I know it’s September 1st and not November 1st, but this year I’m doing something a bit different.  Every November 1,000s of people around the world set out to complete the insane NaNoWriMo task of writing a novel in 30 days.  I am one of those insane people.  It may sound easy, but I can assure you, it’s not.  November 1st – 30th you sit down to write that novel.  That’s 50,000 words in 30 days.  A plot, a story, a tale being told.  It becomes…what’s the level above crazy?  Well, that’s what it becomes.  This year I’ve decided to do a few things differently. 

One, I’m actually preparing in advance what I’m going to write and where it’s going.  I’m one of those seat of my pants writers where I let the story develop as I’m writing.  That’s fine, but I want to learn to incorporate plotting into my game plan.  This year I’m taking the time to create a road map.

Second, I’m going to work on a book of non-fiction.  I know the whole point is to write that novel you’ve been putting off.  For me this year, it’s all about writing that book I’ve been putting off.  There are so many works of fiction racing around my head right now, but this non-fiction work is front and center.  So, the best way to move it out of the way is to get it out of my head.

My goal for NaNoWriMo 2009 is to write a 50,000 word book.  By 11:59 pm, November 30th, I will have completed a book which is a major accomplishment.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year?  Are you plotting or plan to wing it?

• Literary Agency Internship — New York, NY
• Freelance Fiction Editor
• Technical Writer — Minneapolis, MN
• Technical Writer — Fort Worth, TX
• Technical Writer — Lexington, MA
• Bilingual Proofreader — Irvine, CA
• Proofreader — New York, NY
• Proofreader — Westbury, NY
• Copywriter — Los Angeles, CA
• Copywriter — Williamsville, NY
• Freelance Web Content Writers — Santa Monica, CA

Here are jobs available for writers.  I’m still working out the best way to present them to you, but for now, here’s what I’ve found for today. 

This list may be updated throughout the day, so check back for new listings.

• Technical Writer — New London, CT
• Technical Writer — Baton Rouge, LA
• Grant Writer — Park Hills, MO
• Writer/Associate Editor — Montgomery, AL
• Multimedia Journalist — Buffalo, NY
• Sports Writer — McAllen, TX
• Sports Reporter — Helena, MT
• Sports Writer — Presque Isle, ME
• Technical Writer — Research Triangle Park, NC
• Technical Writer — Raleigh, NC
• Technical Writer/Trainer — Atlanta, GA
• Deputy Web Editor — San Diego, CA
• Communications Writer, Senior — Tucson, AZ
• Freelance Writer, Web — Schaumburg, IL
• Freelance Poker Gossip Writer
• Freelance Copy Editor

Do you know of a job for writers?  Let us know in the comments below.

Double Crossed

I walked to the corner of City Avenue looking at the darkening sky.  I knew there was supposed to be rain, but this looked like more than the usual rain.  I crossed the street and started my trek up Wynnewood Road.  While walking I could feel the eyes of passing drivers.  They saw the sky and they saw me.  There was no shelter and no where to run if the heavens decided to open and pour out torrential rains.

I tried not to think about the weather and instead of looking at the passing cars, I looked up at the sky over the seminary.  Swirls of gray and black clouds hung over the roofs of the seminary.  It was then that things seemed to slow down.  The close rumble of thunder quicken my steps.  I had to beat the storm.  There was no way I was going to go into full freak out mode on Wynnewood Road. The sounds of the iPod would help drown out the thunder.  

As much as I tried not to, I found myself looking at the sky again.  I was transfixed on the way the clouds created threatening coils and swirls.  I looked at the trees lining the street and saw the first flash of lightening.  Oh, God!  No!  Please Lord, let me make it to work before the storm hits.  I looked up and down the street.  There really was no place for me to run for shelter.  The only place there was to go was forward.

The next bolt of lightening hit the field on the far right of the main gates.  The main gates, where I would have to enter in order to reach shelter.  Lord, please surround me with your protect.  Please keep me safe from this storm.  Please God.  Please protect me.  From the corner of my eye I saw another flash.  The trees where coming to an end and the rain was beginning to fall.  It was coming to hard and fast not to open the umbrella.  One more thing to attract the lightening. 

As the tree line ended on the left, I tried not to walk to close to the wrought iron spiked gate that ran the length of the seminary on my left.  This situation was getting worse by the second.  Finally reaching the main gates, I looked toward the library and saw another lightening strike.  Ok, I’ll have to take the tunnel this morning.  There is no way I’m walking out here.  The music will make the tunnel less spooky.  Nothing is worse than this. 

