Steady, cold rainfall here.Trick-or-treaters will need to wear layers tonight–and carry umbrellas. Even though we’re oddly not an umbrella-wielding bunch in the Pacifc Northwest. It was one of the first things I noticed about autumn rains when I first  moved here. Not that no one ever carries one, but they’re sometimes a rare sight in the worst weather. For the record, I’ve discovered that I’ve broken or lost three last year so I’m going to procure a new one. Today.

So I’m writing today unless the rain eases so I can go out walking, and heading to the tire place later since those pesky dashboard lights are flashing showing every tire appears to be in distress.

I read Marian Keyes The Mystery of Mercy Close in the middle of the night.  I’ve already mentioned it, but might I add that there were more laugh-out-loud moments and my admiration for Helen Walsh’s sass has grown. And oh, the salvation of reading fiction when we need it.

I’m here to call your attention to the various columns I’ve written on participating in NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month in years gone by.

Here’s the link to last year’s post. There are 14 posts here about NaNoWriMo chock full of advice and suggestions and  general cheering on. Many of them begin with my mentioning that it’s raining. Some cover the basics of survival–as in managing life when you’re obsessed with pounding out 50,000 words in a month. There’s also a slew of posts about plotting, creating characters, and then messing with the poor dears throughout this site.  You can just enter NaNoWriMo in the search bar in the upper right of the site. But I’m likely not telling you anything you don’t know.

I love how a long, hard stint of writing creates confidence and lasting habits.

Wishing you strong wrists and fingers. Don’t forget to stretch and drink liquids. Oh, and protein. I feel like a mother sending her firstborn off to kindergarten. So I’ll add,  have fun.

Keep writing, keep dreaming, have heart

**Alas, I must add a caveat. I’m not advocating writers to join NaNoWriMo at this point since they’re promoting the use of AI. Because isn’t that the opposite of writing your ass off for 30 days? There’s also a great deal of controversy and turmoil at the site and forums on a number of issues including predatory issues with kids on the site and scammy self-publishers. I suggest you research the allegations. I’m saddened to hear this. Chris Baty, the founder and author of No Plot? No Problem! is one of the most delightful, well-meaning people I’ve ever met.  It all began in 1999 with Chris and 21 writer friends. I was involved in the early days  when my editing services were offered as a prize to people who who were contributing to the fundraising for South Asian libraries. And some of clients and students participated and have launched writing careers.

However, I am advocating 30-day writing sprints. Proceed with caution and consider forming your own group or accountability method.  And despite my misgivings, I’m keeping the NaNoWriMo name on my site for now.