1 I had a full-on panic this morning, thinking it started today. Because I have no opening scene. None. I have no idea where to start because I would just rather write in my journal about things that are real.

But alas, I have a day to mull things over and get inspired. I hope the muse visits us all. I mean, how often is one encouraged to ramble at length? I think this mad dash is more of a stress relief than a stressor. Good luck, and you're in good company!

2 Now there's an idea. I'd love to read your journal. *ducks* LOL

3 Hey Ted,

I'm giving it a go this year. I did some pre-plotting this year; I have titles for about 10 chapters, a couple of character sketches, and some rough scraps of dialogue that I am pulling together.

However, Buckethead and I both got Civ IV a few days ago, and are considering starting an online multiplayer game, so our word counts may fall short of the 50,000 goal.

4 I created a little bit of family tension this weekend. My mom came out from Ohio to spend time with her grandson. I figured, hey! What better opportunity to play Civ IV? Mrs. Buckethead did not agree. At all, really. So we went to see Wallace and Grommit, and did a bunch of other stuff.

So I stayed up til three or four in the morning Friday night, Saturday night, last night... and now I'm tatered.

I need to resist the call of Civ IV... Must resist... But I've got the Germans up against the wall, and the Egyptians are getting uppity... Oh crap.

Writing will be difficult. Damn Sid Meiers!

5 The first Sid Meiers game I played was something on the Atari 800 - split screen - you in your F86 Super Sabre vs Migs. I spent hours shooting down commies.

6 JohnL, you are waaay ahead of me on this. I might just start writing and see where it takes me, because I wasn't even considering this a week ago.