November is a very special time of year. It is the time when I prove, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that my insanity is without measure. It is the time when, because job stress and the stress of dealing with severely overpowered and demented Mages just isn’t enough stress, I decide to write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days time. Welcome to National Novel Writing Month!

I never pretended that Rational was my middle name.

The thing of it is, participation in NaNoWriMo is rewarding on multiple levels. For starters, it gives those NPC voices in my head an outlet, which makes them shut up for a little while.  I get to work out backstory elements for the campaign, and potential future plot points, which just so happens to be the way I plotted out the lead in to the current mess the Mages are in.

Thank you NaNoWriMo!

Alternatively I can use the plots in my NaNo works to write stand alone one shots. For example, I plan to use this year’s novel as the basis for the “Hunter: The Vigil” game I will be running at I-Con in 2012.

Even more than inspiration for RPG sessions, and the sheer satisfaction of having done it (and getting just a little bit better at it every year), is the knowledge that through my participation I can help to support writing programs in schools that inspire young people to be creative.

If you’d like to find out more about NaNoWriMo (it’s not too late to start!), you can find more information on their website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

If you’d like to make a tax deductible donation, you can help me support NaNoWriMo and their Young Writers Programs at my official NaNoWriMo donation site: http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?is_new=1&fcid=157189

I’m writing as MageMistress (as you might have guessed). I’m behind at the moment, it happens every November, but as always I’m in it to win it!