN!

Now we go into November. A busy month, again, for me. And it’ll probably pass even faster than October did!

I noticed this was my 51st week to do Weekly Winners, and my 51st week on Self Portrait Saturdays. 10 days to my birthday, and I plan to start another Project 365 on the day again. I took a year off and missed it. So time to start another one.

NaNoWriMo and my chapter of “And What Happens Then…” is coming up quick. Hubby’s birthday, Mom’s birthday, and Thanksgiving approaches as well. Turkey and dressing and family and football… oh my!

Ahhh… bring it on. There’s no stopping it anyway. Might as well embrace it and go with the flow…

Happy Halloween!!!

Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf

I signed up for NaNoWriMo for the first time last year. The goal of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

I failed.

Miserably.

So I, of course, decided to set myself up for failure once again this year and sign up. Without a topic in mind five days out from the kick-off.

Go me.

I figure maybe if I keep signing up, one of these days I’ll pull it off.

Okay, in all seriousness, what it comes down to is the fact that November is just a crazy busy month for me, with birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. I have several other writing projects on my plate already which will be taking my attention first, as I committed to those first. So, in all seriousness, don’t take my “sarcasm” as anything other than being realistic. I can only do what I can do. I’m not superwoman.

Who knows. Maybe I’ll pull it off after all. Sometimes, I get started writing and I don’t know when to stop. Perhaps that will happen again when/if I come up with a plot idea and characters.

I really and truly think NaNoWriMo is a brilliant idea. I do, and I’m curious if any of my readers are signed up to do it and would like to be writing buddies over there?

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In a related topic, what is your favorite book genre? Do you have a must-read to recommend? Hit me with any and all suggestions!