Vlog Time

Hey ya'll, hope you're doing fine. Things have been pretty insanely busy for me. I'm wrapping up a week of visiting with Sam and we figured we'd take a minute (or 12) to talk about one of our favorite things ever... NaNo!

Just in case you didn't get enough, we forgot to mention Beautiful People...

Life Doesn't Have a Mute Button

My one rule in blogging. Only do it when I want to, not when I feel I have to. Unfortunately, sometimes this results in extended periods of time where I type not a single word for you to read. Shame.

Actually, one of the very few reasons I'm back, writing this now, is because of my Sam. You've heard me mention her before. It's not that she's told me repeatedly that I should start blogging again *cough, cough* (she has), it's more the posts I've seen on her own blog recently. Please, go read them. They've inspired me, maybe they'll provide you with the same favor.

Today was one of those days where I just wanted to turn and tell whoever was talking to me to shut up. I wish I could say I would have said it in a nicer way, but truth is, if I'd actually done it, that's exactly how I would have said it. Shut up.

Question. Does adding please to the phrase "shut up" make it any less rude? I feel not.

The weird thing about days like this, for me, is that I'm really not in a bad mood. On the contrary, I could easily describe today as a good day, yet I still just wanted the world around me to be silent. No, not silent, I just wanted the words to stop flowing. From everywhere.

I guess maybe sometimes I overwhelm myself with to many words. To many spoken, to many written, to many to read. They're everywhere, and on days like today, I just don't want them anymore because I can't think anymore. My brain is suffocating. Let me breath. 

I can't though.

You don't have the option of turning words off at work.

You don't have the option of turning words off at home.

You don't have the option of turnings words off with friends.

Turning words off is not an option.

So, on days like today, I bite my tongue, and I nod and smile at the appropriate moments. Well... maybe sometimes I don't always smile.

Today was good. Today I envied the deaf man.

Beautiful People - April

Well, here it is. Finally. Beautiful People. Some of you may have already seen it over at Sam's blog. That's fine, but I figured it's about time I actually posted it here as well. Yes, it's late. Very late. I apologize. I could give you several reasons why, but you've heard it all before so I'll spare you the details. (Just so you don't feel completely left out, my script for Script Frenzy hasn't been finished either. My blog isn't the only thing that's been neglected) 

So, here's 10 questions for the month. If you're new to Beautiful People, it's not hard and you're welcome to jump in whenever you like. Simply choose a character to answer the following questions for. Post them on your blog, and come back here to join the linky. Fun stuff. Easy to do. Great for character analysis (which I've said before, and I'll say again, helps more then one can imagine when it comes to plot holes).

Thanks to Mime for suggesting the first question. The rest of them... well, let's just say it's been a long couple of weeks for Sam and I.

1. What is their favorite type of shoe?
2. Do they journal?
3. What's their favorite animal?
4. What does their average day look like?
5. Night owl, or morning person? (Optional: What time do they normally wake up, and go to bed?)
6. Do they have a sweet tooth?
7. What colors are their bedroom?
8. Can they cook?
9. What is their favorite household chore?
10. Favorite kind of tea?

Beautiful People - One Year Edition

This month marks the one year anniversary of Beautiful People! A year ago, my Sam and I started what we called a "blog thing" (mainly because we didn't like the word meme), to aid writers in the quest of character analysis. I'd like to say we've achieved that goal, but I can't really speak for all of you. I will say that it has been a huge help for Sam and I.

We decided to give everyone an extra challenge this month for the occasion. It's kind of put together in two parts. Don't worry, it's completely optional.

Part 1: Instead of one character, choose two that are somehow tied together in a relationship. It doesn't matter what kind. They can be siblings, sweethearts, enemies, friends. Just two people who know each other. A relationship that you, as the author, would like to discover more about.

Answer the first 10 questions as you normally would, but do it for both characters. This is where that optional part comes in, if you're not interested, feel free to use these questions as you would for just one character.

Also, if the question isn't suited for the world your character lives in, answer it as if they lived in a world that it would, or feel free to change the question to fit the situation.

(Thanks to Finvarra Penn and Alyianna for suggesting some of this months questions!)

