Carol's Corner

Today begins a month of novel writing for many people. November has been designated as NaNoWriMo – national novel writing month. The challenge, should you decide to accept it, is to write 50,000 words on a novel. A writer can have a story outline, plot details, character sketches and research done before November 1 but are not allowed to begin writing the actual story prior to the first day of November. The idea is to write, do a brain dump but not edit as you go – that can come later.

Last year I accepted the challenge to try and write 50,000 words towards my first fiction book. My grandson, Nathaniel, challenged me to the fiction writing and my oldest daughter, Lorilee, decided NaNoWriMo offered the perfect venue to accomplish the deed. I made it to 56,000 words.

In the past year I have done some revising, editing and received feedback from some readers and a critique of the first couple chapters. Yet I have remained stuck in getting any further on the book. Now it is time to accept or decline the challenge of another November of writing.

I thought I had an idea. Actually I had a few ideas for another book, yet this present work in progress nagged me to come back and finish it. My husband added his words of encouragement or pressure ( depended on the day) to get it done and available for people to read. I looked at the manuscript again. I had my husband start to read it. After we chatted I realized what caused my problem. I had a character that begged for her story to be told too but that gave too much story for the book.

I came up with a solution. The new idea I planned to work on for this November could be put on hold. The present manuscript would have at least another 50,000 words added to it and split into two books of a series. Relief at a possible solution flowed through me. The character did a happy dance at being heard and I quickly jotted notes for the additions to the stories. I am hoping that by the end of November I will have met or exceeded the word count and have the rough drafts of not one but two fiction novels.

The time starts now to put my plan into action. Happy writing for anyone who is taking part in NaNoWriMo or simply following your own plan of action to get the stories inside you out into the world in some way, shape or form.