Friday, October 21, 2011

To NaNo or Not to NaNo...




So I was at work, fighting sleep and pondering this whole NaNoWriMo question. Whether or not to participate this year. For anyone who doesn't know, NaNoWriMo (henceforth referred to as NaNo for the purposes of brevity) is this thing where you write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It happens every November.

I have done NaNo in the past though most I have bailed halfway through. I think one year I "won" but it was only through manipulation of Microsoft Word and the addition of so much useless typing that it wasn't exactly regulation. Another year I wrote a book, then halfway through it decided I needed to rewrite it with another character.

I actually made a list, pros and cons. It wasn't a very organized list. How
could it be at 3 am? There is the rules component. I don't do well with rules. Then there is the time element. Work, a business on the side, kids, house, husband, etc. When am I supposed to work on this? Maybe with a TARDIS and lots of caffeine I could eek out a few hours.

The perks. I'd be writing. It has been almost two years since I've sat down and tried to work on anything larger than an email. This will be my test. Can I really do this writing thing? Should I?

At the end of it, I realized "who am I kidding?" I was going to NaNo anyway. I can't resist a challenge.

Which begs the question of what to write? That was another conversation. Saved for another blog post!

Suffice to say, I'm throwing my hat into the NaNo ring. Again. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to stock up on coffee and kidnap a Time Lord.


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

And You Call Yourself A Fantasy Writer??

October is a big month. Not only does it feature Chocolate Week (starting on the 10th, this according to Twitter), but it is National Book Month. I saw this post on a friend's Facebook wall from Writer's Digest. The gist of the article is a challenge to pick up a book that you've been meaning to read and read it.

So many books! However, I feel like it is time to delve into a classic in the realm of Fantasy. A book that I confess I have not read. Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien.


Wait, how is it possible that a Fantasy writer and a fan of the genre has not read that? Good question, one for which I don't have a decent answer. Late bloomer to the Fantasy genre? Had never heard of the book? Perhaps. It wasn't exactly required reading in high school.

Whatever the reason, I plan to rectify my failure to read this Fantasy classic and hopefully, retain my Fantasy Geek card.

Updates to follow!