November 2009
The month of November is the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for those who so prefer. This will be my second year of taking on the challenge of completing the first draft of a novel, of minimum 50,000 words, during the month of November.
One of the greatest struggles of authors is to get something – anything – down on paper. This is where NaNoWriMo comes in, to squeeze that first draft out of us, using a tight deadline. Then there’s the whole of 2010 to work and improve on that draft – until November 2010, that is. Good luck to all others taking on this excellent challenge!
Other exciting news concern Crossing Qalandiya – Exchanges Across the Israeli Palestinian Divide, coming out in December from Hakibutz Hameuhad in Israel, and Patient Zero, a political thriller, coming out in January 2010 from Mosaic Press in Canada and the US. Two books coming out within a couple of months is quite something – but I’ll hold the excitement until I actually see them both in print. However, one thing I can not hold the excitement about is the wonderful news that my short story Gathering Storm was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. Results will be announced on November 22nd, so check the Bridport Prize website.
In the mean time, enjoy the last days of autumn; throw another log into that proverbial fire and burn the midnight oil – reading, writing or both.