Writing a novel
I promise that every post this month will not be about National Novel Writing Month. This post will be. I started today, which puts me a step ahead of where I was this time last year. I had written about 700 words, or 1.4% when I left to go for a run. This month is going to be great. I get so much stuff that isn't writing done when I'm trying to write. I've already gone grocery shopping, cleaned out the dishwasher, and gone for a 5.5 mile run. The run was particularly helpful today. I was trudging along thinking about where to take my next 1.4% when I realized that I was writing the same novel from last year. I had just convinced myself that I was going to write the novel that I was ready to write. Pretty pleased with that low-pressure philosophy, I was a little caught off guard to find out that I was practically plagiarizing myself. Yes, I'd changed the setting slightly, but I couldn't push myself too far out of the middle of the country. I'd changed genders, but none of that had really shown up yet. Basically I was writing the same characters in the same setting using the same style. Last year was a good experience, really good, but I'm not sure that I want to repeat it. I'm sure neither of my readers would want that either.

So at the risk of destroying a franchise, I'm making a change. I'm going to push myself and try to do things differently. Ah November, such an educational month.

I'm still sticking with my philosophy though, "I will write the novel that I'm ready to write."