November 1st has come and gone, and I am more than 8000 words into a new novel!

It’s November, time for the 2013 edition of National Novel Writing Month. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of people will sit down to keyboards and let words flow, carrying the stories they have in their heads onto the paper–or rather the screen. They will ignore dust, pick up carry-out meals, and send shirts to professionals for cleaning and pressing.

Okay, most writers probably do the last two the rest of the year if they can afford them, and the dust thing is a no-cost no-brainer.

Who in the world of books and writing hasn’t heard of NaNoWriMo?

I’ll tell you who. Last weekend when my Romance Writers of America chapter gathered at a local library’s conference room for the monthly meeting, I trotted around to the circulation desk to ask the librarian when they would be hosting their NaNoWriMo write-ins. The library was listed on the NaNoWriMo site as a write-in location, and I thought it would be a fun thing to share with my chapter-mates. Maybe some of us could gather silently under the same creative aura.

The librarian said “What?” and looked at two other librarians gathered there.

I said, “You know, NaNoWriMo. The site lists your library as a spot for writers to gather.” The three ladies shared a confused look and one of them asked for clarification.

She thought I was asking about a Hispanic event!

I had the opportunity Saturday to tell three book professionals about NaNoWriMo.

And if you’re reading this and have never heard of it, check out the history of National Novel Writing Month here. If you have a story in you that you’d like to try telling, jump in with the rest of us. Magic happens when your fingers hit the keyboard, and on the days when it doesn’t–

Permission to write crap is hereby granted!

Happy writing!