Grace's Commitment Letter

Dear Mary,

Congratulations on making it this far in the preparations for National Novel Writing Month – which actually is now international, so what would it be called? I-NaNoWriMo? Sounds like NaNo done on an iPod.

The adventure officially begins at 12:00 a.m. November 1, 2009. Whether you are awake or not at the midnight launch remains to be seen, but is very likely. I would even dare to say extremely likely. When that happens, be sure to have No Plot? No Problem! handy. As you did last year, open up to Chapter 5, the start of Week One of NaNo. (You’ve had the bookmark in Chapter 5 since you hit the 50k-word mark last year.) Turn two pages to page 108 and press your finger to the “Take My Inner Editor” button that will give your inner editor to “the fully licensed, board-certified No Plot? No Problem! Inner Editor Kennel—where it can spend its days carping with other Inner Editors, happily pointing out typos in the newspaper and complaining about the numerous plot holes on daytime television.” (NP? NP! page 107, Chris Baty) As Chris says in his book, and as you experienced last year, you won’t get the “beastie” back until you’ve written your novel – or November comes to an end, whichever comes first. You let your inner editor talk to you too much the first two years, hence the reason you didn’t even reach 40k on either NaNo Novel. Last year was different, as will this year be.

Remember, this is silliness, and for November, quantity is momentarily more important than quality, but you still have a goal of at least 50k before November 30. Plus, you’ve had the seed of this novel in your head since at least the spring, and you can never stand having ideas in your head long without beginning to work on them somehow.

You have the freedom to take Sundays off if you desire, bringing your word count goal up to 2,000 wpd the rest of the time. But, knowing you as I do, you won’t; especially since the first day of the challenge falls on a Sunday. You’re going to do things a little differently this year. You’re going to do your best to be up before 7 a.m. to do some work on your NaNo novel. You might even get some yoga in. Hey, that’s a good goal! Do your yoga first, then sit down and begin the day’s word count goal. That way you can do the dishes in the evening like you always do. With your mp3 player broken after less than two months of ownership, you’ll use a CD player instead, or what music is already on the computer. Find some music appropriate for your YA sci-fi novel about Pen Sorenson, tomboy.

You'll use the three available writing means that have been always at your disposal: the eMachine, the laptop and good old paper and pen/pencil.

Do NOT allow that inner editor to escape from the Kennel and sneak up on you. You are AWESOME and can complete NaNo this year just like last year!! Use any cheats you wish, but keep in mind that they can become addictive crutches, so don’t depend on them too much. You have a talent.

You. Can. Do. This!

And to celebrate in December – especially if you hit and/or pass the 50k word mark – get yourself a big bag of M&Ms and get ready for Christmas!!!

Your Inner Novelist,
Grace