I did have another idea for a blog post in honour of Hallowe’en but it required research and at the moment I’m a bit strapped for time. And I’d rather not do just broad brushstroke, who-cares-if-you-can’t-find-the-original-source, “research” because it just feels too shoddy. No, I’ll save the idea I had for another year.

Instead, I’m going to write about 1 November, the day AFTER Hallowe’en. Because as we all know, it’s NaNoWriMo. I know November is a good month for all the northern hemisphere NaNo participants because the weather starts to get ghastly. Plus, even if you wanted to go outside, there’s a good chance the blizzards are keeping you confined to your houses. (Make sure you’ve stocked up on candles.)

But as it begins on 1 November it’s also New Year’s Day in the Pagan calendar. Hallowe’en, or Samhain, was the biggest festival in those olden times which celebrated the turning of the wheel where we said goodbye to the old, including those who have gone before, and welcomed the new…by plunging into the dead of winter. But the sentiment still stands.

It’s time for a new beginning and what better way to honour Samhain than with a new writing venture. (Unfortunately November is essentially the start of summer here so bright days aren’t particularly conducive for sitting inside in a dark room tapping away on a keyboard, but I’ll manage.)

I started my current (nearly finished, hopefully soon to be bought) work-in-progress as part of NaNoWrimo in 2009. Yes, it’s taken two years to get it done. It’s a frustration but then again life doesn’t always go to plan and at least now it is done (for now) and the changes have been extensive but worthwhile. And, god dammit, I’m proud of the beast. Even prouder than I was when I completed NaNoWriMo, reaching the 50,000 word limit in 30 days, and kept on going.

Last year, however, wasn’t so successful and as the start date crept closer I found it near impossible to start. I’m not going to berate myself for it. That’s just the way it happened and unfortunately last year was not the time to begin a new work.

This year, however, is full of promise. So, come tomorrow, I will start on book two, the sequel to The Beckoning Blood, and write the approximately 1600 words required each day to knock that sucker out. By 30 November I will have a good basis for the book. I’m excited.

So who is joining me on the NaNoWriMo journey this year? Come on, it’ll be fun.