1 day to go...

Only a few hours left before the clock tolls the beginning of November and the count down to NaNoWriMo 2006 is complete! All the preparations have been made, and all I have to do is to get my final rest before the month of madness and mayhem begins.

Had a great meeting last night in McGeough's bar with two fellow WriMo victims.

It's so close, I can taste it! I'm excited, are you?

Check back here tomorrow for my first (of many) WriMo posts and share the highs and lows of the November madness with me (if you dare! Muhahahaha!)

9 days to go...

and I am panicking! Why, because I have only nine days left before I have to start a new novel that must be 50,000 words and complete by 30th November? NO! Because I have 70K left to write on my current novel and only 9 days to write it in!!!!!! I think I am going to melt down before the 30th October.

12 days to go

Just got my official powers as ML on the Nanowrimo website. Apparently they are quite strict about their name being used (fair enough) so I won't be able to use their name on my posters. I can either scrap the whole idea of my posters or else change the name to something like Dundalk Novelists.

14 days to go...

I was on the radio this morning talking to Harry Lee about NaNoWriMo. He was really interested in it and I thought it went well. He wants me to come back again in a couple of weeks (in November when the meetings are up and running) and do a follow up, so that will be fun.

Here is my other poster for NaNoWriMo. It is easier to copy and I have leaflets along similar lines as well.

I phoned the library this morning. Unfortunately, the don't allow people to meet there in the evenings because there are only two staff members working, so it means Saturday meetings if I go for them. I would prefer evenings meetings mid week, so now I have to weigh up the advantages of a town centre meeting spot against having an evening meeting somewhere further outside of town (the DKIT library for example)

15 days to go...

Slaved all day designing these posters for Nanowrimo. Had to do them twice, because I accidentally deleted them after finishing them the first time. On the radio tomorrow, but still haven't the venue sorted. It is now down to either the library in Dundalk or the library in the DKIT and a kick off party in McGeough's Bar on the 30th with a thank God it's over party on the 30th November in McGeough's as well. Beginning to wonder why I'm doing this.

16 days to go

I titled my novel seven days in hell, but little did I realize how apt that name would be - for planning nanowrimo! Novelling is easy compared to this! I still can't find a venue. People have suggested sports halls and libraries, but I want somewhere central to the town and while a coffee shop would be perfect, no where seems to stay open after 7pm. That leaves the options for Saturday or Sunday meetings... but, I think mid week evening would be better (weekends are valuable writing times) and I don't really want to meet in a pub, although that is an option, of course. However, time is running out. I have to have a venue for posters, leaflets and publicity. I wouldn't mind if I had nothing else to do by nano, but I have a book to finish and it deserves more importance than this. Arrggh!

22 days to go

I have been a busy bunny. I contacted the ML co-ordinator at Nanowrimo last night and said 'SIGN ME UP!' and I also contacted Farfalla, existing ML for Ireland:Elsewhere (really nice lady) and she is sharing her ML secrets with me. Then, this morning, I was on the local Dundalk FM talking about an up coming Castle players play with a couple of buddies, and I put in a plug for Nanowrimo, so I am going back next Wednesday to speak more about it. Then I headed over to the Arts Office. They said they would help me with leaflets and publicity and such, which is GREAT! I am busy, but I am happy with how it is going so far.

25 days to go

I have completed my plot outline (which sort of doubles as a rough chapter outline) and all I have to do now is write up the characters and I'm finished. I am also considering signing up for co ML (municipal liaison) for Ireland:Elsewhere. Watch this space!

National Novel Writing Month