So, I am gearing up for this year’s NaNoWriMo, and I am feeling so motivated this year, I can’t wait! I’ve got my story. I’ve got my muse. I’ve got the bones of my story outlined…sorta…most of it anyway!

If you’re not familiar with NaNoWriMo, here is the description from their About page:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.

National Novel Writing Month is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (formerly known as the Office of Letters and Light) that believes your story matters.

The NaNoWriMo Mission Statement:

National Novel Writing Month believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.

Are you planning to participate? If so, let me know in the Comments! If you’d like to add me as a writing buddy, here’s my profile page! I’ve been participating for nearly 10 years now, but I think this is the first year I’ve been this motivated and had a clear story in the works that I think – KNOW – I can finish!

Before I end this post, I thought I’d share a few links here that might be useful:

• Discovering Your Writer’s Muse
  We could all use a little inspiration now and then, right? Sometimes all it takes is that one little push to get our creative juices flowing. Maybe it’s a photograph or a memory, a thought or a person; whatever shape it takes, your muse gives you the inspiration and the motivation to share their story. Find yours today!
• Scrivener [NaNoWriMo Special Trial Edition]
  I’ve used Scrivener in the past, but this is the first time I’ve gotten it installed and ready to use before Nov 1. I am absolutely loving this software! It’s really helped me make sense of my very disorganized way of writing. If you’re like me and you write sections “out of the timeline” of your novel, this software is a great tool. Check it out, and be sure to search YouTube and watch a few basic tutorial videos to get started. This special NaNoWriMo version will continue working through December 7 instead of stopping at the 30-day mark as most trials do. So you don’t have to worry about the trial ending before the end of NaNoWriMo! Also, if you reach your goal of 50,000 words and “win” NaNoWriMo (completing 50,000 words is winning NaNoWriMo; it is not a contest), you can purchase the full version for 50% off (Windows version only; apparently, Apple doesn’t allow discounts?). And even if you don’t achieve your 50,000 goal, you’ll still be able to buy the software for 20% off! (Reg. price is $45 for the Mac version; $40 for the Windows version).
• Word Count Helpers
  If you look in the top right corner of my site, you’ll notice I’ve posted a widget that will show my word count as I make my way toward my Nov. 30 goal of 50,000 words. You can grab the html code for the widgets from the link above. We writers sometimes need all the motivation we can get, right?

Finally, some inspirational quotes:

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!