Well! Here’s some exciting news for ya.

I’ve been clicking around the NaNoWriMo site, hemming and hawing about whether I’ll actually get up the nerve to join in the fun. You can sign up now, though the gates won’t open for you to start writing your 50,000-word novel until November 1.

But I discovered the coolest thing — this year, there’s a program for kids! How’s that for a dream assignment for English teachers? If I were in the classroom, I think I’d probably pick my best and brightest students and tell them about this. And of course if I were homeschooling, my kids would have no choice. heh.

Can you imagine how much that would rock your confidence if you wrote your first novel at 13? Yeah, baby. Look out New York City. That would definitely be a better way to spend your time than watching TV or playing video games — almost as good as getting outside and exercising. Balance is good. And for you adults reading this, wouldn’t you love to have a copy of a novel YOU wrote at 13? Or 16?

If you’re interested, click over to the NaNoWriMo Young Writer’s Program and see how you can get your teacher’s kit, full of “goodies and incentives to get your students writing.”

When my kids are older, maybe we can all do this as a family. Wouldn’t that be fun? All of us, pulling our hair out over plots, characters, dialogue — at the same time! Then we could have a family reading. Hmmm…I’m getting all kinds of ideas here.

Now, back to my hemming and hawing about whether I will actually sign up myself …