We're Writing What?

Right after I recorded our November 1 vidcast saying I was in for Nanowrimo, I decided to pass on Nanowrimo this year in order to get my last year’s novel into the world as a podcast novel. Today I released Episode 1 of the Time for the Fair Podcast. I will be releaseing a half hour (ish) episode weekly for the next five months or so. I am also considering using bandcamp to sell full versions of the audiobook, as well as ebook versions. Stay tuned for more about that. You can subscribe to it at http://feeds.feedburner.com/TimeForTheFairPodcastFeed

SJ has been keeping on track with her Nanowrimo story. She has been posting regular unedited chapters on her Wattpad account as she has been writing them. Talk about flying without a net. Tomorrow night, she is the featured artist at the monthly HUB for Arts and Culture gathering at the Midland Cultural Centre from 5pm to 7pm.

OK, here’s the thing. It’s November 1. Nanowrimo starts today. I’ve got nothing. No story idea. Zilch, nada, bubkus, nothing at all. My daughter and I are planning on doing Nanowrimo again this year but I’ve got nothing to say.

I’m still slowly working my way through editing the text and audio for last year’s story, Time for the Fair. This summer I recorded the whole story, with the intention of having an audio podcast of the book in progress before this November, but the best laid plans…

Last week, my vice-principal started up team at our school for Movember, where men grow moustaches to raise money and awareness for men’s health issues. Now, I like the idea of being a part of a team doing something wacky like growing hair for charity, but you have to start Movember clean shaven. I’ve been bearded for my whole adult life, except for one season 15 years ago when I raffled my beard off to raise funds for the music program at my school. Until yesterday, my daughter had never even seen my chin.

Anyway, here I am. November first. Clean shaven. Feeling naked, both facially and creatively. I know that as the month progresses my hair will grow back. I’m thinking of growing a mustache and crazy sideburns. But it doesn’t take much creative effort to grow hair. The trick will be to grow a story, starting from scratch, with no particular shiny ideas that are calling to me.

At this moment, I’m in, but I’m not really invested either. I’m at a crossroads where I could write a new story, or I could invest November and completing last year’s story and getting the podcast and ebook up and running. Whatever happens, I will take some time every day in November to make something, and in Movember to grow something.