NaNoWriMo Begins

In a few hours, I will start Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) for the fourth time. I'm going in to it a bit differently than I have in the past.

Normally, I have a solid idea of my plot, am working on an action type story to keep things moving along, and have a pretty detailed outline when I begin. I have succeeded every year for the past three, even though last year was the hardest of them all. This time, I'm REALLY challenging myself. I'm doing a realistic fictional novel with no horror or action elements, I only have the first chapter in mind, and don't know if I will even get something readable.

I'm going to use my blog to keep people updated about my progress, not just with word count, but what I'm doing to keep myself moving forward so I don't become one of the people who falls by the wayside. I read where less than 30% of people finish, which means that even if I just judge myself against my past, I'm probably due for a year in which I fail.

Sound down on myself? Probably. I have a lot going on right now, and the fact that I'm doing this in the face of all of it is the triumph of willpower...so, be prepared as I chronicle the highs and lows of the whole experience.

I decided to stay up and be one of the people who starts writing at midnight, partly because I want to get going on it, and partly because I have a LOT to do tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll get a lot of writing time. I know I have Wednesday off, but it's important for me to get out of the gate fast and keep momentum during the first week.

I was profiled on MPR's "All Things Considered" today, so I feel the need to update my website as well as work on the novel, since some people may start looking about for me to see if I am really doing this. There's also a picture of me, and link to the whole story, so you can hear what I sound like. They say they will be checking in over the next few weeks, so I hope I can be entertaining for them.

And you.