Is anyone else feeling daunted by the weeks ahead? I had three holiday parties this weekend -- one of which I hosted -- a record for this homebody. I'm so full of latkes, cookies, and conversation that I can hardly think, much less write. Looking at the calendar this morning, I realized that I have to give my writing schedule serious thought if I'm to do any writing in the next few weeks. I could just give into it, but I really don't want to. This fall has already been so busy.

My first thought is to take my laptop with me when I travel this year. I'm not able to write creatively on planes so much, but I have a big project to revise. A nice long flight may be the perfect opportunity. And I'm going to *try* to get up earlier in the days before I leave, despite the dark mornings. If I can sit down even a few mornings this week, I'll feel better about my writing.

Most helpful of all, I got an email this morning from my writing partner asking if I could meet tomorrow evening. That'll put writing firmly on the front burner before the holiday stupor takes over completely. Hallelujah for writing community: It's so helpful to have people who remind me of my priorities.

How are you making time to write this holiday season? I love time efficiency tips -- even if I'm not always so great at following them. Tell us what how you're planning to keep writing over the next few weeks.

Earlier this fall, a writer going by rockerz5997 posted this question on the forum: "I'm trying to write a story in diary form, but I'm wondering if I should just switch it to first person because I'm worried about it being too difficult. Any tips?"

Lucy responded, "If I were you, I'd try writing it -- or some of it -- both ways and see how it goes. And more importantly, I guess, see how it reads. It might be easier to write in just normal first person, but it might also read better that way." Since no one else has offered advice, I thought I'd highlight the question here. Has anyone else written an epistolary novel, using diary entries? What were the problems with the form? What aspects worked well?

If writers were big joiners, we wouldn't be spending so much time alone with our computers, right? So parties, and especially office parties, can be particularly painful. I'm throwing down the gauntlet -- to myself and all of you -- to use a holiday party to work on your dialogue. Collect the dialogue at the event, and later, back in your comfort zone, practice developing conversation into dialogue that works on the page. And if you come up with something you're happy with, share it with the rest of us in the forum. (I imagine some of it will be very funny.)

The December 2009-January 2010 writing prompt challenge was inspired by the writing of Russell Edson. Write a prose poem that begins with a fantastic or unbelievable statement. Examples from Edson's work include "A man had a son who was an anvil"; "This is the house of the closet-man. There are no rooms, just hallways and closets"; and "A father with a huge eraser erases his daughter."

One approach to the exercise is to write down a few outrageous comments, freewrite to one or two, and then revise the most interesting ones. Submit the result here (after reading About.com's User Agreement).

On Twitter today, nonfiction agent Kate Epstein answered one of my longtime questions about the agent search: should you submit books during the holidays or wait until afterward? Epstein says go for it: "I'd say the holidays are a great time to query an agent; there's not much going on between us and the publishers then." Do you have query letter advice? Tell us how you found your agent, or read tips for the agent search compiled here.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we're extending the deadline for the November writing exercise until Wednesday (and if you submitted something over the holiday weekend, it'll be up shortly). Again, this month's exercise is based on a story by Abigail Thomas, "Hey Jude." The instructions are to write 500-600 words, starting in the present moment, going back to some moment in the past, and then returning to the present. In this way, both past self and present self are revealed in a very short space. If you've already submitted, please take a few moments to read and comment on other responses, especially if you've received helpful criticism. Thanks to everyone for sharing their work, and to Connie Stambush for sharing the exercise.

The biggest shopping weekend is halfway over already, but don't worry -- there are tons of great gifts out there for the writers in your life. We've compiled a shopping guide with creative and easy gifts to get you started. (And don't forget local bookstores small and independent presses when you're working through your holiday list.)

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, students at Carnegie Mellon put together a few recipes from books, including Alice's "Eat-me" cookies, Anne of Green Gable's plum puffs, and Harry Potter's violet pudding. It got me thinking about the literary foods that have stayed with me: the horehound candy and pulled taffy in the Little House books and the roasted potatoes -- cooked in a tin can -- in Ruth Sawyer's Roller Skates. From slightly later, I remember apple pie with vanilla ice cream in On the Road and ice-cold wine chilled by a stream in The Sun Also Rises. Anyone else's mouth watering yet? What's your favorite literary food? (If you're stumped, Literary Food Porn is one place to start.)

After months of anticipation, New Moon opened at 12:01 last night to sold-out theaters across the nation, and is projected to bring in $85 to $100 million this weekend. Are you one of the fans who've already seen the movie? How did it measure up to the book, and to the Twilight film? Let us know.

Photo: Stephenie Meyer at the New Moon premiere earlier this week.

We're over halfway done with NaNoWriMo and I'm curious about what's been happening in other parts of the country this month. What events have you hosted or attended? And how's your month going, generally? (I'm woefully behind, but hope to catch up over Thanksgiving.) Tell us about your write-in.

Want to host a write-in, but not sure how? Find write-in advice from wrimos around the country.