Yesterday, I saw the announcements that the East Coast was out of the gates and NaNoWriMo was now their playground. Of course, Chris was also taking time to rub in the three hour time difference (picture me sticking out my tongue). As a resident on the West Coast, I got to see the excitement build until finally it was my turn.

Unlike Chris, who is so much better at the seat of the pant action, I fretted for a week over what would be my writing challenge during the month that I would be in the abyss of writing. I read what I could on how to approach it and how to stir the story idea juices—a word, a lyric, even a simple conversation can spur an idea.

For me, that was the case. I was looking over some story ideas in our file and came across one that had never come to fruition—one very special to my heart. A Wiki page really that contained some research on plants that I had planned to use within a story.

Shortly after, a hint of an actual story blossomed in my mind and I ran the premise by Chris who encouraged me to pursue it. From that moment on, I have been on pins and needles. Fretting and thinking about what the story will look like, the possibilities of who the heroine and hero are, and who they would become. Writing this story will be bittersweet as the idea came from a time when both Chris and I were having the time of our lives.

It's now November 1. D-Day. The day. The big day. And here I am 3,000 words into the story. Let it be known—I'm still fretting, still anxious, and terribly miss working with Chris directly on this project. I just hope I can do it justice and develop something we can polish later.

For some reason I'm envisioning a court room, raised hand and a bible so I am going with it:

I hereby swear:

I will not edit (apparently that is a no-no, sigh)

I will not second guess (Chris will still be there to slap me upside the head when I need it)

I will diligently capture my changes and thoughts for improvement separately (for the much needed polishing at the end)

I will probably cry, scream and vent but, according to social networking, that appears to be the given right of every author. (Finally I have been justified...LOL)

I will also throw myself with abandon (like Chris) into the chaos of NaNoWriMo and love every minute of it.

Good luck to you all, my fellow colleagues and my wonderful partner who are also jumping into this freaking crazy adventure.