I was all set to tell you about my new adventure when something happened! While surfing and tweeting, I came across some great tweets from someone I just started following, @inkyelbows. And I found a new adventure.

What I was going to tell you before my distraction was that I’m going to try NaNoWriMo again this year. Last year I signed up and didn’t get much further than that. Last year, I signed up on November 1, and fell apart shortly thereafter.

This year I gave myself a little more warning, little more time for self-talk, tools and ideas. Time to play around with the endeavor and sort of slide into next month like it was any other November.

Since November 7 is my birthdate, and that’s so close to the year’s end, I try to set goals for conclusion by that date. I figured that it’s so early in the month, my novel writing can be minimal (1666.67 daily to meet the 50,000 requirement by November 30) until the 7th and then I can go all out. That was the plan.

Poetry Interrupted

This blog is a hodgepodge of my less constrained proclivities and inspirations. The main reason I started it was so that I’d have a place to put the more random machinations I claim. First on the list is poetry. I enjoy writing poems, and this is my place to put the ones I’m willing to share. Pictures are included and writing in other genres, but poetry got me started here. And poetry is the reason I’m adjusting my plans for next month.

I read a tweet from @inkyelbows and had to check it out. Here’s what I found: Poetic Asides: 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge.

Yes, November—2009—next month. Overlap city, right? Here’s the thing though; both can suck. It’s not about achieving final-draft quality in a first draft. It’s about reaching the quantity goal. There’ll be time for editing after November.

Poetry is the stuff that sustains me. I give myself the task of writing a poem a day sometimes for weeks or months. So I know it can yield some useful material. Besides, it was on my list of stuff to do this year. And, although I was planning to postpone a new collection again,  I’ve had a second thought.

Just Do It

Without giving it too much room to scare me, I’m committing to both! C’est la vie, c’est la guerre. If I have to avoid family and friends in my spare time for one project, I may as well do it for the other too. Besides, it’ll be great to see just what I’m made of. [I could use a smiley face here.]

And I’ve been practicing and preparing to get it done. I’ve been working on my typing stamina, and playing around with ideas and scenarios. I’ve never written a novel, so the wow factor is good for a few boosts throughout the month. So it should work out.

Coming soon is my Writing page. That’s what was scheduled for today. On that page, I’ll post the cool meters I’ll be using for my progress. Here’s where you can add me at NaNoWriMo: Shari Lynne Smothers. Come check me out, cheer me on, or tease. I’m doing this! What are you doing for November?