Off I go.

My plan was to learn a new stitch & technique, while creating handmade gifts for Christmas this year.  I managed to get all of the scarves for my aunts made and still have a couple scarves for my uncles that I need to complete.  Will I finish in time?  We shall see.

I will start posting the completed projects starting with those I’m working on for me.

In order to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, you have to write at least 1,667 words a day.  Every day.  No matter what else you have going on, you need to get those words down on paper.  As I type this, it does sound pretty easy to do.  I mean if you don’t factor in the stress of plotting the story, making sure your characters are believable, the story is interesting or completely losing track of where the story is going, it should be a breeze.  For me, it’s torture.  It’s a lot of pressure to complete this work of fiction in 30 days.  It takes me that long to edit 3 chapters of a completed manuscript!  Last year, I hit the wall at a little over 35,000 words.  I could go anymore.  I just couldn’t.

Once upon a time dear reader, I was a writer on the move.  I wrote all the time, anywhere, on anything.  The muse would follow me around feeding me grapes from the vine.  It was a wonderful and simple life.  Then I decided to open a business and my writing went from creative fiction to promos and content.  I mean, I tried to make it all light and fun but eventually, it all became technical.  Then no writing at all.  Can you imagine a writer who isn’t writing?  I couldn’t either, but there I was waving to my muse from 3 blocks down the street.

Fast forward to today and this insane challenge.  I am forcing myself to get back into the saddle and write.  Every friggin’ day!  Have I stuck to the self-appointed guidelines?  No, not really, not even a little bit.  However, I am going to complete this challenge this year and snag that coveted NaNoWriMo winner’s badge.  Want to help push me toward that finish line?  Cheer me on in the comments section!  Stand on the sidelines with a bottle of water and a power bar. 

You can track my progress from the Word War and NaNo Progress boxes in the right menu.  So far my word count is 13,267 (Yes, I know I should be at 20,004 by now.  I really didn’t need you throwing that in my face.) and we are about half way through.  I’ll keep you up-to-date on my progress and the how far along the insanity has progressed.

There are so many websites out there geared to helping the beginner, aspiring and serious writer.  I wanted to show a little Hump Day Link Love to shine a light on some I think are must see.  These are great sites run by great people.  Stop by and tell them I said, "Hi!".

This week’s links for Writers.

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/2009MuseConference/ - 2009 Free Online MUSE Conference
• http://thewritingjungle.blogspot.com/ - Blog of author/editor Lea Shizas
• http://museitupclub.tripod.com/ - Community for writer serious about their craft
• http://shonbacon.com - Blog of author/editor Shon Bacon
• http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com - Writers and readers talk about writing and its relation to various topics
• http://readersrooms.com/?cat=220 - Tips from editor Shon Bacon
• http://chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com - Join Shon Bacon, The Original ChickLitGurrl™, as she talks with women writers about stories, inspiration, life, and more!
• http://writetodone.com/ - Unmissable articles on writing
• http://www.absolutewrite.com - One-stop web home for professional and beginning writers

The next Hump Day Link Love links will be for Bloggers.  If you have a link you would like to share or include, let me know and I’ll add it to the list.

Enjoy and happy writing!

Artwork by Shepherd Fairey

This morning I saw the most incredible sight.  I went to the polls at 6:55 am this morning and the line was already out the door and down the street.  Neighbor greeted neighbor with a hug, refreshments were offered, everyone was in a good mood…and voting.  It was incredible!

I was so in awe of my folks coming out early to the polls, all I could is look behind me and say “This is a beautiful sight.  It’s beautiful to see so many black faces out early to vote.”  I got head nods and agreements throughout the line.  I kept hearing over and over again that folks wanted to make voting the first thing they did today.  It was definitely an overwhelming moment for me.

If you haven’t done it already, get out and vote.  Make sure those you know and love have voted today.  Don’t let this day go by without being a part of the momentum to change.

Image by Hugh