I appreciate the efforts of Alex and this month’s cohosts: PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diedre Knight!
November 1 question: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?
I have never participated, though the idea of writing 50,000 words in one month intrigues me. I find that working a full-time job and carving out some time to exercise every day leaves little free time to write during the week, so I don’t think I could win NaNo as long as I keep my job. (And I don’t even have a spouse and kids to care for!)
Lately, I’ve also been consumed by moving, unpacking, assembling furniture, re-assembling furniture after I screw up, and spending time with my sister and her family in my new home in South Carolina. It was a treasure to trick-or-treat with my 5-year-old niece, who dressed as Barbie (of course). She had fun at a Halloween dance competition but couldn’t compete with a manic T-Rex:
Jennifer Lane Books 
NaNo is definitely a challenge. I’ve won twice while working full time, but to do that I’ve had to eliminate almost everything from my life except work and writing. And then I’m exhausted for awhile afterward.
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What an accomplishment! I’m glad you maintain your enthusiasm for writing despite the exhaustion after NaNo.
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I only work part-time now, but I still don’t have time for NaNo either. And I’m too slow of a writer for it. That’s awesome you had fun with your niece on Halloween.
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I would also not win NaNo working part-time as well, Natalie. I haven’t mastered writing a fast first draft–I edit too much as I go–so I also take my time.
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Glad you are settling into your new home. Must be great to be with family.
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I was starting to feel lonely in Ohio, which I blame on the pandemic, and it’s great to have family nearby. I’m also working on building friendships through swimming and MeetUp.
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Hope the move went smoothly and I must try harder to get over my Barbie
prejudice. Luckily, my granddad recognised a weird preference for caterpillars worms etc.
This time, I’m trying, know it’s impossible, and I’m cheating anyway, tangled first draft.
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Ha ha, Barbie has invaded our culture whether we like it or not. I was underwhelmed by the movie, but it was funny when my niece kept saying, “Hi, Barbie” to others in similar costumes, just like in the movie. Good luck on NaNo as we approach the halfway mark! ❤
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Yeah, squeezing writing time into my schedule is hard enough as it is. Besides, a slow and steady approach to writing seems to work best for me. I have enormous respect for people who do Nano, but it’s not for me.
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Slow and steady sounds like me, too, J.S.
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Sounds like trick or treating was a hit. I’d go again if I had a five-year-old in my life. So lucky. 🙂
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Despite the rain, trick or treating was great! (And it snowed in Ohio, so I’ll take rain 😉 ) I do feel lucky to watch her grow up!
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