Ahh, National Novel Writing Month, you are here once again.
I signed up for the writing marathon this year, but I’m somewhat second guessing that decision today. I’m not usually one to set myself up for failure.
My first day of NaNo last year was spent chasing squirrels, and I logged a big fat zero for word count. Each day I fell farther behind, and by Thanksgiving, I was ready to throw in the towel. But then it clicked, and the words poured out onto the keyboard. I wrote 22,000 words over the next four days. I finished Windy City Hunter on November 26, and I published the book on December 21. I was proud to grab my first NaNoWriMo badge.
So why not do the same thing this year?
Because Susan Hunter is still in Canada, that’s why. When I last saw 
her around three a.m. this morning, she was fishing for muskie. It’s going to take a while yet to get her back home.
Maple Leaf Hunter is the one book I promised for 2013, and not only do I want to keep my promise, I want to finish the book. It’s shaping up to be a lot of fun, and there’s a Sasquatch (my brothers will be delighted). With over 20,000 words yet to write, I’m going to go into November with Susan Hunter. When the book is finished, I’ll take a day or two to make an editing pass, and then I’ll set it aside and move on to NaNo.
The book I intend to write for NaNo is Murder is Where the Heart Is, the second book in the Two Sisters and a Journalist series. I only have the bare bones of the story in my mind, but I’m looking forward to the challenge of penning 50,000 words toward it in November. I’m not confident about reaching the goal, but I’m not defeated before I start either.
So, I’ll see you later NaNoWriMo. Probably around November 10.
If you are participating, are you ready?
Breezy Books 
It seems like you’re on a constant cycle of NaNo. So productive you are! I’m not participating. Too busy getting the current novel finalized. Hoping to send a partial out to an agent tomorrow.
NaNo cycle – it does feel like it here at the end of the year. I slacked off pretty good over the summer though.
I’m really looking forward to your new book. The one I just finished is in the hands of an editor. I’m biting my nails until I get it back.
I know the feeling…
You’re both heroes in my book – if I finished a book, that is.
🙂
Coincidentally, I just posted about it. I think I will do it (there is no try; there is only do).
If you join in, there is no doubt in my mind you will accomplish your goal, Emilio. 🙂
Ok, I will *do* 70,000+ words in November.
I’m participating this year, and I definitely prepped more than last year, but I don’t know if you can really be “ready.” 🙂
Christi, I had wonderful plans for being ready to hit the ground running, but I never got around to finalizing them. Good luck to you! It will be fun to see how we all do. 🙂
Ah Maddie my disappearing friend! You don’t have to put so much pressure on yourself, if you can’t do 50,000 words for Nano no big deal. You write all year and big time! So hey, don’t worry so much about it. 🙂
Oh, the competitive person that I am is not really worried. I’m excited and relishing the prospect of doing the 70,000+ words. I bet I come close. 😉
Oh my bets on you for sure! 🙂
How did you do today? I think about you off and on all day long. 🙂 I logged 5133 words today – but not for NaNo. !! Still need 17,000 words to finish Maple Leaf Hunter. And I’m almost at the climax already. Argghhh!
Maddie! I didn’t get my quota again. I will send you an email this morning. You will do it girl! Gotta stretch those words out! Hmmm last minute something? You can do it!
NaNoWriMo? Not I said the critic, who has been enthralled by the Siren call of writer’s block for a month; not even a short story has blossomed. My new novel sits all alone in some corner of the computer…waiting, waiting, for words.
Do you have any old diaries or stories or letters – anything that you wrote years ago? Get one of those building blocks out and stand on it! Try something completely different. Or grab a bottle of Scotch and go have a few drinks with that lonely novel in your computer. That reminds me! I forgot to stock the liquor cabinet!
Building Blocks? Did you happen to read the October 21st one…at the end of the post “And for some real writing ‘building blocks’, I recommend you read…”?
I’m going to look now! I’ve been writing like crazy these past couple weeks and missing blog posts!
And it reminds me to look for that unopened bottle of bourbon at my parents’ again. l couldn’t find it yesterday and l want to use lt for a bourbon BBQ chicken recipe.
I love cooking with bourbon. One of my favorite chicken recipes uses bourbon.
My grandma made bourbon balls that were lethal so after l make the chlcken, l want to try those. She never wrote any of her reclpes down, but l found one that’s close. l love cooklng wlth w(h)lne also.
You are brilliantly insane, woman. Go for it. 🙂
🙂
see you around the 10th, Maddie. l am ready or l will be after work tomorrow when l get back from going to my parents’ old house again with a friend from work who is going to work on the water and do whatever he has to do. l’m not a Lowe’s person, but everybody says he’s right so he’ll do his thing and l’ll pack up a few more boxes. Today, l am beat. l left work early yesterday to work over there and then my friend’s husband picked me up and l talked to my parents’ old neighbor, who did some repair work…lt looks wonderful.
Today l had to take off because l had to be wlth my dad at the eye doctor (Greg drove us). Then he want up to visit my mom for a couple of minutes.
For NaNoWriMo, l’ll be writing different stuff than l originally thought, too. There are some characters who won;t leave me alone so Seth and Naomi and my mystery romantic comedy is on the back burner.
