NaNoWriMo2011 - more pencil and paper

Just musing about the implications of yesterday's exercise, with another blank sheet of A4 at my side, I drew another 'mind map' stemming from this almost brand new character (actually imported from 'Shenanigans') and a linking device for (some) chapters using a series of emails.   There's no doubt they are useful but for me, at least, I had to already have something to build on - not sure it would have been so successful if I had not already got the characters in mind.

One minor mental hiccup is that in other people's books I too frequently don't read these inter-linking, chapter-separating snippets ... they seem to interrupt the story, but then I often have to go back to pick up bits I've missed.

Have to say I am more excited than apprehensive at the moment, but I bet that heavy 'oh what have I got myself into?' feeling wil come sooner or later.