Well, NaNoWriMo is officially here and it’s time for me to officially declare that I am going to do this thing. I literally came into November still completely undecided about whether or not I would participate, and gave myself until today – three days in, mind you – to decide. If you read my post back in August detailing my experience with Camp NaNoWriMo, you will know that I LOVED the experience, but came out the other end feeling just as accomplished as I felt fried. October was a super weird month for me, and I feared that getting myself into NaNo in an already strange mental space would spell my doom. And then there was the idea of actually writing.

When I came out of Camp at the end of July, I had more than 30k words of a manuscript and grand plans for more progress. My goal was to spend September and October doing some much needed research (very necessary when your book plot revolves around travel), and then hit NaNo armed to add another 50k to my in-progress work. But I am a proud member of Team Procrastination and did exactly 3 hours of research in 2 months. Certainly not enough to turn into 50k words. And my book needed research in order to make it to the next step. So that took my plan off the table.

However, the thing about NaNo is that it’s traditionally meant for new projects (although I have no doubt LOTS of us use it to push through existing ones), and I had the thought that maybe, just maybe, I could start something fresh. See, once upon a time, somewhere in the middle of procrastinating on my other project, I dreamed up a single scene for an entirely different book. Unlike PL&VW (the working code name for my Camp manuscript), I had nothing more than this scene and some character names. I had zero plot, no direction, and absolutely no flesh to the story. Hell, I didn’t even really have bones to the story. But isn’t that sort of the definition of a NaNoWriMo Pantser?

So, I decided that if I was going to do NaNo in November, then I might just use this inkling of an idea and start something new. I have gone back and forth a hundred times through the month of October, trying to decide what to do. I discussed it with my husband, with friends, and have even asked the universe at large (through my tarot cards, of course, cause that’s me) about it several times. None of that gave me any clear direction. Add that to the fact that the first 2 days of November were completely scheduled out for me, and I was feeling like it wasn’t going to happen.

But I decided I needed to at least give myself a chance. So I made a promise to myself that I would take the entire day November 3rd (today) to sit at my computer and see what happened. Sure, I spent 2 hours on Pinterest finding character inspiration, and then another hour using random name generators to come up with some cast, but then I made myself pull up Scrivener and actually write. And…I think I might have something.

It’s rough, and I have NO clue how I can logistically make it end the way I think I want it to. Nor do I have any idea how I am even going to get to that end. BUT I have two main characters that I really like, and 28 days to figure it out. I am going to throw all planning to the wind, embrace fully my new life as a Pantser, and just write this book one scene at a time. I have no freaking clue what this is going to turn out like, or if I will even come close to the 50k goal, but I’m committed and I’m going to do my best!

So, I am happy to announce that I am officially participating in NaNoWriMo 2019, and to introduce my new project: Geeky Love (…it’s a working title, guys). This YA Contemporary follows Amelia and Mason as they traverse a friends-to-lovers romance and idk what else because this book has absolutely no plot at this point. I plan to post regular updates here on the blog, so if you are interested in following my journey, keep an eye out for those! In the meantime, wish me luck!

---

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo 2019? What are you working on? Tell us in the comments below, and then go add me as a Buddy !