Yesterday was the start of National Novel Writing Month. In mid-October I foolishly declared that I was going to write a 50,000-word work of fiction in 30 days. What was I thinking?
For the past week I’ve been furiously outlining imagine Harriet Tubman meets Michael Vick, meets Greek and Egyptian Mythology. Yeah, it pretty wild!
Joining me in this wild and wacky ride will be WAOD readers:
redcatbiker, LyraTorg, God’s Man , deborah, Yme, shell, red oleander blog, Tracy, Sara, Bee and Aminah Hanan.
If you want to keep track of my word count, you can follow my counter on the NaNoWriMo.
My Prayer for NaNoWriMo
Dear God,If I do fail, let it be a spectacular failure like “Glitter” or “Water World.” Let it be a failure so epic that it warrants its own Wikipedia page. Let it be a failure like the dinosaurs or the evacuation of Pompeii. Let it be a failure I can sale some t-shirts about. Epic Failure! But most of all, let it be a failure I can learn something from and laugh about when its over.
I’ll see y’all in December! Have fun!
17 comments ↓
I’m participating. Instead of working on the first draft of a novel this time, I’m on going to do a series of short stories. Remember you only need to write 1667 words a day to reach your goal.
good morning Gina, i’m participating as well.
yesterday i wrote a Christmas play and now i will start on my thesis.
yep Monica i agree – i’m so glad it doesn’t have to be a novel…and just 1,667 words a day.
best of luck to all participants!
Thanks Gina for putting the word out about this. I’m also participating and had the same what-was-I-thinking moment yesterday. Happy wordsmithing everyone.
Happy Writing. I am doing my own version of NAMO for a book project and Art Every Day Month created by Leah Piken Kolidas. I did Art Every Day Month last year. It was so much fun. Visit http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month. Enjoy your creative adventures all!
Good luck Gina!I can’t wait to read your story.
As a writer, I know how hard it is. I recently finished and just a few weeks ago got published a book it took me about 10 years to finish. But I finished it, and I’m so proud of myself for doing so.
Good luck with writing the writing.
G,
I wish you well on your novel. My sister (Kyra) published a couple of books in the niche of African American quilters … and my observation is that it takes a tenacious and persistent person to write and publish a book. Anyhow, good luck on your efforts…
peace, Villager
Gina, thanks for mentioning me; the shout-out will really keep me on my toes!
My story is set in the late 30s/early 40s, during the heyday of big band jazz into the beginning of WW2, when the US was bombed by Japan in 1941 on through the war. It is a love and survival story: She is black American-born of Caribbean immigrant parents who passed through Ellis Island, and he is Nisei (first generation American-born Japanese), who looks like the movie actor Ken Watanabe (tall and very handsome). It is about passing: He is a musician who passes for “Coloured” so that he can play in one of the most popular big bands (think Ellington, Basie, etc.). Survival: I don’t know yet if I’m going to have her go into the internment camp with him, or even if I’m going to have him go. Given that I’m going to need some tension to make the story interesting, some “rule” has got to be broken. Right now, I am just at their meeting–they are both musicians (she being a singer and pianist).
Here is my NaNoWriMo Prayer:
Dear God–Thank you for giving me the courage to begin a great adventure. Help me to be consistent and original in my writing. I am looking forward to the ideas that will flow through me. I am going to enjoy this journey. Thank you for the friends who will walk with me along the way, and thank you for a great outcome! AMEN.
Good luck! I’m participating as well.
Hey Gina, I feel the same way. Outlining helps a lot. Many writers like to write when the inspiration hits them, but I find its easier to plot a course and give yourself a goal of either writing so many words or pages. I dreaming big, too. I plan to become the black Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper). Remember don’t try to aim for perfection. My daughter loves those Twilight books and I swear that woman writes like a 13 year old girl.
Here’s something i came across u all might be interested in it. You could win money and have your short stories published in a short story collection with royalties.
Here’s the link
http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/2009/10/21/introducing-the-1st-annual-myafricandiaspora-com-writing-contest/
Good luck on your stories wherever you may write them.
I’m behind already. Gotta catch up.
@hp I don’t meant o sound cynical, but they are charging a $10 fee to enter and only giving away $500. I’m giving they A++ for entrepreneurial spirit and the side eye for that hustle.
you and me both, homie
you and me both
my 3rd attempt…
Best wishes.
Yeah…signed up for NAAWM just as an excuse to start writing this book that’s been rumbling around my head for a few years.
On a side note how does Tracy go sign up fro NANWM and not tell me since she blogs on my site – we’re gonna fight me and her.
And Waterworld wasn’t a failure – it’s actually one of the highest grossing movies of all time. Just had a lot of bad press.