It's October! Autumn is in full swing. And let me just say that the state of Ioway is gorgeous! The leaves seemed to have turned overnight. (So cliche, I know!) But I'm really loving the fiery shades of gold, orange, and crimson that the foliage is bursting into!
So now that I've got my love for October out of the way... and please don't think I'm wishing this lovely month away or anything! But is it too early to start the countdown to November?
It's not that I'm antsy to get my vehicle into four-wheel drive or break out the snow boots. (Because, unfortunately... that's how Mother Nature rolls in these parts.) November is the bright spot before the dead of winter that contains two of my all-time favorite things: writing and scruff.
Let's start with the writing. November is National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo for you seasoned Wrimos like myself. You basically vow to write a 50,000 word novel within the 30 days of November. You think I'm crazy, right? Maybe I am. But this'll be my fifth year! I've been doing it since November 2008... and I've won every year but one! By win, I mean reached the 50,000 threshold. The sad autumn of 2010, I don't think I broke 30k. :/ But you should seriously head over to NaNoWriMo.org and check it out! If there are other writers in your area, it's likely that they get together at coffee shops for write-ins and such. If not, you could organize a write-in yourself or join a virtual one online! I'm telling you early so that you have a whole month to think about what you're novel is going to be about. Questions? Concerns? Inspiration? Email me. I would LOVE to talk NaNo with you. :)
(P.S. If any of you writers are thinking about NaNo and happen to live in Des Moines / Ames / Central Iowa, you better be hitting me up! I would love to drag you along to write-ins with me for some highly caffeinated writing sprints and dramatic plot formations! xoxo)
On to the second best part of November. This has less to do with words and more to do with being rendered speechless by sexy scruff. Yup, you guessed it. I am a pro-No Shave November kinda gal. Now, two years ago I rock solid on my preference for the clean shaven fellows. But I've matured. And while I can't say that I swoon over a full-out beard, I will tell you that I relish in that glorious second week of November when so many guys sport their perfect scruff! You know---more than a five o'clock shadow, less than a beard? Gets me every time.
So for pleasure, I've rounded up some scruffy eye-candy to get you in the mood for next month.
Yea, soooo... November. 50,000-word novels. 50,000 scruffy beards. Can't get here soon enough!
