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I’ve been chattering about NaNoWriMo on Facebook, but not sure I’ve mentioned it here on the blog.
As November approached, I had no intention to do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
Because, well, writing a novel just wasn’t my thing. Some people can write fiction and some people can’t. In my mind I fell into the can’t category, so I’ve never attempted a novel.
(However, several years ago I did use the NaNo process to write 50-K words of non-fiction.)
Anyway on Oct. 31, the day before NaNo started, while riding home from Kansas City, this incredible first line just popped into my head. “Momma read our tarot cards each morning at breakfast.”
I could see how that might have potential, so I took it as a sign to sign up for NaNoWriMo.
And so I started on November 1 with nothing more than a promising line and a fear of novel writing.
I had no story idea, no characters, no plot, no nothing.
On Day 2, I e-mailed my friend and fellow NaNo writer, Tracy Simmons. I told her I thought I was going to be a Day 2 dropout.
Tracy responded, “Just keep writing.” So I did.
After several days, I sent my characters on a road trip and the story gained a little momentum. The main character, Belinda, is a 35-year-old single mother who leans toward crummy boyfriends and deals cards in the casino. She also reads tarot cards. Belinda and her 16-year-old daughter head off on a vacation to Savannah, Georgia, primarily because Belinda loved the book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
On Day 10, I e-mailed Tracy, “Barely made the word count. The novel is going nowhere. Twenty more days of this. Aaaargh!”
She wrote back, “You can do it. You can do it.”
On Day 12, I had a breakthrough. I found a mystery and thus a mission for my main characters. From then on the story wrote itself.
Today I reached 50,203 words and finished the novel. However, it’s certainly not anywhere close to being done. It has the general framework of a story, but needs a lot of enrichment. Still, I’m happy with it as a first attempt. Now it’s clean-up time. Much rewriting and revising to do.
Congratulations, Cheryl! Can’t wait to read the finished book!
I’m truly impressed. You exceeded your word count every single day.
I like your main character already. Roadtrip, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (one of my favs), and tarot.
Sounds like a neat novel Cheryl. If you don’t have an agent, you should find one, a great one.
I can hardly wait to read the finished product! Let’s see a FOP sponsored book signing at Amanda’s or The Town Crier? I’m so excited!
Bravo, Sis!
That is wonderful! I’m so glad you met some nice ‘people’ and found some adventures to share with them. The mix really sounds interesting. Looking forward to the book signing!!
Congratulations, Cheryl. Is there any Kansas in it? Is it informed by Kansas? Is Belinda a “Bird Girl,” a scale in or out of balance?
Did we actually talk about how we are going to celebrate? I’ve got almost 10,000 words to go, then we need to have ourselves a little party.
How exciting! I have been reading about it on Facebook, but this was an excellent description of what you are doing. Keep us posted and . . . YES! We all need to celebrate with you.
Fantastic account! I am glad that Kansas has their own John Berendt now. Maybe when I blow through B&N one of these days your work will be stacked in the “New Release” section! I am looking forward to following your fame, my friend. EFH
“!+!+!”
Congrats on getting that first draft done! Feels good, yes? Just keep that feeling as you work to make it as large and as strong as it needs to be. Because it will feel so much better when you see it in print, trust me.
Stellar Spectacular! Sounds like a grand adventure. Can’t wait to read it and get a signed copy. G:-)
That’s exciting! I’m getting pretty close to Savannah myself. I ought to pick up a copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.