Monday, October 7, 2002. Entry #187

I've decided to do something crazy.

I am one of those people who's spent years saying, 'One day, I will write a novel.'

My intentions have always been good. I've always had lots of intentions, but never any real inclination to follow up on my lofty dreams. But now the time has come to 'put up or shut up'.

I've joined NaNoWriMo.

That's right. During the month of November, I will attempt to write a novel. 175 pages, 50,000+ words. That's 1,667 words, something like six pages a day.

Can I do it? I bet I can.

Will I do it? I don't know. I'll give it a heck of a try.

Will it be any good? You kidding me?

See, the focus of NaNoWriMo is quantity over quality. It all about the writing. Not good writing (although some gems may surface) or bad writing (although there will be enough horrifying prose to make my Grade 10 English teacher roll in her grave, assuming she's dead already), but just writing.

I'm sure you are asking, what's the point then? The point, dear reader, is simply to do it. If I were sit down to craft a timeless classic of literature, or forge a monumental best-seller, I would fail miserably. That's just too much to reach for on my first shot. But by establishing a more achieveable goal, I stand a chance of actually accomplishing it. I don't know if I can write a novel, and this will let me find that out without having to worry if it's any good while I'm writing it.

That's my biggest problem. I always need to know if I can do something before I am able to actually do it.

So I'm going to try. I may be a bit distant next month, as this will take up huge swaths of time, but I'll try to keep posting here when I can. Maybe I'll post excerpts once in a while, when I come up with a particularly witty or horrendous bit of prose. Regardless, I'll keep you updated on my word count. You can help keep me honest.

Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it.

On Survivor: I was close. If Jed hadn't turned out to be such a dink, Robb would be gone. Robb remains my pick for next week. After all, did you see what he did to Clay? Clay's running towards him during the 'Pilfering Pirates' challenge, and Rob grabs him by the throat! Clay was choking and Robb just stood there, holding his throat before chucking him over the side. Grrr!

Oh, and if Chauy Gahn loses immunity, Ghandia is so gone.

One Year Ago Today: I was nearly done my hiatus, but in 1605, Li Tzu-ch'eng, the Chinese revolutionary, dethroned the last Ming emperor.

Two Years and a Day Ago Today: A long quickie, where babbled for a while about Mandy disappearing from The West Wing. I hardly miss her now.

Mom Rating: 2.5 out of 5. Mom thinks I'm nuts.

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Take me home, big fella