The Great Adventure

It’s a good news, bad news scenario.

First the good news. I finally am making time for writing–my writing, the stuff that ruminates in the back of my mind when I am busy doing other stuff here at the University. When I am writing articles for Southwestern Spirit magazine, playing webmaster, teaching classes or sitting in committee meetings, my body is there, but my spirit is…writing. I have survived the first two months of the school year, all the time committing to the idea of National Novel Writing Month–or NaNoWriMo, as many know it–50,000 words in the 30 days of November. It’s insane, and just the task of saying you will do it is often the biggest obstacle. But once you’re rolling, I find myself in the zone, and refreshed with the understanding that the only thing that matters is writing 1,666 words a day.

Now the bad news. I am excited. I am also petrified. I’ve done it two years–2008 and 2009–but found reasons not to participate the last couple of years. One thing I have learned is to not broadcast it at the workplace, because they get the idea that they aren’t giving you enough work to do. Also, you need to apologize in advance to your family and any significant others for being in your “cave” for the next 30 days. I am almost at the point of backing out again. Almost.

Right now, I am spending time outlining the proposed book I want to work on. I’m cheating somewhat, because the book is already started. It’s my post-apocalyptic version of Pilgrim’s Progress called Infinity’s Reach. I have gone through a chapter outline once, and as usual, am unhappy with how it is turning out, so I suspect I will outline it a few more times before November 1. In the meantime, I am actually getting inspired about another book I want to write eventually. This always happens to me; I usually get down to the night before NaNoWriMo before I officially commit to what book I am going to write. But even though I have ideas for book B, I know that Infinity’s Reach is a lot more developed, and I am less likely to sputter and die if I stick with it.

The biggest challenge is going to be getting inspired, and I think that will come once I put pen to paper again. Or fingers to keyboard. Whatever.

In any case, I will keep you guys in the loop. And if you’re crazy enough, I invite you to join me. Visit the website for NaNoWriMo to find out more.