Most of us might name December as the busiest time of year. For me, it’s November, and this year the month is especially chock full of activity. My November actually kicked off on October 20, the first day of Early Voting in Virginia. I worked at an EV site for four ten-hour days, helping voters navigate the democratic process. Last year, I worked at the polls on Election Day itself, an experience I described in this post.
The November Marathon, a Sisters in Crime initiative, helps writers build a daily or monthly writing habit over the course of thirty days. The marathon replaces NaNoWriMo, which SinC sponsored for many years. I serve on SinC’s Social Media Team as manager for the LinkedIN account and post daily in November about the marathon as well as about other events to promote the organization.
As for writing, I’m working on a short story that’s due in early January. That’s coming right up! I have three signing events this month: the Hanover Book Expo happened on November 8; the Local Author Book Fair, put on by the Chesterfield County Library, is scheduled for November 15; and on November 22, members of the Sisters in Crime Central Virginia chapter will meet at Book People, a local Richmond bookstore. I’m looking forward to discussing our recently-published anthology, Crime in the Old Dominion. I love being around readers and writers—we learn so much from each other.
In early November, I enjoyed a Jim Brickman concert and a tour of the Hollywood Cemetery. As a side note, President James Monroe is buried there. On October 23 (just nine days before my tour) his daughter, Eliza Monroe Hay, was reinterred with her family at Hollywood Cemetery after nearly two centuries in an unmarked grave in France.
This is all in addition to the normal busyness of my everyday life: the gym, grocery shopping, walks to admire the fall colors, get-togethers with friends and family, medical appointments. Thanksgiving looms, of course. And we all know how life has a way of “altering” our plans.
It’s all material for our writing.
In contrast, December is relatively quiet in my world. Key word is relatively. I get to enjoy the holiday season with a modicum of fuss and bustle. We’ll see if that holds true this year.
How about you? Is there a particular time of year that’s busiest for you?
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The Writers in Residence 
My schedule isn’t nearly as full as yours, Maggie, but looking at my calendar does show a relatively busy schedule. Several dinners with both friends and family, a couple doctor’s appointments to conquer my arthritis…not much luck there, but some physical therapy that actually helps. Then there was the trip to see Castle Noel, a place packed with thousands of ornaments, decorations and stuff from most every famous Christmas movie ever made. It was fantastic! So I guess November was and is a busy month. Who knew? Thanks for jogging my memory.
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Castle Noel sounds like your kind of place, Gayle. I’m glad you got to experience it. Here’s to busyness! (and relief from your arthritis)
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Wow, Maggie, your schedule is jam-packed and, for the most part, fun-filled. Mine is pretty busy too, when I factor in all those “activities of daily living.” November is “Holiday Bazaar” month in Idaho, and I participated in a two-day event early on, with another one looming this weekend. It is fun to meet readers and other writers—who are, in my experience, wonderfully sharing and helpful. When I’m not selling books at these events, I try to at least stop by other ones to support my writer pals, and I often leave with more books to add to my TBR shelf. I only hope I live long enough to read them all!
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Bonnie, May we all live long enough to make even a dent in that TBR pile! Stay busy and thrive.
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Well – where do I begin?! I am always busy, as most of you know, doing double-duty with Woman’s Club stuff and my own life and my current Los Angeles Then and Now book research and writing! And then figuring out when I have time to do laundry or grocery shopping… But it’s better than bored, isn’t it, Maggie?
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Definitely better than bored! And our brains are constantly engaged.
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I tend to take November and December off from writing as my focus lies elsewhere. Besides, the holiday season is not conducive for some of the darker aspects of my novels. My busiest times come with prepping for something with a firm deadline, since many of these activities require traveling – family event, trip, or publication.
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Once I get this story submitted, I’m taking time off from writing to catch up on other areas of my life. Enjoy the holidays, Miko.
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That sounds so exciting, Maggie! I remember when I still lived north in Los Angeles, I was involved in Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America chapters. Being around writers is fun and stimulating. And the special speakers’ lunches were great. But here in Orange County, I’ve abandoned writing, it seems, except for blog posting (book reviews and my ‘Through the Bible’ study posts). I think I’m missing out on some of that adventure!
Thanks for sharing!
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Jackie, you can always start writing again (although what you do is writing). I wasn’t yet writing when I lived in LA, so didn’t experience SinC and MWA. Bigger chapters out there.
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