Back to work tomorrow unless they decide to have a NaNoWrlMo N’tl holiday.
Hope your day went well today, Nancy. Glad you’re getting help over at the house; I’m not a Lowe’s person either. Also happy to hear you’re writing something new, too. I’m finding it a lot of fun. Good luck with NaNo!
Thanks, Maddle. Yesterday dld go pretty well, although my plans changed after l got to work. The ppes were postpned untlll Monday and l ended up leavlng early and golng to the old house for a few mlnutes. Greg plcked up some boxes there for me so l wouldn’t have to walk up that blg step agaln and he looked for the bourbon but couldn’t flnd lt elther. And lf he can’;t flnd lt, nobody can because he;s the human GPS…LOL.
Thanks for the NaNo luck!
The plpes were postponed…boy, l can’t walt tll my new keyboard gets here
No is easy for me to say because I’m not a novelist in any sense.
🙂 But you are a great blogger!! I may not get to visit you regularly until after November, but I do catch you in my reader every now and then. I tried to come up with a song for the last time installment, but I saw Minute by Minute (Doobie Brothers) was already taken, and I didn’t have time (a pun!) to come up with another. Things will ease up for me before Christmas.
No problem … I’ll see you when your head rises from the grindstone. Good luck!
You are an inspiration to me. Good Luck!
Thank you, Valerie. You are, too. I think your cover change is exciting, and the new book looks fabulous, too. 🙂
Whether or not you reach your NaNoWriMo goal, Maddie, you will get that novel done. I have faith.
Thank you, Mary. I always appreciate your support. If nothing else, it will be fun – and *I am* having fun. I read a passage from my Susan book to Rich this morning. It had the effect I hoped, and he laughed pretty hard. 🙂
You’ll do it, Maddie. I know you will. It will be just the same. It will all just hit you like a ton of bricks & you’ll be typing away at the speed of light.
Thank you, DD! I have the family on board to give me space. We’ve even notified family that we’re staying home on Thanksgiving!! 🙂
That can actually be fun sometimes. Just cozy up with some turkey, your laptop, and a very large bottle of wine…
Haha!
I’m no more ready than I was last year – though I was full of great intentions end of November ’12 for this year ha ha ha!
I’m starting with the 15,000 I got up to last year and going from there – only cheating myself…
Haha! You go, Annie! Starting with last year’s novel is just fine. It’ll be finished in no time. 🙂
🙂
You inspire me, Miss Maddie!
Thank you, Michelle. I appreciate your kind words, but it is you who inspires daily with your blog posts! 🙂
Wow, Maddie! That is such a very kind compliment. Good luck this month:)
Is there any way you could put your old manual typewriter on a little stand with wheels, so you could type and chase squirrels at the same time? It’s called multi-tasking, I believe… : )
I tried your approach, Mr. Armstrong, and the neighbors called animal control and the police!
It’s four a.m., and I’m finally home from lockup.
Haha i remember the first day of your last NaNo but what a great book you gave us! To be so full of ideas and about to start the journey of soon finishing another two books, well… I wish I was you!
And sometimes, I wish I was you, you cute little chimp. 🙂
Seriously, this still freaks me out at times. I’ve written 13,318 words over the last three days. And that’s not for NaNo; that’s for Susan. That Sasquatch has her in such a pickle!
I appreciate your support, MM/DH. You’re the best! xoxoxoxo
Hahaha poor Susan!!! Thx Mde!!! xoxo
Awesome! Good luck on your goal.
Thank you so much! This writing marathon is why I haven’t been by for bruise updates or tales on the farm. Hopefully, the bruise is better, and I’ll see you as soon as I can. Thanks for stopping by!
You are so sweet. So I’m bringing news of the bruise to you. It has faded like it was never there. 😀
I thought I’d play this year, but it’s looking like I won’t… life this year is NOT cooperating!
Hi Kate! Has it really been a month since you left this comment? 😉 November was swallowed up by writing and NaNo. Hope you’re doing well, and it would be fun to read about one of your Christmas adventures – if you are so inclined to blog about one. 🙂 Are you and Annie still getting out and about?
Miss you. Hope you’re doing well w/ NaNo! I wish I had your determination.
I realized I missed some comments, Kris. November was a blur. With so much writing behind me now, I should be able to visit with you more often. Hope you’re enjoying Christmas preparations!
It’s all good. Nah, I’m not doing much for Christmas aside from artwork for presents. Can’t make it home for the holidays.
It’s all good. Nah, I’m not doing much for Christmas aside from artwork for presents. Can’t make it home for the holidays.
We are new to your beautiful blog by way of mutual blogging buddy Carrie Rubin. 22,000 words…unbelievable. That’s dedication my dear. We haven’t participated in NaNoWriMo yet, but we’ve been so busy with our books, that we felt it would take from them. But we can appreciate the work that would take to do something like that in a small window of time. And earning your badge…kudos to you!! 🙂
Hello, ladies!! I am so sorry to be so late in responding to your comment. NaNoWriMo took so much of my time, and I’m rushing to get a book ready to publish this month. Thank you so much for stopping by. Carrie Rubin is wonderful, and I’m glad you came here via her blog. I’m off to check out your blog right now!! 🙂