I dropped off the face of the earth again... but I came back!

All right, I'm not even going to bother with the excuses this time. Just know that I will (hopefully) never disappear for three weeks ever again.

First, I'd like to thank the three people who left me comments, which I did not know about until I finally wrestled past the Google login thing today and saw the "comments waiting to be approved" thing. Thank you for reading my blog and actually letting me know--it was much appreciated.

Next: OH MY GOD, NANO IS IN THREE DAYS! Seriously, guys, think about signing up. It's a wild ride, and it's tons of fun, and it's never too late to join the adventure. It doesn't matter if you don't have an idea yet. Some people don't have any idea what they're writing until the month's, like, half over. You'll be fine.

On the subject of writing and ideas, I saw a most interesting suggestion on the NaNoForums today: that of using tarot cards to help propel your story. Think about it--each card means something, so they're like mini plot generators. They could even generate entire characters--there's a spread that's supposed to show you past, present, and future, after all. It's all in what you make of it.

Oh, yeah, I'm definitely trying this. I knew I bought that pretty deck for a reason all those years ago. I think I'll draw cards with a particular character in mind and see what ideas they stir up. God knows I need some stuff to fill in the large gaps in the middle of my story and to make some characters, particularly the side characters of Luce and Hunter, more dimensional. Even Rose and Kieran, my MCs, could use some filling in.

All right, time to do that homework I totally forgot I had. I promise to be back BEFORE another three weeks have passed.

Night, all.

--Marcie

In Which I Distract You From My Lengthy Absence with Excessive NaNo Chatter

So, I was gone for almost a week again. My apologies. The will just....wasn't there. And then I was sick this weekend.

/endexcuses.

Now, on to the more interesting stuff. NaNoWriMo is in less than a month! (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, that's National Novel Writing Month. You can see my post about it if you click here.) Cue excitement! Cue endless stalking of the NaNo Forums! Cue panic!

I realized I wasn't ready--I had nothing prepared. Now, granted, in my past two Nano experiences, I came up with an idea just around the starting time of the event, so I shouldn't have been so concerned this year. But since I have no life and have been stalking the Nano Forums since July or so and kept seeing people talking about their ideas... I panicked.

So yesterday, I started an outline. It's a really detailed outline that's already over three pages that will hopefully help me reach 50,000 words this year by telling me each day what to write.

It could also have the unfortunate side effect of killing any love I have for my poor story, so it's kind of a toss-up at the moment. For now, I'll just keep working on it, and we'll see what goes down on Nov. 1.

In other news, I'm collecting online writing buddies left and right. Because the ones I got from the first writing buddy thread on the forum weren't enough, so I had to go and put myself out there again. How I will keep up with all of these people--or even keep their names straight--come November, I surely don't know. But you can never have enough writing buddies.

Though if you ever could, I guess I'm pretty darn close.

And now we reach the part where I shamelessly order you all to join me in doing NaNo.

Do it! Do it! Do it! Go to the link here and check it out. Sign up! It's tons of fun if you maintain a good attitude and try not to take yourself too seriously. (Not that I've ever been guilty of that...) I'd love to have more people I know trying alongside me this year.

And, okay, if you're really set on refusal, there is something else you can do for me: offer as much support as you possibly can. This may sound like a silly adventure, but it's very important to me, and there will be times when I feel like giving up. Any encouragement any of you provide could mean the difference between meeting my goal and missing yet again. Whether it's a kick in the pants in the form of a "Have you written your 1,667 words today?" or a simple--but appreciated--"You can do it!", I cannot begin to express how much the littlest motivation will do for me.

Well, that's all for now, folks. Off to do that schoolwork thing and stare at my outline some more, willing it to grow. Until next time!

Your anxious-excited bloggeress,

Marcie