Meg Dowell Writes

I can’t believe I forgot about my own blog.

No, I’m totally not even kidding–I haven’t even looked at this thing since the last time I posted, which was early-ish last month. That’s really sad, if you think about it. I haven’t even been that busy. I mean, I did visit my dream college, as well as complete and submit an application to said college, and I wrote a few English papers, and read four Meg Cabot books, and started Pride and Prejudice, and played through two challenge zoos until boredom, as well as that whole long process of feeding my Chao fruit until his stamina stats were at the highest level possible. Oh yeah, and I sang a solo, and didn’t completely screw it up.

Other than that, it’s been school and eating and sleeping. And journaling.

I can’t believe how fast time is flying. I mean, it doesn’t seem like too long ago when I think about how slowly the first week of my senior year dragged on. And now it’s already halfway through October–Homecoming is long past, Halloween decorations are popping up everywhere, and plenty of my friends are freaking out about college applications (my school has a goal that all seniors should be finished with their apps by October 31st. All I have to say is, good luck with that one). The Chicago Marathon is over: my mom has been training since June, and it only took five hours to get though it. Why does preparation take more effort than the actual thing you’re trying to accomplish, anyway?

I mean, it’s true that you’d probably die if you tried to run 26.2 miles without training first. But still.

It’s kind of like choir. We spend a couple months on perfecting all these songs, and the concert lasts no more than an hour and a half (most of the time). It’s just always seemed to me like you spend most of your energy looking forward to something, and then it’s over in a snap. Maybe it’s just me (quite possible), but I never feel like I get to enjoy all those things as much as I could.

Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I forgot! Well, it’s October! What does that mean? It means it’s time to start buying Twizzlers and hot chocolate, notebooks and pens, and warming up my fingers! It’s almost that time again–that lovely blissful hell they call NaNoWriMo.

I’ve only done it once before, but it was the most thrilling (and challenging) month of my entire life. I gained a little weight from all those Twizzlers and sitting on my butt, of course, and fell asleep in class more than any honor student should, and made my dermatologist suffer a few heart attacks, and ended up putting a huge dent in my algebra II/Trig grade, but I told a story that came directly from my heart, and gave my family a reason to parade me around on their shoulders the day after Thanksgiving. Sure, it wasn’t the best novel ever written, and I have no idea where my proof copy is (I think you still have it, Evie, but I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t get past the first chapter), but it was one of those experiences that made me sure what I wanted to do with my life.

It’s true. I don’t care how unrealistic it is–it’s my dream to live in a beach house with my amazing husband and write novels for a living. It gives me chills.

Last year, my story didn’t have much plot, and I barely made it over 50,000 words (my actual count was about 50,07-something, I think). This year, I’m shooting for a lot more. During the next few weeks, I want to do a lot of planning–enough that I won’t get stuck in the middle, like I did a few times during July, when I wrote a good portion of my summer novel, Reminiscence. Because, as thrilling as it is to twist your own ideas around as you write, that’s not what NaNoWriMo is about. It’s about writing quickly–50,000 words in thirty days.

And I’m totally ready.

Well, I’m off to eat some pizza (YAY!). Have a great rest-of-the-day, and remember: it’s totally possible to run a marathon in under two hours. You just aren’t pushing yourself hard enough.

Love&hugs, Meg <—(sorry, the heart isn’t cooperating.)