1. Do they believe in anything that most people think is impossible? 
2. Are they strong, or the "damsel/knight in distress" sort? 
3. Do they have a special place? (e.g. a corner in his/her bedroom, under a tree...)
4. What occupation do they have, or plan on having? 
5. Describe their current place of residence. 
6. Explain their last crisis. How had they changed when they came out of it? 
7. If they could drive any kind of car they wanted, what would it be? 
8. How do they deal with change? 
9. If they had to amputate one body part, which one would they choose? 
10. What would their favorite be at the local coffee shop? 

Part 2: Here are 5 more questions. These ones are focused more on that relationship we mentioned above. The goal is to become more familiar with the way your two characters relate with one another. Think about your answers, don't be afraid to give us detail.

1. How did they meet? 
2. How do these two deal with conflict? 
3. Do they have a special song, phrase, item, or place? 
4. What kind of things do they like to do together? 
5. Describe their relationship as a whole in 3 words, or less. 

Have fun, and don't forget to sign the linky!

I'm Yours, and Writerly Musings

First of all, I love this kid. 

This video has 53,468,658 views. 20 of them were probably me. 
I haven't been doing a lot of writing lately, although I should be. My plan is not only to convert my NaNo novel of 2010 into a film script for Script Frenzy, but I would also like to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo this year. Both times. Thus, on top of the rewrites I should be doing to The Way We Think, I should be outlining. Ha. 
By the way, if you go to the Script Frenzy website and use the Plot Machine on the main page, you'll probably laugh. I did. 

While drowning in the Caspian Sea a wedding photographer with Tourette's puts his life on the line to save the ant colony. 

The great thing about writing is that nothing is really impossible. The other great thing, is everything you can put the characters through. You would think drowning in the Caspian Sea was rather life threatening, but just wait till we reach the ant colony. That's where you'll find the real danger. 
I have been working on a bit of a short story. It's based off of a quote Fin and I found on the internet. You can read the entire thing here (it's rather long). It inspired something along these lines. 

He reached the little shop within twenty minutes. A sign on the door warned him to step down as he entered. The first thing he noticed was the air. Not just the smell of an old book, or turning pages, but that thick air that surrounds them and makes them feel that much different. The second thing he noticed was the cat, sitting next to the cash register. Perhaps he'd chosen the place to rest, not only because he could easily keep an eye on those who entered, but also because every other surface on the counter was covered with books. Piles of books. The long haired creature blinked lazily, as if Reed held no interest for him, and yet the soft green eyes remained locked on him. Watching his every move. Reed found an uncertain smile on his face and a few words stuttering from his lips. "I... just wanted to... to look around." He stopped when he realized he was talking to a cat. He wasn't sure if there was any other human in the building. Not only could he hear no evidence of it, but he could also see none. 

I'm sure I'll get to my outlining eventually. The week before Camp NaNo begins perhaps? 

Beautiful People - February

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here we are, with another month past, and ten more questions posted for Beautiful People.

Beautiful People is a blog thing hosted by Sam and I. Each month we post ten questions for you to answer about the characters you've created. It's designed to help writer's discover even more about the beautiful people they've created.

We try to keep the questions neutral so they can be applied to any genre. However, as my Sam has said, "if you do write fantasy or sci-fi, try to adapt them so that they do fit your genre, or pose the question as if your character was in a modern world."

Moving on to the questions...

1. If your character could be played by an actor, who would it be? 
2. Does your character have a specific theme song? 
3. What's their worst childhood memory? 
4. If your character had a superpower, what would it be? 
5. If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how could your character help the group survive? 
6. Are they married? If not, do they someday wish to be? 
7. What is a cause they would die for? 
8. Would they rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home? 
9. If a stranger walked up to them and told them they were the child of the prophesy, would they believe them? 
10. Do they prefer the country, or the city? 

If you have any suggestions for next months questions, feel free to let us know in a comment on mine, or Sam's blog.

Enjoy, and don't forget to sign the linky!

The Author's Giveaway Winners

Yes, we are finally announcing the winners of the giveaway! Thank you so much for entering, it has been one marvelous time. I've discovered many of you wish to meet Agatha Christie. Who knew, right? 

