Many writers are working on their 50,000 word novel right now for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). If you are one of those writers, then (like me) you have stumbled on one of following ways to NOT finish your novel:

I might be a little absent for a while....

This past week my students read (well, it was from www.storylineonline.net which is an amazing site!) a book titled "Thank You Mr. Falker"  by Patricia Polacco. I love that they were interested in it.  At the end of the book, I explained to them that some people have a hard time with reading just like the main character did (and the main character is actually the author! Spoiler Alert...sorry!!). I explained to them that my mother was/is dyslexic and that you can learn to overcome things.  You don't necessarily overcome dyslexia, but you learn to deal with it and you learn ways to control your mind, if you will. I don't know if they got what I was saying, but I do know that they were listening to it all. 

We all have our different ways of going about things. My mother's dyslexia was extreme and it caused her teachers to think she just couldn't learn or was "dumb"... until she found a teacher that helped her (very similar to the book I talked about above). It is amazing what you can accomplish when you have someone in your life that believes in you. 

Yesterday, I participated in my first Color Run. I used to be a little negative and would think "why, oh why, would anyone want color thrown on them while they are running?!" However, recently I am thinking differently. I am thinking more of "Why the hell not?!" And thank goodness for that because a 5k has never felt so short and so fun before!

This past weekend, I did not do lesson plans, though I should have been. 

I did not do much writing, but I did do some editing and worked on my book cover.  My latest book had come to a stand still so sometimes I work backwards to get back on track. That means that working on the book cover replenished my excitement and passion for this book. I truly love it.  

My goal is to hopefully finish it in the next two months. 

Why you ask? 
Well.. NaNoWriMo is just two months away. If you are not aware, November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). If my plan works (and it may or may not), then my current book will be finished by November then I can start writing the sequel in November. Oh yeah! You heard me right! A SEQUEL!!!! I am beyond excited. As of right now, this is the beginning of the Periculosis Series. Keep in mind, names might change, the cover might change, but the words behind FERVOR will not. I am in love with the characters and absolutely CANNOT wait to share them with the world! (When they are ready of course!)

So the theme of today's post is...you guess it!   Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, school is in session for my little 3rd graders and I am nervous as heck! I haven't taught 3rd grade for about 8 years. I am used to big 7th graders that give me mean looks if I touch their shoulder to see how their day has been. 

During open house last week, a parent wanted to take a picture of myself and the collaborative teacher with their child. The other teacher instinctively put her arm around the child. I, of course, did not. I am used to waiting until I am familiar with the student to know if I can hug them or put my arm around them. I am in a whole new world now. I guess I gotta start hugging away!  :)

I still am in disbelief, especially at the start of a new school year, that I am a teacher. This is my 10th year teaching and still...still...I wonder how I am. I do not like talking in front of people, I do not like small talk or talking to strangers, and yet this is what I do every single day of the school year. What is life if you do not push yourself our of your comfortable zone? I guess. 

I haven't had much time for writing my novel (or novella) lately and I feel so anxious about that. I miss my characters; I miss the schizophrenic main character whom I am completely in love with; I miss the confident leading lady who just wants to kick some ass right now; I miss the feeling I have when I am writing and the story goes a way I wasn't expecting.  


Hopefully, I will have the time to immerse myself in that story soon. Hopefully.