I register for the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge yesterday.  I’m one of those wannabe writer who thinks she has a story to tell, but just waiting for the right time to do it.  It’s been years, since high school, that I’ve had this calling. The right moment has not come and there is no book.  But now, the time has come – to do, to write.  No more just talking.

I read the fine print, accepted the terms and policies and created my account and profile.  I was pumped up.  I was up to the challenge of 50,000 words in November. …. a little over 1,ooo words a day.  I had a title, sort of a plot, and maybe even a cover.  Then I read somewhere that it has to be fiction.

Fiction!  That gave me cause to pause.  Wait a minute!

Though I am an a voracious reader of fiction, I’ve never thought of writing fiction, never told a story, never even had a fantasy.  I have never daydreamed about a perfect wedding, the white picket fence, children, etc.  It’s no wonder that I have none of those things!

But now is the time, like the walrus says (from Through the Looking Glass):    ‘To talk of many things:  Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —     Of cabbages — and kings —And why the sea is boiling hot —And whether pigs have wings.’

And why not talk of cabbages and kings, whether pigs have wings and other fanciful things?  Why not wish upon a star and ask for the moon?  Why not dream a little and dare a lot?  Why ask for a small thing and not the whole shabam?   Just think, I could have had a tea party like Alice in Wonderland instead of shared Retirement/Farewell party between 4-5 people.  Where is my pride and sense of worth?

Wait, it is not too late!  There’s still time.  I can still do many things.  I can write about cabbages and kings and whether pigs have wings.  If Mary McPhee can write books and blogs at 87 from her retirement home, there is a lot of hope for me yet.

I just did the math of 50,000 words in 30 days.  It equals something like 1700 words a day.  No matter.  I will still give it a good go.  I will do my personal best.  I have a week to relax into it.  I will call forth all the creative forces within me.  I can do it!  Or die trying. 🙂