A NaNo or a WriMo?

I have 2 days and just over 8 hours left before NaNoWriMo 2011.

National Novel Writing Month was founded 1n 1999 by Chris Baty author of:


He and twenty-one friends took on the challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Some reached the goal. Others didn't. But the bug has spread worldwide.

This year, I'm joining the many ambitious writers who will take part in the frenzied, somewhat-social-but-not-so-much-that-it-holds-you-back, word-count focused event which is NaNoWriMo.

Now, because it is word-count focused and not really content focused, we are supposed to be at ease in the process, not needing to get every. word. right. Right now. But this also means we have to shut off the internal editor that wants to analyze each chapter, page, paragraph, sentence, word, punctuation, formatting, font choice. On and on.

I'm taking on the challenge of beginning the second book in my YA series. The first of which is in the final revision stages in the hopes that I would have sent out a query letter by the end of October. When fishing for an agent, the bait has to be set just right. This causes me to overthink things. I have to remember that in order to get a fish on my line, my hook does have to eventually get wet.

So, I'll be doing double duty for the first part of November-- finishing up my chapter summaries; crafting a tight, intriguing query; and making sure my sample chapters are in tip-top shape. As well as dive in to the highly-caffeinated NaNoWriMo world of words on paper. Okay, screens, too.

The participants of NaNoWriMo are sometimes called NaNo's, sometimes WriMo's. Since NaNo sounds like my trusty little mobile .mp3 player, and WriMo rings slightly of an over-large, thick-skinned herbivore I'm not sure which I relate to. By December 1st, I would love to say I "won" the challenge. But I'll settle for I "survived."


November's motto:
Write Now, Ask questions later.

SDCWG Fall Conference

On September 25^th and 26^th I had the pleasure of attending my second San Diego Christian Writer's Guild Fall Conference. At the Friday night Round Table I witnessed the Awards Ceremony for 2009's best fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc. of the Guild members.

Congratulations to~

Susan Meissner, for The Shape of Mercy (fiction), and

Bob Hamer, for The Last Undercover (Non-fiction)

[Both books are on my To-Be-Read bookshelf]

I also received good information on the Christian book market from the panel of speakers.

I woke early on Saturday morning and rechecked my book proposal then took time to pray with my husband, T.Michael, before I set out. Sign-ups for the faculty consultations started at 7:45 and my number was 34 out of who knows how many. I have a slight tendency to run late, so I usually have my car's clock set seven minutes fast. Call me crazy but it works (sometimes). Except that on my way I realized I'd reset it the day before because I was picking up my in-laws at the airport and I didn't want them to think I was late. Oops.

So, while I thought I had seven extra minutes before sign-ups began, I was actually officially running late. By the time I got there they were past the numbered order of signing up and it was a free-for-all. The agent and the editor that I was hoping to sit with were all filled up. Oh bother.

But alas, they were not a perfect fit anyway. The editor only dealt with non-fiction, and the agent didn't usually represent Young Adult fiction nor did she generally sign new authors. So, it was not a total loss. Instead, I sat with two authors: Jack Cavanaugh and Susan Meissner. I asked them questions and they looked over my proposal: a one-page write-up about me and my book. Why I'm qualified to write it, a brief summary of the book (think jacket blurb), and target audience. Also, my one-page synopsis that succinctly outlined the entire book, followed by two sample chapters.

Both authors were hugely encouraging and gave helpful feedback on my writing. I was encouraged to take the next step of finding an agent.

And so I will. And you'll get to follow me as I do so, through the highs and the lows, as I pray all the while for wisdom and discernment in the decisions to be made.