NaNoWriMo is coming up!

       NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is coming up again! For those that don't remember, in November, a group of people set a goal to each write a book consisting of a minimum of 50,000 words in less than 30 days. There is an online support community with lots of reference materials, as well as just cheer leading in general. You set up a profile and can choose writing buddies, people who have similar writing styles, or are in the same genre as you. It's all super supportive. Last year I did it, and finished my book with about an hour to spare. I then promptly burst into tears because I could not believe I had actually done it. It was awesome. I am now in the middle of editing that book, which is frankly not as much of a hassle as I thought it would be. Much like writing, you just sit down and do it. Of course, I'm not done, so maybe ask me in another month and the answer may be different.

     So for NaNoWriMo this year, I may go back to the piece I originally started. It's not a 50,000 word novel, so I won't "win", but this story has been in my head for so long. I dream about these people. I only stopped writing that book to write my NaNoWriMo book, and I haven't started it up again. I don't think that was supposed to be how that went.

     I said all of that to say this. Last year I started a few days late, then got DYSENTERY half way through. I finished. If you have ever though about writing a book, do this. It's fun. It's hard. It's rewarding. If you just sit down with an idea, any idea, the words will come. Even if you never publish it, YOU WILL HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK!  

What's been going on.....

     They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I think that may also be the road to a fully developed, often updated blog. I can tell you that I often lay in bed at night writing blog posts in my head. Reviewing books, imparting wisdom, making people laugh. In the daylight I end up doing other stuff, or doing nothing, but NOT updating my blog. And it's unfortunate because I really do have a lot to say. I think it is partially fear of offending people, which is ironic, because that is not really a major fear for me in my daily life.
     So. What's been going on. I have been doing a lot of reading. I am a part of the launch team for Jen Hatmaker's new book, Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life. More to follow about that. If you know me, you know I adore Jen and all of her writing, and this book is amazing. Jen gets women. She just gets us. I also read Anna LeBaron's book, The Polygamist's Daughter. Talk about stunning. I had to remind myself frequently that this book was not a work of fiction. Anna was raised in a polygamist family, a cult basically, and tells her story of escape and creating her own life after that difficult beginning. It's so good and so intriguing that I ended up buying it in paperback, and on my Kindle so I could read it at night. My eyes are so impaired that it is difficult to read paper at night. I also read The Sound of Gravel, by Ruth Wariner. This is another polygamist cult memoir. Anna and Ruth are actually first cousins, and Anna's father allegedly had Ruth's father (his brother) killed in a power struggle over the "church". Again, it was difficult to remember that this is a real life, current day story. The love and redemption that comes through, despite the pain in both of the books is amazing, and is a testament to the true power of forgiveness.
     I have also been working on my own writing, revising and editing my one finished piece, and researching for the other. Writing is something I enjoy, but it is harder with my physical limitations. I have found a few tricks on my Chromebook to help, but I still struggle with just wanting to see the words as I type them. I have the voice recognition software, but it is slower than I talk, or the dog will bark, then I spend more time cleaning up mistakes and end up more frustrated. Really I am just making excuses, I think. Writing, or any form of personal expression can be scary.
     So that's what's up with me, or what I am ready and willing to share right now.