NaNo, I'm looking forward to it

Well, November is rapidly approaching, and so is NaNoWriMo - or maybe better known to some as National Novel Writers Month. Its the month we all go crazy, and our keyboards don't know what has hit them.

I did NaNo for the first time last year. I really thought I was mad - 50,000 words in 30 days. You have to be totally crazy to write 50,000 in one month, right? Well, not altogether. Look at NaNo as fun. I hear that maniacal laughter.

Believe me, it is fun. Its also hard work. But just think of the end result. You could be sitting with the first draft for a long thought up novel by the time you pull yourself away from the computer at midnight on the 30th november. On the otherhand, you could be sitting with a load of trash, that is only fit for the shredder, or the delete button.

But whatever the end result, you can look back on the month with a smile on your face, knowing that you have put all of 50,000 or more or less words on the computer. Give yourself a pat on the back, walk away from the computer, and give your life back to your family.

Now what about cleaning, meals, drinks and all the other things that go with family life? Well, the better half will just have to take your place. Afterall, it is only 30 days, {maniacal laughter again}. The rest of the family will just have to fend for themselves. You will probably look like you haven't slept in days, your eyes will be square from looking at the computer screen, and you and your keyboard will be the greatest of buddies - you'll wonder how you managed without it at your fingertips until now.

And, once you've stocked the freezer with ready meals, filled the water bottles, done all the other preparation needed to get going on NaNo, you will be wondering when you are going to edit your masterpiece. Well, wonder no more. Just send that inner editor on a 30 day vacation. Throw him or her out and lock the door. There is no need to do any editing for the whole 30 days. That comes later.

And once you've finished NaNo, what are you going to do? Well, if you are lucky enough to be on the ICL Writers Retreat {biased here}, you will have your fellow NaNoers to share with. There will no doubt be a post NaNo thread where you can get over your no more NaNo blues.

Now, lastly, for those new NaNoers. If you are worried, don't be. You are amongst over 100,000 other people writing those, ummm, words in 30 days. We are all in it together. You are not alone. And you will look back at the end of the month, and see your achievements.

Roll on November,and let's have some fun.