Melting Down Over NaNoWriMo

Today is November 1, the first day of National Novel Writing Month (which appears to be having some kind of problem with its website). I didn't formally sign up this year because I'm not going to work on a novel this month. I'm going to work on a series of essays. But I have been very psyched about the project, hoping the intensity of the experience will help me overcome my really lousy work habits. I've been planning to read a couple of appropriate books this month and everything.

However, I had to be away from the house all day today, which didn't get me off to a good start. I've known I had to be away since last week, so I thought maybe I'd get started yesterday to compensate. After all, I'm not formally signed up so I don'thave to follow formal rules, right? Well, I ended up spending all day yesterday proofreading galleys for a book that's coming out next spring. I worked until 9 last night, and I'll have to do some more tomorrow morning.

So what will become of this big exciting writing project I was planning to undertake, hoping for a serious creative experience?

Stay tuned.

Oh, and I think I've been tagged. More about that in the days to come, too.