karenjeynes's blog

It's November 29. At this point you've either given up, finished, or are hurtling desperately down the final straits. Whichever it is, you are a writer. Why do we write? I've asked this question frequently of writers, and the answers always intrigue me. Sometimes it's simply that we have something we very much want to share with the world. Sometimes we write because there's a story burning up inside us and we can't rest until we get it out. Sometimes we write to entertain, or educate. And sometimes we just write because we want to. We all have different reasons for signing up for Naplwrimo. Mine are to do with having a deadline, and being part of a community - writing can be a lonely business sometimes! Whether you made it, or whether you tried, give yourself a pat on the back.

Okay. Because my life is not nearly stressful enough, I am going to make a promise right here right now. I am going to finish this play by the 30th of November, and I am going to get actors to record it, and I'm going to podcast it before midnight that night.

I am terrified at the thought. Absolutely petrified. But also rather excited. And boy, does it ever put the pressure on! No excuses now.

Anyone else want to join me? How absolutely amazing would it be to listen to plays from all over the world written in the month of November?

Come on, take a walk on the wild side!

It's that time of the month when you start to get serious about writing. When writing becomes an absolute must do. The end is in sight, but the pagecount is still high...

And so I'd like to take this time to thank all those who let us write. To the husbands, children and friends who tolerate us hunching over the computer instead of engaging in intelligent conversation. To the friends and colleagues who, instead of saying "no one made you do it" say "good for you for doing this". To those rare beasts who listen to our woes and advise, suggest, and cheer us on.

Here's to all of you who are writing in solidarity and creating this delicious hub of playwrighting.

Here's to our flipping awesome ringleaders who began this madness and hang around online encouraging it.

And now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to write...but you'll all get a mention in my thank you notes, I promise!