Winners! 
Anna Mittower - Choice of print from Anna Delores Photography. Three sizes to choose from. 8x8, 8x10, or 8x12. 
Keaghan - Shakespeare Inspiration Dice from Palimpsestic.
*Charity* - The Pride and Prejudice Ornament from Inspirations by Faith. 
Ashley - Author Postage Note Card set of four. You're choice of author. Robert Penn Warren, Steven Vincent Benet, or Thornton Wilder. Donated from Piccadilly Post.
Melody - Your choice of author and color silhouette from Hello Grey Day. 
Please email Kylie with your mailing address and such so we can get that information to the kind people who have donated the prizes. Also, Anna, Ashley, and Melody, please be sure to include the details of your prize, as far as, the choices you've made, in that email as well. 
mountainfireflower{at}gmail{dot}com
Thank you so much to the wonderful sponsors of this giveaway! Please feel free to stop by their shops and check out some of the other neat things they have to offer. 

We Tried the Vlog Thing

The Penn is Mightier Then the Sword
Further Up and Further In

Beautiful People - January

**Be sure to check out The Author's Giveaway. There are only a few more days to enter!**

And we're back! If you've forgotten about Beautiful People, don't feel to bad, because I did too. Sam had to remind me we needed to get the next set of questions out there.

For those who don't know what Beautiful People's about, check out the guidelines on Sam's blog, HERE.

Also, if you're interested in reading over the past questions we've used for Beautiful People, you can view the archives HERE.

With a new year of Beautiful People, we thought we might try a new kind of question, based on a comment left by The Director.

"I think more than "what is their favorite (blank)," perhaps questions concerning how the character would react to certain circumstances or situations would be even more helpful :-) Just my humble suggestion."

Great idea Abigail! Thanks for the suggestion. We threw a few of those questions into the mix this month.


1. If character's house burned down, and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their back, what would they do? Where would they go? 
 2. Are they happy with where they are in life, or would they like to move on? 
 3. Are they well-paid? 
 4. Can they read? 
 5. What languages do they speak? 
 6. What is their biggest mistake? 
 7. What did they play with most as a child? 
 8. What are their thoughts on politics? 
 9. What is their expected life time? 
 10. If they were falsely accused of murder, what would they do? How would they react? 

Enjoy the questions, and please feel free to leave feedback! Don't forget to sign the linky! 

Which Author Would You Meet?

If you haven't gotten the chance to read over the details of The Author's Giveaway, you can check it out HERE. Fin, Sam, and I are will be giving away some pretty awesome stuff, generously donated by Esty shop owners. 

So, to gain an entry in the giveaway, answer the following question. You can either leave a comment with your answer, or write about it in a blog post of your own, and then leave a comment with the link to your post. 

If you could meet any author from any time period, who would it be?

Ah, what a question. So many authors, so many time periods. This question is actually pretty easy for me though. Charles Dickens, without a doubt. I think that man would be awesome to chat with, and I'd love to hear some of his thoughts on writing. Somehow I get the feeling it wouldn't be the structured plot points, with character arcs and a diagramed outline posted on his wall. Yes, I think chatting with Dickens would be glorious. 

To gain two more entries in the giveaway, be sure to visit Fin, and Sky's blog to answer the questions posted there! 

The Author's Giveaway

I love classic literature. I love old books I can find for a dollar at the thrift store, and I love the smell of musty pages. The look of words printed on a faded page thrills me. I love to fill notebook after notebook with scribbles from my imagination. I love to put words together so that they tell a story.

Combine that with my love of awesome blog giveaways, and throw in two of my best friends, and you get an author's giveaway!

What can you win by entering? Let me show you.

Emily from Anna Delores Photography has offered to donate one beautiful print from her Etsy shop! While she has a stunning collection of typewriter prints bound to please any writer, you can also find almost anything to suit your taste. The winner can choose any print from the shop and can get it in one of three sizes; 8x8", 8x10", or 8x12". Be sure to check out Emily's blog as well!

Marguerite from Piccadilly Post will be giving away an Author Postage Note Card set of four. Winners choice of three different authors. Robert Penn Warren, Steven Vincent Benet, or Thornton Wilder. Each set comes with four lined note cards printed with "write your own story" and a thermographed vintage typewriter image. The entire set includes; four note cards, four envelopes, four envelope wraps, four postage stamps, and is packaged in an envelope folder tied with twine.

