NaNoWriMo 2007 Plans

As of this afternoon, I was content with the thought that I was going to do another unofficial* NaNoWriMo this year and work on the prequel to AMC. Since this is one of the few stories I'm working on that is completely outlined (versus letting the story write itself, to varying degrees; AMC being the most extreme example of this, as I didn't even know how it would end until it ended), I figured that I could mostly finish it and maybe start posting in the new year.

* "Unofficial" because I have a few chapters written already, so it's not technically a fresh story and not technically eligible for the competition. Last year, I also worked on a work-in-progress for NaNoWriMo, and I got my fair share of encouragement to cheat. But it's not worth it--to me--to violate the spirit of the contest just to get a banner. So I aim to write 50K words like the rest of the NaNuts, but I just don't enter on the site. It's all about the stories anyway, isn't it?

Then, this afternoon, Bobby and I went to see the new fantasy movie The Seeker ... and a plotrabbit straight out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail sunk its big, nasty, pointed teeth right into my upper thigh. For no good reason. (Do you ever see a tiny detail and, suddenly, a whole story explodes forth from it? I'm not even sure that I remember the trigger.) To the degree that I only half paid attention to the first hour of the movie. (It's a family movie, so the plot's not that hard to follow.) Now, it looks like this will be my 2007 NaNoWriMo story.

And yes, just when I swore, "No new novels!" since I have three already in various stages of completion, and just when I swore to finish my Midhavens novel and concentrate on short fiction when writing original stuff, I get an idea for an original novel that I can't even imagine how long it is going to be based on all the ideas whirling in my head right now. Nrgh. And despite all this, I'm damned excited because I haven't had this sort of enthusiasm for a story ... well, since embarking on the Midhavens novel for NaNoWriMo two years ago.

Of course, it could fade, and I could go back to the AMC prequel. I'd be happy with either, but right now, I can't imagine doing that. This story is begging to be written. If it wasn't for Haunted October taking all my time, I'd be fighting not to start it now.

In other NaNews, Bobby will also be scribbling along with me this year. I think he's up to it. In a lot of ways, when the whole family (save the dogs, of course) is doing NaNoWriMo, that makes it easier for all of us. We'll just be eating a lot of mac 'n' cheese and wearing outfits a few times more than usual!

So who else is taking on NaNoWriMo this year? Any clue what you're writing yet? Excited, scared, meh about it? Inquiring minds want to know! :)

The Question of Beta Readers

Because I think too much about such things, the other day I found myself pondering beta readers. Before I go any further, I would like to invite those of you who are willing to give me some thoughts in a poll:

[Poll #1068195]

( Now for Some Rambling from Dawn )