Are you a planner? Are you one of those people who looks ahead, sets goals and strategizes how they are going to accomplish their ideas? Have you ever noticed the similarities in the words ‘idea’ and ‘ideal’?
Both my husband and I do our share of planning. Whenever we collaborate we usually finish our planning session with raised eyebrows and a smirk on our lips. One of us will invariably say, “Well, it looks good on paper. Let’s see how it works in real life.” It used to feel like a Mac Truck ran us over when our ideal ideas did not work out exactly the way we hoped. After being smashed to pieces a few times we have wised up a bit and learned to be on the look out for large oncoming vehicles when we set about with out neat little plans. Instead of getting caught like a dear in the headlights we have learned to adjust and let the creative juices flow as we adapt to the reality of a less than ideal world.
All that to say: I have a plan. The plan commences four weeks from today (Sunday). The date will be November 1, 2009. My plan is to start writing a novel. Then, for the 30 days following I (along with thousands of other people around the world) will get my ideas out of me into print. The goal is 50,000 words. Lofty? Probably. Impossible? Nope.
It is called National Novel Writing Month, or the more endearing nickname: NaNoWriMo.
The outline is scratched out in pencil in a little notebook waiting patiently on my desk. Oh, I am just so excited! It may mean that I am less present here at the @. Maybe not. I might share tid-bits of the story as I go. I might not. This is my first year as a participant. We’ll see how my ideal ideas play out in real life.
Here is a fun little logo for you to look at. If you click it you will be taken to the home page for NaNoWriMo; careful, you might get sucked in! Let me know if you decide to participate so we can cheer each other on.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Fun! Good luck to you! I am not a writer by any stretch of the imagination but I do love to read, and have great respect for those that can write well. I do enjoy your writing and think that you have a way with words. I think you will write a wonderful novel!
Yay! Bring November on!
kudos to you, gigi! that is no small endeavor — look forward to hearing the victory in your voice at the end of november!
I’m so excited for you and this fun project! May it be the beginning of something even BIGGER in your writing career!!
Big, big hugs!