One winner will receive their choice of author silhouette from Hello Grey Day. Winner will be able to choose author, and color of the silhouette. This would make a beautiful display in any writer, or book lovers bedroom, or library. Kirsten also has a facebook page for her shop.

Don't we all wish some of the great authors were still alive, to push us in the right direction when we come across writer's block? I guess we'll have to settle for the second best thing. These are a set of Shakespeare Inspiration Dice. Made by Jennifer at Palimpsestic, these dice were created to inspire the beginning, the middle, or the end of any story. 

This beautiful ornament has been donated by Faith from Inspirations by Faith. It will make a lovely addition to any writer's Christmas tree next year! Filled phrases from Pride and Prejudice makes it perfect for any literary lover! 

How do I enter?
Entering will be simple. Fin, Sky, and myself will all be posting questions on our blogs tomorrow. Each blog will have one question posted. Each question you answer will gain you one entry. You can answer by either commenting on each post, or post all three answers on your own blog. We would also be grateful if you included a link back to the giveaway. If you decide to do this, comment with the link to the post so we are able to read your answers!

While not mandatory to share the giveaway, we would appreciate any advertisement you felt like sharing.

Deadline for entering is January 23rd. Winner's will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after the 23rd, on all three blogs.

Have fun, and good luck!

The Troublesome Ones

Part of the reason, actually, probably the biggest reason, My Sam and I started Beautiful People was to have a way for writer's to get to know their characters. I would say it's worked wonderfully for at least the majority of those who have taken part. I know it's certainly helped me out a lot.

However, I'm beginning to wonder if there are some characters out there who just won't... come to life. I really don't know how else to put it. Let me try and explain.

When I'm writing, and I create a new character, I can see them in my minds eye. A lot of the time, they are just a name, or a vague image I can't quiet see yet. The character seems to be almost 2D, and as I discover more about them and their story, details begin to come clear. Colors are filled in, the fog is lifted. Last of all, when they really seem to come to life, it's almost as if someone has blown them up like a balloon. They become 3D. Real. That's what happens most the time at least.

Meet Miany Love Cealnoor. Her maiden name is Kingly. I could tell you the stories of her Father, husband, brother in law, and children. I could even tell you the story of her nurse maid from when she was a child. In telling you their stories, you would get the idea of her own. You would figure out where she stands in, and the parts she plays, but she would still be just a drawing on the page. She would never step out of the story and grab you by the throat.

I can't really classify her as a mary sue character. I can affirm that by saying I took The Writer's Mary Sue Test. They called her healthy with a great future ahead of her. Why am I not feeling the same way?

I've been struggling with Miany for around five years now. I've started writing her novel several times, but it never turns out. Why? I think it's her fault. So, today, I said this has to stop.

In my attempt to bring this character to life I'm writing a series of short stories about her, and I'm convinced I shall discover her story. If I fail in this mission I shall see about changing her to someone else entirely. I would get rid of the character, but someone's got to fill that space. I guess that's my biggest worry, I don't want a character to fill in the blanks. I want a character who will remove the blanks.

If you've made it to the end of this writer's rant, I salute you.

In Which Georgie And Her Friends Are Shot

Due to the good weather, and new camera, and a marvelous set of tracks some friends and I decided to have a random photo shoot. 

Kiehl is one of those friends that I've known for some time, but we've recently been discovering how much we have in common. Such as a love for boots.

My guitar strap kept slipping off causing my guitar to fall and get banged up. So, I set it in the corner to get it out of the way, and then turned back to see its smiling face. So I took a picture.

Fin and her guitar.

Kiehl with her fiddle. 

Hi Guys

It's seven minutes away from midnight and I'm writing this post to say that this blog is not dead. Let's just say NaNoWriMo has sucked practically ever intelligible word out of my system. On that note, I reached 50,000 three days before Thanksgiving. Now I've just got to finish the novel.

For those of you sitting around waiting for something to happen on this blog, sit back and get ready. My Sam, Fin and I are working on some crazy stuff. At least, it sounds crazy when you're this tired.

