November isn’t just about growing a mustache for cancer awareness, it is also the National Novel Writing Month, more commonly known as NaNoWriMo. This got me thinking, something I usually do best when my slate is full (and it is quite full right now). I’ve been thinking about writing a little bit about the art/craft/madness of writing.

So I sat down and wrote down the titles of some possible articles. It ended up being quite a list, and I’m pretty sure it will grow a bit as I start writing. This is something I intend to do by the way, unless you hadn’t figured that out yet.

If you’re a regular reader, you have no doubt noticed that TDH.me looks a bit different. I blame this almost planned series of articles for the change, because I felt they needed some additional love from the text presentation. In fact, I always feel that text needs additional love, the presentation can always be improved, which makes the content more accessible and thus more enjoyable to read.

It is November 1st today, which means that NaNoWriMo has started. You can sign up at the site if you will, but the important thing is writing. The original idea:

Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000-word (approximately 175-page) novel by 11:59:59 PM on November 30.

That’s 1,667 words every day, a nice goal as any.

But you know what? The important thing is that you write. That one’s true all year around.

Writer’s write, as Chuck Wendig (and numerous others) like to say.

I really shouldn’t be participating in anything like NaNoWriMo. I’m strained already and have not one but two (2) books on my schedule in November (one ebook that I’m 25% through, and a big unannounced project for a publisher that starts next week), on top of work at Odd Alice. Then there’s this article series, which I expect will take its toll as well. It is utter madness to start something new, and it is important to know your limitations.

It is also important to be a bit crazy at times.

Yes, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year. My disposition is just 30,000 words, which I think is just fine because I’m pretty sure it means I’ll hit 40,000, and this isn’t your typical novel anyway. More on that later. For now, I’ll just hurry up and transmit this information to the glorious interwebs, knowing that if I don’t finish this project you will all laugh at me. There is no motivation like a deadline and the risk of being the laughing stock of complete strangers.

I’ve got five more hours of November 1st to get started, so if you’ll excuse me I’ll get productive now.

And you, you should pop TDH.me by tomorrow as well. I’ve got the first real post in this article series lined up for you.