NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The hype has been building throughout the month of October and as November fast approaches, more and more people are getting on the band wagon.  

For some it will be the start of a lifelong dream. Others will take advantage of all-encompassing NaNoWriMo push that is needed to add to an already prominent saga of previously written work. Many who are immersed in the corporate world, will see it as an opportunity (as time permits) to just write and write and write.

The ultimate goal for writers during the month of November is to write 50,000 words. This presented a challenge at a recent Writer’s Group suggesting that for those who choose to write 50,000 words, others could write in support. Each who decide to participate as support writers will
set personal their own goals, electing to pen as much or as little within their reach.

It will be interesting, at the end of November, to tally up all of the words written by everyone contributing.

Have you made a pledge to yourself or to be involved with NaNoWriMo?

Not every week do we have homework from the Wednesday night Writing Group. This, however, was our latest challenge. 

Write as you will using the following words:
flabbergasted - Ookpic - clout - bar - dinosaur - everything was orange - Abbott and Costello

The Orange Pub

Abbott and Costello were flabbergasted. They couldn’t believe their eyes. Everything was orange in this quaint little pub and to top it off, a dinosaur just strolled through the door. It was heading to what appeared to be his regular spot at the bar. 

The dinosaur obviously had clout because nothing and no one had made an attempt to fill that vacancy, until now.

Abbott started to back towards the door as he took in the whole scene.  Costello on the other hand was unaware of what was going on behind him. That was until a hush fell over the room and he looked up into the mirror behind the bar; and there was a dinosaur staring him down. 

The trance finally snapped. 

“Abbott. Hey AAABBBOOOTTTT” Costello hollered as he picked up his Ookpic, floundered off the bar stool, and headed toward the door at an accelerated speed. 

“There’s a dinosaur in here!”

“Wait for me.”

“Abbott, Hey AAAABBBOOOTTTT”.  Was the last that was heard as the bar door swung shut. 

The challenge? Six words - Guts, Echo, Retaliatory, Bruin, Anticipate, Animosity, Vagabond

Echo sat in the window seat cuddling her tiny bruin.

Not saying a word, she looked longingly out to the garden to where the other nymphs were jumping from shadows to sunshine like vagabonds that have no homes. 

Hara watched her. Would the nymph break silence during the excitement of the watching the game? That was hard to anticipate. There was much animosity felt between herself and Echo; and Hara often wondered if the tiny nymph would plan a retaliatory assault.  

It had taken guts to deprive the nymph of her chatter. A lesson to be learned from the queen’s playbook for all who crossed Hara, the queen of the gods, goddess of marriage. 

The results were presented to the APL's Writing Group on June 17/15.