The New Pub...

I wrote this article almost a year ago. It is, by far, the longest lead time of anything I've written for a magazine. I didn't even remember the article (and my copy was lost in the Great Crash of '07) so reading it again was actually sort of interesting. Yes, my article did make the cover...if you look really, really hard. It's the one that's written in the tiny, light blue print, "Avoid Daycare Disaster." It's also the first time I've been published in a national magazine, albeit a magazine that's nearly impossible to find unless you subscribe to it. "Who is Petra Kolber?" you ask. I don't know. According to American Fitness, she's the star of these excercise dvd's: Step Moves New Grooves, 3,2,1 Dance, and Elegant Strength. So now you know. It could have been worse, believe me...both Suzanne Somers and Tony Little have made the cover in the last year. Hey, thanks to Tiffany Morton at the Bellingham Athletic Club for the interview for this one. She probably doesn't even remember doing it because it was so long ago, but thanks anyway!

Only 11,665 words behind...

So to be a "winner" for National Novel Writing Month, I need to average about 1667 words per day. We're seven days into November, so I should have around 11,669 words written so far. Hmmm, let's see here...if you count the title...and "by Scott Lommers"...my word count is right around...four. I could be in a bit of trouble here.

I wonder if it's too late to find a really, really cheap ghostwriter?

On a completely different topic, does anyone have a plot lying around somewhere that they're not using? Maybe something in the "mystery/suspense" genre? Please no crime-solving cats or eight year-old computer geniuses. Thanks. And if your plot is used, I'll be sure to cut you in on all future profits and/or debts.

One Month, One Pencil, One Novel...

Yes, November is THE month. The National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Thousands upon thousands of otherwise normal, well...how about average, people take on the commitment to write a 50,000 word novel in one, single month. Crazy, right? Yeah, I know. I love it.

OK, I'm not really going to use a pencil. Although I usually write my first drafts of my articles on paper (with a pen, not a pencil...I love crossing out, not erasing), the fact that I've got to bang out 50,000 words in four weeks probably means I'll need to go straight to the ol' MacBook this time.

Yes, it's going to be a mystery/suspense novel and yes, I've got a sorta, kinda plot, or maybe an outline, or possibly a organized thought in my head, though it's VERY sketchy. Veeeeerrrrry sketchy.

Check out my progress right...here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/220161

Wish me luck. I'll need it.

The Latest Published "R"...

Head out to your nearest running store and grab the latest RaceCenter Northwest Magazine. It's got my most recent 1200-word opus titled: "Partner Up." Find out how training partners and running clubs/groups can push you to reach your running goals. Included are quotes from a couple of my teammates from the Ragnar Relay Northwest Runner Team. Thanks Matt! Thanks Tami!

Also in the October-December issue of RaceCenter are articles about cross-country skiing, late bloomers in the running scene, and treating the "big 5" running injuries. All quality articles I'm sure.

And don't forget to check out the Hood to Coast photos on page 56. I may have to volunteer for the Sao Paulo Team next year...Yowza!

I Don't Feel Fortified...

Remember back in the day? Back when you had never even heard of a Power Bar or a Clif Bar, or Lord help us, Gu? Ah, but what about the Tiger's Milk Bar? That's right, "America's Original Nutrition Bar". It says so right there on the wrapper. Remember when you bought one of those things for the first time? You took a bite of that slightly peanut buttery-slightly nasty thing and you could just feel the energy bursting through your veins? I mean, I thought "a couple more of these babies and I'll be kicking some and taking some just like Jan-Michael Vincent on "Airwolf"!

And now, twenty, well maybe thirty, years later, I eat a Clif Bar (chocolate mint) almost once a day, and I get nothin'. In fact, I don't even expect anything. Forty vitamins and minerals, all natural, organic, no trans fat...whatever, it's no Tiger's Milk Bar.

And I've got the guns to prove it.