Ye gads and little fishes! November is just around the corner, and you know what that means… Well, yes; the holiday season is fast approaching. Better get that meal plan ready for Thanksgiving and those Christmas letters written. Make those lists and check them twice. Either it’s the most wonderful time of the year… or it’s the saddest, depending on the point of view.

However, I was referring to National Novel Writing Month—or NaNoWriMo, for brevity’s sake.

NaNoWriMo

I’m officially participating for the first time and my plan is to complete the first draft of Wyldling Trials, book two of the Wyldling Dream Series. Or is it the second draft? Third? All I know is that the result will be a Frankenstein mash-up of old and new scribblings. Originally, Wyldling Snare (book one, which is published and available on Amazon) and Wyldling Trials were both part of a huge tome that comprised the entire series. It’s been through multiple revisions already.

In NaNoWriMo, the goal is to write 50,000 words. I tried to change it because I don’t need to write that much to finish the book, but 50K seems to be the default setting. Oh, well, I’ll find a way to fill it in. One thing I’m good at is writing a lot of words. Most of them unnecessary by modern standards; people don’t seem to enjoy reading detailed descriptions nowadays. I’m just not very quick about generating those words… which is the problem. As you know, November has thirty days. In order to meet the 50k word goal, I would need to write (doing some math) roughly 1,667 words—every day! On a good weekday, I can hammer out maybe 1,000 words, tops. I write more over the weekends, naturally, because I don’t have to work for the Day Job. Most days… brace yourself… I don’t write at all.

It all boils down to my writing style. Generally, I am incapable of throwing words on a page without editing them. Some people are wired this way and I appear to be one of them. I’m constantly slipping a muzzle on my Internal Editor, but she’s a wily old… coyote. So, I’ve learned to live with her and work around her, as needed.

First, I need a plan.

My husband is already well aware I’m participating in NaNoWriMo; communicating with the people in your life is a crucial element for success.

Step one is to organize my schedule. When will I write? A ginormous chunk of my week is dedicated to the Day Job, but I can make adjustments. I’ve been setting an alarm and rising earlier in the morning. This should carve at least half an hour out of my weekdays for writing. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays I rarely have evening commitments, so there’s another opportunity to write for an hour or two.

Next step: where will I write during these times? There are three places I write:

• home
• the library
• coffee shop

My house is noisy when we’re all at home. The boys love watching obnoxious YouTube videos at top volume—and they are early risers. Fortunately, the youngest has discovered books he actually enjoys reading, so I’m able to divert his attention along quieter channels. The eldest is busy running gaming campaigns in the basement… and we have no walls or doors to separate my work area from his noise. I suppose Mom will need to Lay Down the Law for November. Certain hours will be designated Quiet Time in our household. Disobey at your own peril, for you will face the Wrath of Mom.

Alternatively, I could go to the library. They have opening and closing times, which of course, sets a limit on when I can use their facilities. And I have learned that the library is not necessarily a quiet place to work. However, there are two conference rooms—nearly soundproof—available for two-hour increments. I’ve availed myself of this resource when other patrons decided to have rather lengthy (and loud) conversations in the desk/work area. Sometimes putting in earbuds and listening to instrumental music helps to drown out ambient noise if both the rooms are in use.

Coffee shops are busy and noisy places to work, but many people do it. Here, wearing earbuds and listening to music is a must for me. I also feel expected to buy a beverage and a scone if I’m taking a table. Therefore, the coffee shop is a last resort while I’m in the weight loss program. I love scones, muffins, and coffee drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas, but those are not on the menu right now. Regular coffee is an acceptable substitute, though. I’ve gained a tolerance if not a taste for plain coffee. Often I cheat and add a splash of cream with Stevia.

A Segue

I’ve just about exhausted this topic for now, so now I’ll switch gears and remind you about the free fantasy short story promotion that’s running until the end of October. I entered two short stories, “Wyldling Hope” and “Traveler’s Song,” both of which take place in the Tehara universe. There are quite a few short works by other authors that look interesting—some are about dragons! I’ve downloaded a few and added them to my To Be Read List. Once I’ve read them, I’ll do a little review for each.

This November will truly put my abilities to the test, but I believe I’m up for the challenge. I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength (paraphrasing Philippians 4:13). Above all, I am writing this series for God’s glory. If it is His will that I finish a book and publish it, then I will finish the book and publish it. End of story. I appreciate any prayers, though. And I appreciate you reading my ramblings, too. Thank you, friend, for being here. You are a blessing. 🙂