*I completely stole this term from author Bradley P. Beaulieu’s Google+!

This month, as I’m sure you’re well aware, is National Novel Writing Month, during which thousands of hopefuls will attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in one month.

I’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo, mainly because it takes place in November, during which one of my favorite conventions and a major holiday occur. Sometimes I also have school. This month, however, I am not only school-free, but I just happen to have finally completed all the prep work (more on that next week) for my first novel.

I’ve given myself until the end of the year to write 90-100K. Although I’m not technically participating in NaNoWriMo, I will be taking advantage of the fact that a lot of other people are–by attending write-ins, posting my word counts, etc.

The novel’s tentative title is Thriceborn. It’s fairly derivative fantasy schlock. It has, however, a story I really enjoy, and characters who I really want to write about, which should keep me motivated long after the “omg why am I doing this?” phase I usually arrive at around Chapter 6, when I’ve quit on past projects.

I don’t expect Thriceborn will ever be published. It’s my first novel, and most first novels are dreck and never see publication (and rightfully so). I’m writing it to have the experience; to learn about what works and doesn’t work for me when writing a novel; and to get this first, really awful novel out of the way so I can move on to the really good, unique, and not-so-derivative novel ideas bouncing around in my brain, knowing that I can complete them. It’s a practice exercise, the way a concert pianist practices hundreds of times before performing at Carnegie Hall.

If it turns out not to be complete crap and someone wants to publish it: hey, great.  But I’m not holding my breath on that. I’ve deliberately chosen the least fantastic of my ideas so that I won’t be heartbroken if it never sees publication.

If you want to keep up with my progress, I’ll be posting word counts daily to my twitter feed, and I’ll make periodic updates here as well.

So, tell me, dear reader: Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? What’s your novel about? How far along are you?