What is NaNoWriMo? According to the website, it is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

I've decided to take up the challenge and I invite you on this journey with me. Over the next thirty-five days, I will blog about my progress and give daily updates regarding my word count. For anyone interested, the website is www.nanowrimo.org and I could use some writing buddies.

My NaNoWriMo project for the month is entitled, Hard Magic. The name comes from something an agent said about my last book, ". . . it's very polished but not striking hard enough magic with me. I appreciate the look, but I'll step aside."

Just as I try to seek the right combination of words to strike this "hard magic," Lisa Montgomery is searching for the same. She has found herself abruptly dumped by her fiancé with no place to live and no money. With the help of a childhood friend, she is getting back on her feet. She has found a great new job, but has also fallen in the middle of a love triangle with two men who couldn't be more different. All is not what is seems when a secret is revealed about her great new job.

I plan to inject a bit of my own skewed sense of humor in this romantic suspense novel dealing with love, dating, marriage and other moments of temporary insanity.

Five days out and I am putting the finishing touches on my outline. Wednesday, I will breakdown my word count and setup my schedule for the month. Thursday, I will watch The Office and CSI (I'm just keeping it real). Friday, I will either prepare the work area in my office or find a coffee shop or bookstores and make any last minute changes to my outline. Saturday at 12:01 am, I will start my task.

It's always been my excuse that it is just too hard to write and juggle kids and a career. Well, if I ever plan to write as a career, I need to do it now. I'm not getting any younger and I have so much I want to say.

I'm just trying to find people who want to listen. Wish me luck.