I'm ready, and yet I'm not.

First, Dvorak. Am I fast? No. Am I fast ENOUGH? I think so. I have not gone back to QWERTY at all. My skill is coming along. And I figure by the time NaNo is over, I’ll be even better. I’m where I wanted to be by now, so I’m satisfied.

As for my story, I have a few characters, a very rough plot and a starting scene. I have found that, in the last three attempts, I did better when I didn’t over-plan and let things develop as they go. One downside: I don’t know how this one ends yet. I have to figure that out between now and Saturday. Then I’ll be ready.

Deep in Dvorak

No, not the composer. I have my keyboard cover from KBCovers, so now I don’t have to carry my USB one around anymore. I am now fully converted.

Learning is slow, as expected. I realize I am essentially relearning how to type, or rather, UNlearning qwerty while I teach myself Dvorak.

I AM making progress, though.

Humorous Dvorak/qwerty vid

As if I didn't have enough to do…

I am, quite possibly, insane.

It is now Saturday, October 20, at just about midnight-thirty. NaNoWriMo is now forty-one days away. I have only just begun to rough in the vague concepts of my story for this year. I have an insane travel schedule leading up to November, will be at a technical conference the first week of November, and will likely be traveling extensively during the month. On top of this, my son just started Boy Scouts, I’m still trying to get my home business off the the ground, and my now-retired parents-in-law are planning to come up for a visit that month.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been this busy pretty much every year. So why only now am I thinking I’m insane?

Because, today I decided to switch to the Dvorak keyboard layout, and moreover to do so before NaNoWriMo begins.

I’ll wait for you to get up off the floor. It doesn’t matter if you fainted or are recovering from uncontrollable laughter. I understand.

There are several sites on the interwebs that detail the layout, give advice for what to do for your keyboard, links to typing tutors, etc. Yes, I plan to use online tools to teach myself to touch type Dvorak. I will be modifying my windows keyboards by plucking out the keys (including my windows laptops), but for the Macs, I’ll be using Dvorak keyboard covers from KB Covers.

So, that’s it. As soon as the covers come in, I’m converting my keyboards and not looking back. Next week will be my last week typing QWERTY, if all goes well. Wish me luck, and if you know the number of a good shrink, now would be the time to share it with me.