November is a really idiotic month to write a novel. It’s clear to me that the people who started National Novel Writing Month were not married at the time, had no responsibilities whatsoever for the upcoming holidays, and were probably living in their mom’s basement.

However, complain as I might, November is the month, and the motivation that the group project provides is worth the trouble. But for an ESTJ, I can somehow be a big rule-breaker. I like to do things my way. Last year, I used Nanowrimo to finish Rites of Passage. (A big no-no according to the rules, but a smashing success for me.)

This time, I’ll be starting early. In addition to holiday insanity, I’ll be going on a cruise to the Western Carribean in November and though I’m contemplating bringing my laptop I don’t anticipate doing work. So, Nanowrimo starts for me, today. Here’s my progress so far on my new book, the working title of which is Primary Partners:

981 / 50,000 (2.0%)

If the Nanowrimo Police want to arrest me, I am my own lawyer.

Earlier this week, Chris Cevasco, the editor of Paradox Magazine, informed me that my story, “Somewhere, Sometime on the Nile” received an honorable mention in the just-released 20th annual Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror collection (eds. Datlow, Link, Grant), which is devoted to short fiction published in 2006.

On a related note, Paradox has re-launched with a new website and I think it’s fabulous, though I’m a bit aggravated that the flash technology they used has made linking to specific issues or stories difficult to impossible.

Of all the Spec Fic magazines, Paradox is the one that I usually savor and read cover to cover. One of my Clarion classmates, Tom Doyle, has a story in issue 11 too!