National Novel Writing Month 2009

I never thought I would write in the fantasy genre. It seemed juvenile or overly nerdy (like there's anything wrong with being nerdy). It didn't seem like serious fiction.

Then, thanks to that wise guy Lynn Bauman, I read some really good fantasy novels this past summer (the Mad Ship trilogy by Robin Hobb and Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay).

Now, after actually working with my own material, I realized how free one can be when unrestrained by "normal" space/time. The possibilities are really endless, which can result in the tyranny of too many choices. But it beats the alternative.

And here's my motivation this year - Austin and Houston vs. the entire state of Maryland - the goal is to end up with the highest average word count:

Texas v. Maryland, choose "view a word war" and select Crabs v. Lushguins. My teammates' word counts astonish me!

I'm in the middle of the pack within the Texas Lushguins now. Next goal - hit the average word count for all 72 Lushguins every day (usually about 2500 words more than wherever I'm at). I'd actually like to finish in the top quarter. So let's hear it now:

Go Garretwriter!

Here's a little taunt I posted on the "trash talking" message board:

Go 'Guins!

I realize, of course, how it can become about the competition rather than the writing... but motivation is good for me. I would like to be more inner directed, and I'm sure that will come, but for now, this works.