And it's Novel Writing Month Again

I first participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2008. I had just signed a contract for my first book, and I was ready to launch into something new. Because I knew I would have both edits for my first book, and our annual Thanksgiving getaway sometime during the month, I really made sure to get lots of words in at the beginning of the month.

In fact, I got so many words in that I finished my 50,000 words in two weeks. A writing feat I have never since duplicated. During that time I wrote the complete first draft for my book Emily's Song, a time travel adventure, which I've just finished revising and am about to start shopping around to agents.

The following year, I was ready to repeat my accomplishment. I had an idea and was excited about starting, and then at the beginning of November I got sick with the dreaded Swine Flu. Being sick for a week knocked my momentum off, I lost interest in my story idea, and I didn't write a novel that month.

But, I'm not one to be discouraged. Last year I knew I'd try again. But, I couldn't start something from scratch. I had a book I was revising. And I needed to finish doing that, I was 30,000 words in on my revisions, and knew I needed to get to at least 80,000, so I let that be my NaNo goal, and I made it. And that book - Reality Ali, will be coming out next spring. So that's a definite NaNoWriMo success story.

And now November has started and it's time to enjoy the craziness of trying to write another novel. I've had an idea percolating, so yesterday I dug in and got started. We'll see what this year will bring (hopefully not the Swine Flu again. Been there/done that).

Do you NaNo?