August 2008

I love the fall. I love the crisp, clean scent of the New England air and the way that the leaves change colors. I love going apple picking and hiking -- and of course, I love football. As the summer comes to a close we are going back to school and work, getting ready for the upcoming holidays.

One of my favorite parts of autumn is, of course, Halloween. There's also another big part of autumn that I really enjoy, and that's National Novel Writing Month -- NaNoWriMo -- in November. I have participated in NaNoWriMo since 2005 and won last year. During NaNoWriMo, writers attempt to write 50,000 word novels in thirty days. This year, I plan to participate again and write a novel that has been itching at me to be written for years.

So what does NaNoWriMo have to do with Letters of Love?

Writing is very important to me. It's helped me through a lot of tough times. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Many of my pen pals and members of Letters of Love online have told me that they are writers. I'd like to encourage everyone to participate this November. Maybe, if we all do it together, we can cross that finish line and each have a novel by December. If you've participated before you know how rewarding it can be, even if you don't get 50,000 words.

If you decide to participate this year, my username on the NaNoWriMo website is delirious19th. I have created a special forum for this year's NaNoWrimo on the Letters of Love Community. This month, in between work and diving into my last semester at community college, I'll be planning my novel. You are more than welcome to join me.

This autumn I plan on finishing the Letters of Love website and launching it to a wider audience. I want to spread the word. I want to write to more pen pals and talk about depression, self-injury and addiction. I want to do interviews with people who have experienced these things and include them in issues of NewsLetters of Love. I want us all to stand together and keep going, supporting each other through our letters.

Big things are coming. Can you feel it? I can.

Give yourself a hug today. Make a list of the good things about yourself. You are loved.

Elizabeth