Thursday, October 31, 2013

Fright and NaNoWriMo

Today it's Halloween.   A time for decorating, for trick or treating, for pretending you are things you aren't. And to prepare for a writing marathon.

Halloween decorations have become so popular in the United States these last few years, that you find them almost everywhere.

In Northwest Arkansas, for example, when I visited in August, some decorations were already up. (this was in a Wal Mart parking lot.) I loved the hay bale jack o'lantern.
I found another hay bale jack o'lantern at a local Southern Tier of New York dairy farm.

Here in upstate New York, bushes are covered in fake spider webs. Pumpkins rest on porches.  Inflatable witches rest in some front yards.
In a downtown Binghamton apartment, a space under a window has been transformed into a graveyard.
On the West Side of Binghamton, another front yard graveyard.

This is "fake" death and fright, though.  Sometimes, the scary truth is just a few hundred feet away.
In downtown Binghamton we have a 9/11 monument, complete with a girder from the former World Trade Center.  Knowing that there are groups who would love nothing better than to inflict this kind of pain on the world (and having just done so, in Kenya, not too long ago) is truly scary.

And, there is one more type of fright.  The fright of the writer facing a blank computer screen.

Tomorrow I start my participation in NaNoWriMo. This requires me to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Last year was my first time, but this year I am actually a bit scared.  Will I be able to write 50,000 words devoted to a memoir?  I've already written some 20,000 words of memory in two previous Camp NaNoWriMos.  But this is the big time.  My reputation is at stake. I have fans rooting for me! I have writing buddies!

Gulp. Nothing Halloween can scare up for fake fright can compare with this.

So I may not be seeing you that much in November.

I'll be checking in from time to time. You may see some "Best of AM" posts this month, but I plan to continue my daily post schedule.


The preparations are done.

Tomorrow, the work begins.

Posted by at
Labels: ,

13 comments:

  1. Cerebrations.bizOctober 31, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    Ah, you wish to extend your horror for a whole month!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:41 PM

      Yes, but last year, NaNoWriMo turned out to be therapeutic. (I'll explain why in a post next week.) I am hoping it will happen again.

      Delete
  2. UnknownOctober 31, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    I've no doubt you'll do it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:42 PM

      I am pretty sure I will, too, once I get into it.

      Delete
  3. AmyGOctober 31, 2013 at 8:55 AM

    I am so excited for your NaNoWriMo to take place, Alana! I wish you the best of luck at it! I hope to join you next year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:42 PM

      Thank you, and it would be awesome if you did join in next year.

      Delete
  4. Suerae SteinOctober 31, 2013 at 7:09 PM

    You can do it! Try to relax and enjoy such an exciting opportunity. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:43 PM

      Thank you, and I will go into it with confidence. And rebellion.

      Delete
  5. Jeanine ByersOctober 31, 2013 at 7:23 PM

    Wow! Congratulations and good luck with NaNoWriMo!! Hope it goes smoothly. I will be writing next month, too, but not even close to that many words, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:43 PM

      Thank you. It will be interesting to see what I end up with.

      Delete
  6. DebOctober 31, 2013 at 7:34 PM

    I love those pumpkin hay bales! And best of luck with NaNoWriMo - I think anyone who gives it a go is very brave : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bookwormOctober 31, 2013 at 7:44 PM

      I really have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Even if I never try to edit or publishing, which would be the really hard part.

      Delete
  7. SojournerOctober 31, 2013 at 8:11 PM

    Wow, so many things:
    a) Walmart Halloween decorations in August- wow!
    b) Love the Halloween scenes from Binghmanton NY!
    c) The task of the writer, to confront a blank page or screen, can at times truly be a fright- yes!
    d) The NaNoWriMos challenge sounds like an amazing opportunity for growth and creativity. Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting! Your comments mean a lot to me. Due to a temporary situation, your comments may not post for a day or more-I appreciate your patience.I reserve the right to delete comments if they express hate or profanity, are spam, or contain content not suitable to a family blog.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)