Noveling Madness

As some of you well know, I have taken on the challenge of writing a novel in a month. As some of you may not know, I am failing miserably. Here it is the third day of November, and I am at 963 words. LOL. If I have to arrive at 50,000 by the end of the month, I have to write 1,667 each day. That should put me at 5,001 by the end of today. Yikes.

I have never had more motivation to organize everything in my wallet, closet, kitchen, or bathroom. I have never had more motivation to NOT WRITE. There is something so daunting about 50,000 words and having them have to make sense. It's a challenge that far exceeds blogging on a regular basis. With blogging, I can make my posts random and incoherent if I wish to. If I want to do that in NaNo, I will have a harder and harder time turning it into something. Maybe I shouldn't worry about that. Maybe I should just write. Right now, I've started with something autobiographical, hoping to turn it into a chick-lit story of four girls facing the real world. I've started categorizing chapters around each girl. I have a lot of characterization. I don't have a lot of plot. For those of you who have written a novel, will plot come naturally? If I have all the characters in mind and what I want them to behave as, will plot flow into something interesting and readable as time and word count progress?

It sounds like every other piece of chick-lit novelish drek that's out there already, no? You're probably right in assuming that. But if they can do it and get rich, so can I, right? Anyone else doing NaNo this year? Anyone want to share there advice? Comisserate? Offer motivation? You are welcome to do so here. Calling you, dear readers...especially one in particular...that's YOU: EMMY @ LUCKY BALL CHARMS. Yes, now you can't escape.

Need new post

I realize I haven't posted in a week. I realize it's Sunday and I need to post an update. For some reason I don't feel like it and for some reason I need inspiration. This is my cry for help. I have writer's block. I need an idea for a post. What do my readers want to hear from or about me? Take some time and think it over. I will be reading MOSAIC OF THOUGHT for class and writing reflections proving I read it all day. Until I see something on here suggesting what I write for a next post, I'm outta here. Enjoy your day.

A rather fitting fortune, I might add

So after a rather satisfying Chinese dinner with K, I had an even more satisfying fortune in my cookie.

"You have a charming way with words and should write a book."

I'm looking at it as a HUGE sign from above. Now if only the motivation piece would kick in. Blast.

Still fooling with words, and taking risks

I took a detour alright. I was on my way to a teaching career. I was on my way to stability. I couldn’t sit still. That’s what I told myself. Instead, I ran away. I ran to Minnesota. I was a teacher in Marietta, GA and I hated it, so I ran away. First, to Charleston, SC and then to Minneapolis, MN. It’s not a glamorous life by any means, but I enjoy it. I’m an AmeriCorps member, and I make a difference. I don’t make a salary, but I make a difference.

Why do I fall in love with books and not people?

This is the story about some lost girl who wandered into some strange building on Washington Ave. on a nothing-cooking Thursday night to discover an amazing woman reading from her new book. The woman was Patricia Cumbie, and the book was Where People Like Us Live. Really, it should have been nothing spectacular. It's really not unlike a coming of age story with two girls as the heroines, and I am such a sucker for a coming of age story. I was hooked. I bought the book for a price I'm not going to admit here, and was completely sucked into the story of Libby (14 going on 15 looking to find a friend) and vulnerable and sassy Angie, same age but much older due to her life circumstances.

I think what made me like this book even more was the story the author told before reading. This was her first published book, and it comes after something like 18 or so rejections. She originally didn't market it to young adults, and only became successful after she did. She also discovered writing after her first Loft class. I'm taking my first Loft class this summer. So I will be someone someday. Mark my blogging words. I will be the next Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, or Patricia Cumbie all rolled into one. It doesn't matter that I've had nothing happen to me yet. It doesn't matter that no one wants to hear my story. I'll make them listen to it anyway. I'm that good.