I've also discovered you will laugh an insane amount at this video when you're tired. If you're anything like me that is.

I also must say a hint of steampunk has started to show up in my novel. I am okay with this. In fact, I find it rather enjoyable.

Beautiful People - Holiday Edition

Welcome to the Holiday Edition of Beautiful People! If you're unsure what Beautiful People is you can read about it on the FAQ page.

Seeing as how the holidays are getting closer and closer, my Sam and I decided we would dedicate this months questions to celebrations. We'll be taking a break through December, but Beautiful People will be back in January.

A lot of writer's don't think about holiday's, or celebrations while writing their story, but it's a part of life. Even for fantasy writer's. Your character might be a typical American who celebrates Christmas and the Fourth of July, but they must have something to celebrate. Parties are a part of almost anyone's life, even if they aren't given for the same reasons. Stretch your imagination on this one. Try to make your characters holiday seasons as real as you can.

1. What kind of holidays do they celebrate, if any?
2. What are they most thankful for?
3. Do they have any family traditions?
4. What is their most memorable holiday memory?
5. What is the most memorable gift they have ever received?
6. Do they consider it important to be with family during celebrations?
7. Do they usually wait till the last minute to purchase gifts, or do they buy them ridiculously early?
8. Favorite Christmas song? For fantasy authors, is music a part of their celebration?
9. Do they celebrate for religious reasons?
10. How do they celebrate the beginning of the new year?

Have fun, and don't forget to sign the linky!

Week 2ish

This post is a bit late. Week two has come and gone, but oh well. Let me just say, I expect to reach the 50,000 word goal the same way I did last year. In a futile attempt to beat Fin in getting there. Sometimes I wonder how normal people have fun.

Wordcount: I shall fill this in later. I'm keeping Fin in terror at the moment.

Favorite Place to Write: The coffee shop, still. Especially when I've got writer friends with me.

Most Productive Place to Write: That would still be my bedroom. On my bed. With earphones in my ears.

Favorite Snack: French fries from McDonald's. I know, I'm weird.

Music:

Authentic Me

I'm participating in Abigail Kraft's Authentic People Blog Party.

So, for newcomers to my blog, this is me.

I'm a daughter of the most high God. I'm an aspiring theater director. I'm an opinionated film critic. Mostly, I just write words. Especially, during the month of NaNoWriMo.

1} What's the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest think about you?

Let's see... I have a crooked face. Seriously, if I put on any pair of glasses they will sit crookedly on my face. Unless it's my glasses, those were made to look straight.

2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?

Aanoor. That would be... my own fantasy land. Almost all of my fantasy novels/stories are set somewhere in Aanoor. It's been growing considerably over the years.

I made this map several years ago and it has changed a bit since then, but it gives you a general idea.

3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?

My book shelves. A fairly recent addition to my house, but my favorite none-the-less.

Reasons love to them? 1. My Daddy made them for me. 2. They hold awesome books. 3. They're green.

4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what's

your favorite?

Oh yes, I love animated movies and my all time favorite is Lilo & Stitch. How could you not love a cute and fluffy mutant alien?

5} What is your favorite household chore?

Sweeping. I used to hate it, but after years of doing it every day, I actually kind of like it now.

6} What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?

In my case, that would be my favorite coffee shop. I don't visit Starbucks much. Anyway, my usual, memorized by two different baristas in town would be a 12oz white mocha. They're also pretty good and guessing if I want it iced, or not by how thick a coat I'm wearing.

7} What is your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni. I'm pretty basic when it comes to pizza.

8} Waffles or pancakes?

Uh... I don't really like either of those. Especially for breakfast. Then again, I'm not much of a breakfast eater in general.

9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?

I actually don't really like to play games. I get weird looks whenever I say that, but it's the truth. The only games that I'll actually be in the mood to play are card games. My least favorite is probably charades.

10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?

I don't remember. I doubt it.

11} Have you ever dyed your hair?

No, although some people find that hard to believe when they see my natural red highlights.

12} Do you make your bed every morning?

Ah-ha, let's just say, I try.

13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?

Norman Rockwell. I'm actually not crazy about him, but I find Picasso disturbing.

14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?

Hard wood, but it's all carpet in my house.

