NaNoWriMo

November first means Obama and McCain finally will get some rest in three days. Grant Park in downtown Chicago is surrounded by a giant fence which I presume is in preparation for Obama's victory? rally on election night. This is one party I'd love to photograph but honestly, I don't want to be out late whether Obama wins or loses. Let's face it, even when the Bulls win a championship there is gunfire. So I'm not even trying to get tickets to Grant Park.
November first is the beginning of a different type of marathon for me, but one that is mercifully only one month long. Last year was my first time participating in NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month a month in which people compete against themselves and the evils of laziness, carpal tunnel sydrome, procrastination, family and work obligations and writer's block to churn out a 50,000 word novel by November 30th.
Last year I stunned myself by completing my first novel. The aforementioned evils have prevented me from polishing it up and trying to get it published but the novel is alive and well and waiting for me to get off my behind. In the meantime, I am starting a sequel which I am calling Home Again.
My first novel was called Runaway and was drawn from my experience with the foster care system. I wrote about a foster child who runs away and tries to make a go of living in the woods on his own. Home Again continues the story with my hero now living in a residential treatment center and later a group home.
I am starting off at a disadvantage because I have been attending a meeting all week and have one day left to go. My enthusiasm and energy for writing could be better but I'm doing my best.
I'll keep you posted but I may not be up for much blog posting while my fingers try to churn out my goal of around 2000 words a day. If any of you are also NaNo'ing, let me know and I will add you to my buddy list.