Welcome to November!!!

 When I think of November, I think of snow, hot coco, and being cooped up in the house by the fireplace (not a bad concept, huh?). It's when I realize that Christmas is just around the corner. It's the month when I don't have to worry about being tan or skinny because I'm buried under layers of sweaters and coats! 

 It's also National Novel Writing Month... better known as NaNo WriMo! (nan-oh wry-moe) It's the event that brings tens of thousands of writers together in a quest to beat the odds and write an insane number of words in a very short amount of time. Trust me... it's crazy. 

 So here's the deal. You pick a number of words you think will be almost impossible to write in 30 days and try to get them all written in the month of November. I know, you're busy and so am I, but you might be amazed when you realize how much time you can mentally be working on your book! You can be thinking up ideas for your story anytime your mind is free and put those thoughts onto paper when you get spare time. Last November my friends probably thought I was the most unsocial person in the world (at least more unsocial than I already am thanks to homeschooling lol) but that was because I was CONSTANTLY writing! I lived inside my story with my characters... and believe me, it wasn't that bad of a gig. What's more, during that month I had another set of friends other than my normal every-day, could-care-less-about-writing, what's-a-plot, friends. I'm talking about my NaNo friends...

What on earth are NaNo friends? Well, besides NaNo WriMo just being a personal challenge, you have some big shots in the writing world that will to help you. This is ywp.nanowrimo.org, the social networking site for youth writers during the month of November. The site has a word meter so you can keep track of your goal and it gives tips and helps to keep you inspired and sharp. There are hundreds of writers on this site that you can connect with, compare with, and give and get ideas from. This site will help you every step that you take during your writing process. If you are very adventurous, you can try the adult version at nanowrimo.org. You minimum word goal is 50,000 words. Sounds like a lot? It is! You have to be super committed to rise to that challenge, but you will also get to connect with some older and more experienced writers. Check it out at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3699214. Whichever you choose, I would highly recommend signing up. 
So... now you have something to look forward to besides hot coco and sweaters.
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