NaNoWriMoWHAT?!

I bet I’ve checked my email more times in the last two weeks than you have. And sweated more while I was doing it. I mean, after you’ve written a novel, and then hurled it lovingly into the void, what else is there to do but strain your ears for a little voice that says, “Ooh.” I did receive one note from an agent (one with whom I would LOVE to work) requesting 75 pages and a full synopsis. So. More waiting. And checking. And sweating. And trying with all my might not to get my hopes up too high. In an effort to shift my focus, if such a thing in possible, I’ve decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo as the cool kids call it), which is every November. I did NaNo once before, when I was pregnant with my second daughter, which is how I produced the first draft of Something Dreaming. The idea of doing it again is both more and less intimidating. More, because the first time, I had a much more fully formed idea in my head, and this time, while it’s more than a nugget, there’s still much to develop. It’s less intimidating because I’ve done it before—not just participated in NaNoWriMo, but seen a story from its inception to a solid third draft, which obviously took more than just the month of November. Not only that, but I learned a lot about the mechanics of novel-writing along the way. I thought, because I’d earned an MFA that I basically got it. But, as some/many/ most of you know, the focus of fiction MFA programs tends to be on short stories, as stories are more conducive to the workshop format than novels. And despite being a regular reader of novels, and even some books on novel-writing, it took doing it (having the help of a fantastic editor with an amazing understanding of how novels work didn’t hurt, either) to know that I can do it again. Also BONUS: I talked a friend into doing it with me. Actually, there was no talking-into involved. I was all “NaNo this year?” and she was all, “YEAH!” And of course, even if this little idea of mine completely falls apart, I’m still generating wordsthoughtsideas. A stopped-clock-is-right-twice-a-day, and all that. 

So, I’ll plan to check back here with updates throughout the month. If I don’t, that means I’m writing, so win-win. And for those of you who are only here for cute pup pics. Here you go. Rosie (chihuahua mix, left) and Foreaux (corgi, right) in a rare moment of near-snuggle.