NaNoWriMo...

Are you in or just watching the panic from a safe distance?

Me?  I'm in.  Today is day one of the thirty day marathon.  I have participated ... counting this time ... a total of 11 yrs.  I did it the 2nd year of existence on a lark with a friend and there was 8 of us in the group.  Since there was only something like 140 people participating that year -- that makes us more than 5% of the participants.  Wow.  Our group was basically me, in Ohio and them in parts of Oregon and California.

Unfortunately I didn't complete it that year due to my father passing away in October.  I thought it would be a good thing to help me think about other stuff but my mom was in need of help.  PLUS, of all the things to attempt to write -- a cookbook?  Really?  I got so wrapped up with formatting recipes and making sure it looked right and well...  Okay, I got over 35k written on my pecan cookbook and it has languished in cyberspace ever since.  Really should pull that puppy out -- it has some super great recipes.  Something to consider in 2012...

Anyway, I skipped  2001 and then was sucked back into it in 2002 with a totally different friend who was local.  Needless to say, I completed the marathon and had a complete, but rough, novel.  I've been doing it every year since, always saying I won't do it again and yet finding a story screaming inside my head and wanting to be free.  So I relent and jump on the chaotic merry-go-round of National Novel Writing Month.  I'm really psyched about this year's story.  You can read the first chapter and what my novel is about at http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/lore/novels/the-voice

So, how many of you are attempting it?  Share with me your anguish, your sorrow, your fears, your joy, your tears and anything you think will help all of us finish this craziness we've joined.

Hmm?  Wonder if I can count this as part of my 50k?  Probably not, so I'll keep it short.

Be sure to share and by all means, let me know if you cross the finish line with 50k whether you're done with the novel or not.  My one buddy usually does upwards of 100k... I think last year he did even more.  He's such an overachiever. LOL.

Until next I ramble on...