If there was no shelter on the street, there was even less now that I entered the seminary gates.  There was nothing but open fields.  I walked quickly toward the Center House, the main building of the seminary.

“You better get out of this!”  Bob yelled from the small guard’s gatehouse.

“I’m trying!”

I looked back toward my point of shelter and saw a lightening strike hit the cross on the roof of the building.  I closed the umbrella and ran toward the gatehouse.  Turning around to look at the Center House, two more security guards waved me over to the building.

“I’m not going back out there!  Are they crazy!?!”

Just then a call came over the radio. “Bob, get out of the gatehouse.  Get over to Center House.”

Bob looked at me and out at the continuing strikes. “You ready to go?”

“No!”

“We have to get out of here.”

I took a deep breath.  “Ok, let’s go.”

We took a few steps and moved toward the Center House.  Lightening hit the field to the left of us and we bolted back into the gatehouse.

“I can’t go out there!”  I screamed in the little space. 

“We have to.  Come on!”

I look out at another strike and then held my breath. “Ok, let’s go.”  I make a run for the Center House with Bob right behind me.  Once we made it to the main road, lightening struck the cross on top of St. Martin’s Chapel.  I covered my ears, screamed and ran faster.  Bob was now at my side. Two more strikes where picked up from the corners of my eyes.  We bound up the stone stairs and into the building.  I think I stopped screaming by the time I crossed the threshold of the building.  I walked in circles shaking my head.

“Are you ok?” Nick asked.

“No!  I need to sit down.”  I sat in one of the chairs in the lobby and tried to slow my breathing. 

I was so scared I wasn’t able to cry.  I sat shaken, looking out the window.  A few minutes later, my co-worker John ran through the doors.  He caught the R5 into work and was stuck on the walk in as well.  By the time he reached the main gates, he saw Bob & I running.  He followed suit and made a run for it.

Hindsight:

It didn’t occur to me that having the iPod and headphones on really was a bad idea.  Lightening can enter through the headphone wires.  I was only thinking about the thunder.  Once the lightening showed up, my thought processes went to one thing.  getting out of the storm

My knitting needles were in my bag.  They are metal and another reason why I’m switching to bamboo or plastic for all my straight needles.  Another thing that could attract the lightening.

Putting up the umbrella probably wasn’t a good idea.  They are no longer made using wood, which makes them a lightening rod.

Nick told me on Friday that he saw a charge from the ground connect with a charge from the sky.  Sooo happy I didn’t see that while I was walking or running.

Last year I told you about my first time at The Philadelphia Writers’ Conference.  I told you all about my first pitch and how the agent requested the first three chapters of my book.  What I neglected to tell you, because I’m so into blogging consistently, is that I sent the chapters late.

This is what happened.  I wrote a manuscript 10+ years ago.  It took me 6 years to write, and yes, it’s complete.  At the time, the goal was to complete the project.  Needless to say, it’s high up on the “this sucks” pole.  But, what did I have to loose by pitching it at the conference.  In the very least, it would be good practice.  So, I pitched and she wanted to see the first three chapters.  On queue I went into panic mode and read the first three chapters and wailed in despair.  There was no way I could send her those chapters! 

I recruited my co-worker, who writes & edits, to help me whip the three chapters into sellable condition.  A month later, it was done and ready to go.  I sent the chapters with a note and waited.  And…waited.  And waited some more.  Finally, I emailed Jonathan Maberry, who is Philadelphia’s Stephen King, to ask about follow up etiquette.  He suggested I wait three more months and then follow up.  Last October I sent out another email to the agent to inquiry about the manuscript.  You know, something light and no pressure to say “hey I sent those chapters you requested.  did you get them?  did they suck so much that you temporarily lost you sight?”.  The response?  Nada.  Rien.  Nichts. Niente.  Nothing.  Does this mean she’s not interested?  I have no clue.

Well, I’m going to the conference again this year.  I haven’t worked on the manuscript since last year and had no plans to pick it up until he summer.  I haven’t worked on my craft, but I have been reading.  I plan to pitch the book again to a different agent (the first agent isn’t there this year).  Which means I need to finish writing the second draft of the completed manuscript.  I also need to practice my pitch so I’m clear and not all over the place this time.  What will be different is that I plan to shop the manuscript this year.  What do I have to loose right?  Right!

Any advice for a writer in training?