NaNoWriMo 2014 (+ Giveaway!)

Every January I tell myself this is the year I won't participate in National Novel Writing Month. It's no longer for me, I don't have time, I need to take my writing more seriously than speed-writing a 50,000-word novel-shaped thing in a month. And then October rolls around, and I have to admit to myself that for the past 10 months I never took my writing more seriously, and now I'm allowing yet another year to go by without pursuing my dream of becoming a published novelist. Suddenly, the craziness of Nanowrimo doesn't seem like something I've grown out of - it looks like a lifeline to getting some writing done this year, even if it probably won't be publishable. But better something than nothing at all! So I log into nanowrimo.org, update my profile, pick a story, and impatiently count down the days until November 1st.

My last two Nanowrimo attempts have been fails, though. Life and health and blogging got in the way, as they do. But this year, I'm determined to do this - 50,000 words in 1 month. The thought of it scares the heck out of me (a good day generates about 1k words for me - how am I going to keep up 1.6k a day??), but I have done it 6 times before so I know I'm capable of participating in and winning this madness! Somehow.

Unfortunately, the biggest competitor for my writing time is this blog. So it is with apologies that I announce I am taking a blog hiatus in November. Rest assured it won't go completely silent - I think I have a tour or two already scheduled, and if I make word count and still have the energy to move a mouse I'll see about doing some of my regular features. But unless I'm able to schedule them before November, there probably won't be any reviews. I hate to do it, but they eat up the most time, and sacrifices must be made. I hope you'll stick with me in the interim.

So what will I be writing this November? I've decided to go in with a Contemporary Fantasy entitled Driving Mr. Wizard - you can check out the summary here. Of course anyone who knows me knows that I don't tend to stick with the same story over the month, but I have high hopes for this one so we'll see what happens. ;) Follow me on Twitter (@skyelyte) for possible updates on my progress (again if I still have the energy to move a mouse), and Buddy me on Nanowrimo if you're participating! I'm nekowriternyan.

Speaking of participating, who else is doing Nanowrimo this year?? Sound off in the Comments below with a link to your Nanowrimo profile and you'll be entered to win this Nanowrimo prize pack! (It has NINJAS and STICKERS and a BUTTON - YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT.)

Includes "write your own story" notecards, various Nanowrimo stickers,
"Imagination Activated" Nanowrimo button, and 2 plastic ninjas.

I used to be an ML (Municipal Liaison, aka leader) for my local Region, and over the years I've accumulated leftover Nanowrimo contraband and prizes and the like. So I thought I'd pass some of it along to my readers this year! (My overflowing closet insists.) I'll pick a winner the first week of November and DM them through their Nanowrimo profile. (US only)

Only a few more days until November! Let's do this.