Should I or shouldn't I?

So I'm thinking about whether to take part in National Novel Writing Month this year. This 30-day, crazy-ass dash to a 50,000 word novel in draft form is sheer madness but I grew at least a foot when I hit the finish line back in 2008. But back then I was newly pregnant with DD, in China and with time on my hands. I popped my novel into a drawer and promised myself I'd edit it once I had more time. Of course  my NaNoWriMo mojo fell apart big styleee the following year when a little bundle arrived in my lap and getting-through-the-day became a more important activity. The dust on that novel gets a little thicker every year...

But ever the optimist I've signed up again (this year as Bod for tea, sort of a fresh start if you will) at NaNoWriMo.org. If I'm to take it seriously I need to be writing 1667 words a day to complete my 'novel' by the end of November. That's about six A4 sides of paper if I was writing long hand *gulp*. But here's the thing. I'm using the term 'novel' very loosely.

I sweat blood (metaphorically) and tears (literally) to reach that 50k target three years ago. By the end of it I hated my novel and I haven't read it since. I don't have the luxury of time this time around. I can't just slop about in my PJs on Sunday and write my little tushie off (again, I'm using the term 'little' loosely here). So if I do decide to do it this year (and I think I more or less tweeted myself into it on Saturday with @ghostwritermumm and @rantybeast) then I'm going to have fun with it. I'm going to write with abandon and not give two hoots about the word count. I'm going to create fantastical characters and get out of their way so they can walk around on the page doing whatever takes their fancy. I'm going to try really hard to switch off my inner editor and just write. I may even publish some of it here (because let's face it, it's never going to be published anywhere else), and I might even ask for plot twists and character turns on Twitter.

Of course it will likely mean this blog suffers for 30 days. I'm not sure even I have the mental capacity (or the finger strength) for both. But I'll try my best. There may just be a bit of a NaNo edge to things for a while, so please bear with me while I get this out of my system.

Fancy joining me? Head on over to NaNoWriMo, sign up and see you at the finish line!