I just found out that I won second place for Simple Photo Editing Using GIMP at the Writer’s Manifesto Tutorial Group Writing Project. Thanks to Monika for hosting a fun contest!
I like participating in these contests because it gives me an excuse to stretch and grow, as well as a way to meet other bloggers. I would encourage anyone who wants the challenge of expanding their usual writing topics and style to participate in blog contests.
I posted last week on why I decided to do National Novel Writing Month and what my strategies are for finishing a novel in a month. And now I’m just waiting.
Impatiently.
I have my outline to work on, of course, but I’m afraid to get too deep too quickly. I’m afraid that if I write a lot of notes without letting myself begin the actual narrative, I’ll get tired of the story before I’ve even started.
I still have homework to finish before Thursday, but I’m tired of preparing. I’m ready for the reward for all my hard work: one month to really dig deep into writing.
I don’t want to work on the novel I already have started, because I don’t want to have trouble shifting my attention to my NaNo novel on November 1. I don’t want to start reading any fiction that I might not finish before Thursday, because I know how susceptible I am to other writer’s voices.
I realize the waiting is almost over, but I want to start now before I lose my nerve. I don’t want this fever to die, this glorious feeling that of course I can write a 50,000 word novel in one month, even though I’ve never finished a novel before. I don’t want all the old uncertainties to creep in, dragging new doubts in their wake.
So while I’m waiting, I’m reading the NaNoWriMo forums, inahling the enthusiasm of thousands of other participants.
I suspect that once I’ve begun, I will be counting the days until December just as eagerly as I’m now counting the days until November.
