The ideas come at strange times, but I suppose that should be expected considering that I’m thinking and brainstorming about Echoes at random and somewhat strange times.

One of my recent happy breakthroughs took place when I was driving to work – early morning, windows down, music cheering me on. I was singing along with Josh Wilson (I think that’s who it was anyway), happy to be alive, enjoying the long drive, and musing my way through how to make Kios (the country where Echoes takes place) keep true to it’s non-European setting.

By the time I got to work I was nearly wishing my drive had been longer, which happens to be a first for me – at least when it comes to driving to work. When my co-worker asked how my day was going I informed her that it was going great and I’d come up with a needed breakthrough for my writing. She asked if I’d be able to remember it and I assured her I would, then I switched my brain gears and got to work and put bookish things aside for a bit.

But here I am now – several (busy!) days later, sitting at my desk, Whimsy in my lap, prepared to edit away.

It’s a beautiful day to be editing. (Who are we kidding? It’s a beautiful day even if editing wasn’t on the plate for my morning. Y’all. I know I probably gush about Ohio and how much I appreciate my life here, but it’s seriously amazing. As I blog this morning I’m sitting in front of my window that overlooks a little gravel country road, a newly cut hay field, and a couple of deer munching contentedly right outside my window. But enough of all that.)

This morning reminds me of the years that I’ve taken part in National Novel Writing Month which starts in just two weeks. It makes me think of the delightful hours I spent holed up in my room, drinking coffee and juice, and typing away to my heart’s content – and sometimes far past that.

I’m not planning on doing NaNoWriMo this year, but that doesn’t keep me from feeling nostalgic and wishing I could squeeze it into my life. Maybe today when I’m editing I will pretend that this is already November and I’m taking part in that wonderful month of focused writing. (Shh! Don’t remind me that I’m editing, not writing.)

What are some of the nostaligc feelings that surround you during the lovely month of October?