15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?

I'm not really sure. My favorite books?

16} What's your favorite condiment?

Barbecue sauce. Yes, I hail from the west.

17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?

No... I don't even remember the last time I threw up.

18} What was the last thing that made you laugh.

My brother playing charades last night. It was rather comical.

19} Think fast... what's the first song that pops into your head?

Blessed Assurance. I was just playing it on my guitar. One of my favorite hymns, especially when sung by Alan Jackson.

The Stroke of Midnight

I'm one of those people who doesn't celebrate halloween. The only time I ever remember dressing up for it was last year. I went as a writer. It involved wearing my glasses instead of my contacts, putting my hair in a bun, and sticking a pen through it. Most people didn't even realize I was in costume.

I was telling one of my bosses today that I was going to stay up till midnight so I could start my "writing thing" as she called it. She found it silly to stay up and start writing then, when I could get a good nights sleep and start writing tomorrow. When Fin and I explained to her that half the fun was waiting that first night for the exact minute when you can start writing, she called us a strange breed.

Yes, I suppose we writers are a strange breed. We go through halloween day, waiting for it to be over. Because for us, the 31st just means the day before NaNo. Then, the real fun begins.

Find me on the NaNoWriMo website under the username georgiepenn.

Characters Make the Plot

As you've probably noticed, I like to fancy myself as a writer. It's something I greatly enjoying doing and have spent many hours not only doing it, but learning how to become better at it. I've read books on the subject, written by published authors. I haven't agreed with everything they've said, but it helped me to see that every writer is different. Every writer has things that work best for them.

I hardly consider myself worthy to give advice, but I would like to expound on something that has worked for me. Character analysis.

That's right. Character sketches. Not just piddly little profiles though. I'm talking extensive stuff. This is a person that you're trying to create. A person that is making up the contents of your novel. There is always more to discover. Always more to uncover.

I get writer's block. I know, surprise, surprise. Probably one of the most obvious statements a writer can make. There are very few things I can do to break that inspiration stopping wall. One of them, the one that seems to work the most for me, is character analysis. Discovering more. It's amazing how learning one little morsel of information on one little side character, can open up a whole slew of new plot ideas.

Not only can you find a ton of character sketch material online, (I'm now going to shamelessly advertise) such as Beautiful People, but you can find some great books on the subject as well. I myself have only had the chance to get my hands on one, but there are at least a few more out there. The one I've used a little bit is called, What Would Your Characters Do. The Director recommends one called 45 Master Characters.

Check these books out. Look around for more like them. Get them from the library if you can. Find the one that works best for you. Find several that work best for you. Maybe none of them will work for you. Maybe you feel you don't need extensive character sketches. That's cool too, just remember that with writing, it's always a good idea to try something before saying it's not for you. You never know, you might surprise yourself.

Beautiful People - NaNoWriMo Edition!

Da ta da ta DA! It's a brand new Beautiful People post! Only, it's not your typical Beautiful People. Nope, it's awesome because it's the NaNoWriMo Edition of Beautiful People! We're hoping it will get us all even more excited about the upcoming insanity.

What's the difference you ask? Well, not only are all the questions geared towards those writing novels this November, but we've got an extra little challenge on the side. Because, apparently, writing 50k words in a month isn't challenge enough.

What is this extra challenge? We're encouraging everyone to take a look at the BP archive that my Sam has so neatly put together and answer all the questions on one character. Even if you just do it without posting it on your blog, it's an amazing way to really learn a lot about the way your character thinks and what they love. We suggest using the main character of your NaNo novel, but any character will do.

While this months new questions are geared towards NaNoers, for those who aren't participating this year, we'd love to see the answers to the ones that can be adapted to the novel you're working on at the moment.

1. Sum up your novel in five words, or less.

2. Novel title?

3. Sum up your main character(s) in one word.

4. Advice for newbies in three words?

5. Tell us about your secondary characters, how do they affect the story?

6. Do you plan on staying up till midnight on the 31st?

7. How many years have you done NaNo?

8. What came first, characters, or plot idea?

9. How much prep do you do before November?

10. Now be honest, how do you really feel about NaNo?

Don't forget to sign the linky, and have fun!