NaNoWriMo

I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time this year. (National Novel Writing Month). Basically, from Nov 1-30 you attempt to write 175 pages. A few friends of mine and I set a more realistic goal of 20 pages and attempted to write something substantial for the first time in years. It was a big assignment. One of the best things about being a writer is having support from fellow writers and the online community at NaNoWriMo was helpful for this project. They send you about 3 pep talks a week during the month of November; helping you through the process of character development, plot, getting blocked, and pushing through the dead weeds. It felt really good to work on a serious project, and to start thinking like a writer again.

I'll definitely participate next year...and I'm recruiting you too!

I wrote 17 pages in the month of November. The character is a smart 15 year old girl. Scenes are set in the classroom of a Geology professor, on various geological digs, and flashacks to childhood. Themes include "coming of age", solitude, time/history, family, and the disovery of love and other rare gems. My plot has not been developed but there are enough metaphors for 20 poems.