Hi everyone! I apologize for my very sporadic posts. I decided to join in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and 1700+ words per day on a shiny new manuscript doesn't leave much time for other writing endeavors. Honestly, I never expected to come close to 50,000 words in one month. I average 1,000 words per day when I'm writing well, and I'm okay with that. But committing to NaNoWriMo for me meant committing  to write as many words as possible each day in this month that is filled with fall festivals and school parties and football and family gatherings.

It's not over yet, but I am on target to finish. (Yay!) And this is me doing the part where I tell the world, so I have that extra incentive to  keep up during this holiday week and make it to the finish line. I could hardly believe it when I crossed the halfway point a few days ago. They may not be the best words. Ninety percent may end up being rewritten. But as a pantser this month of literary abandon is working for me. It's allowing me to try out my main character's voice, and to figure out where the plot is going without worrying about what I'll have to change later, because I can just accept that most of it will have to change. I enjoy all the stages of writing a novel, but to me, this is the fun part.

This may be my last post for November, but I'll be back soon with a review of Rachel Cohn's Beta and the next installment in my Music Lessons series featuring Jack White. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all of my blessings. My savior Jesus. Family and friends. Health and home. Books and beautiful words. I wish you the best this holiday season!

Music for today: Trojans by Atlas Genius

Every Wednesday, the writers at YA Highway ask a reading or writing related question, aptly named Road Trip Wednesday.

In honor of November as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), today YA Highway asks:

What kind of writing coach do you need? When you have to coach friends, what kind of coach are you?

First of all, does it count for NaNoWriMo 2011 if I finish the third draft of the novel I wrote during last year's NaNoWriMo? I've had 'before Thanksgiving' as my goal for getting my WIP ready for beta readers since August. If I keep on schedule, I think I'll make it. That makes the idea of a writing coach a timely question for me.

Having other people read my work terrifies me. Ironic, isn't it? Having readers is the logical endgame of writing. I took the first step with my first critique group in August, and I'm glad to have a few partners ready to go for the full manuscript. I've discovered I need just the right blend of positive reinforcement and reality check. If I picked a celebrity coach, it would be Sharon Osbourne.

I try to use that same approach. In the early stages, I encourage my writing friends to keep plugging away. Even if you don't make that 1,000 words per day, at least write something every day. 100 words here and 100 words there eventually add up. When I'm critiquing, I try to use the same guidelines I made my students use when I was teaching: for every suggestion you give, be sure to find something you loved to even it out.

And in the interest of meeting those November goals, I'm going to keep this post short and sweet and get to it! I do want to mention that I'm thrilled with YA Highway's focus on contemporary YA in November. I have been looking for some powerful, character-driven contemporary YA for my to-be-read list, and I'm excited for a month full of new suggestions. The last amazing contemporary I read was Kristin Harmel's After, about 16 year old Lacey's life after the death of her father.

Until next time...

Music for today: Driven by Their Beating Hearts by A Silent Film