I have officially signed up for NaNoWriMo this year – aka – National Novel Writing Month. NanoWriMo encourages everyone and anyone to write a novel of 50,000 words or more between November 1 and November 30 each year. You’re officially a winner if you cross the finish line with a minimum of 50,000 words by November 30.

Now that I’ve blurted it out here, I’m going to feel doubly obligated to complete this crazy assignment. I’m also now going to ask as many of you as possible to undertake this challenge too. Head over to the site and sign up. It’s a daunting task, but as Chris Baty (founder of NaNoWriMo) states, the secret weapon to writing a book is having a deadline.

Please feel free to check in on me and make sure I’m making my word count (which is approximately 1700 words per day – phew).  In addition, I’m also hoping to attend NaNoWriMo’s Night of Writing Dangerously in San Francisco (and I don’t even live in San Francisco!, where I will join hundreds of others in writing all night long. However, in order to attend, participants must raise a minimum of $200. Proceeds from the event will fund National Novel Writing Month’s free creative writing programs in hundreds of schools and communities around the world. And that’s why I’m drawn to this project. Anything that encourages others to take up creative writing is a plus in my book. Please visit my fundraising page here and sponsor me. Donate $1 or $1,000, whatever you like. Thanks for listening to my shameless plea.