Enriched by Words

Composing a Novel but Losing a Mind

You know those old vaudeville jokes that start with “a funny thing happened on my way to…?”   I have one, and it was a first time for me.

Just imagine a long day, evening meeting, too sleepy to type up what had been written that day.  Probably sounds familiar, right?  So I wrote about eleven pages longhand during the course of my day, which gives me a different connection to the story sometimes.  The other piece of this puzzle is that I always ALWAYS fall asleep reading.  And a funny thing happened to me on the way to sleep.

So I’m headed to bed and I get happy about reading this new story.  It’s the story about the girl in Milwaukee that has a special skill.  Haven’t heard of it?  Sure you have  if you’ve been on my NaNoWriMo page.

I really wanted to find out what happened next.

I sit down on the bed to set the alarm  and glance around for the book I want to read.  Of course, I don’t find it.  That’s when it dawns on me.

I’m looking to read the book I’m currently writing.

I hope I’m not the only one this has ever happened to!

The first 36 hours of a new novel

The photo here is a good image for what my MC will be facing in the next day or two.  Is she ready?  Am I?

I cannot express the joy I experience when I start a new novel.  I thought perhaps it was just a personal thing, but I was told today that my whole demeanor changes when I’m in the throes of composition.  I’m more relaxed, my body language is more open, and ideas come more readily.

I’m 36 hours into Deluge and loving every minute.  I get to insert a few scenes tonight and write two new ones.  I have no idea if it is any good, and really don’t care.  I’m laying down words from that secret place inside of me and loving every minute of it.  I’m nervous, thrilled, a bit frightened, and really enjoying the ride.

How do you experience the first day or two of a new writing project?  Is it a thrill or frightening?

Halloween & Horror Film Humor

My 16 Rules for NaNoWriMo

1. Don’t forget to set the clock back.  Sleep in anyway.
2. Keep the half dozen commitments already in place for this weekend AND rock the word count on Sunday.
3. Show no fear.
4. Chain notebook to side for the duration.
5. Eat at least twice a day.
6. Let husband see my eyeballs periodically…when not glazed over.
7. Do not miss sleep, do not keep late hours, or do not pass go and collect $200.
8. Keep writing even as the nurses come to take me to surgery on the 16th.  Ask nurse or spouse for pen and paper at first waking moment.  Skip the pain meds.
9. On second thought, take the pain meds.  Don’t read what they produce until December.
10. Remember to wash clothes at least once a week.
11. Refrain from calling employees by character names.  It upsets them and could result in a fancy white jacket with really long sleeves.  And buckles.  In the back.
12. Recovery from surgery combined with absorption with notebook will produce natural dieting behavior.  Take advantage of it.
13. No nicotine this year.  Beware.  Wear a warning beacon.  Equip with claxon to avoid injury to others.  DO NOT START SMOKING AGAIN.
14. Spend Saturday either itching to write or distracting myself.
15. Spend Sunday doing all the things I could have done Saturday.
16. Buckle in, belt up, and hang on.  Here we go~

Evening with the Writers Group

I’ve just returned from the monthly writers group I attend.  As always, I come away amazed and energized by the different genres and writing styles.  Each member has their own critique style, too.

Our group is small, with a smaller core membership. I find I am more willing to risk sharing with a consistent group.  Tonight I brought three scenes from roughly the middle of the novel I wrote in August.  The last scene didn’t have the punch I thought it should have and I was hoping for some feedback.

I got it, along with some insight into what would give the scene more depth and richer detail.  I came home with comments, observations, and most importantly, encouragement.  I have solid information to use in revising the scenes, which makes me a happy writer indeed.

Not all of us bring work.  I bring pieces maybe every 2-3 months because I’m writing longer things.  This works for me because I can concentrate on the work of others without the distraction of having to give my piece up for comment.  I have just as much fun helping others as I do getting good feedback.

The main reason I keep going, however, is to force myself to put words out there.  It’s very different from beta readers over the internet or long distance.  Immediate feedback, body language, noting where people smile or laugh, and being able to bring all the comments home at once sure doesn’t hurt.  Face to face vulnerability is far different from the more anonymous internet interaction.   I’m shy and sometimes insecure.  I need to push myself to talk about my work face to face, to give it to others face to face.  I might get better critiques from Cassie or Anthony and though both require trust, each develops a different kind of confidence.

Just some observations and thoughts.  Anyone else attend writers groups?  What has your experience been?