So I'm doing this thing. This crazy, crazy thing. And I'm supposed to tell you about it. Because if you know I'm doing it, and I know you know I'm doing it, then maybe when I don't want to do it, I'll do it anyway. You know, to save face.
I'm writing a novel. A 175-page, 50,000-word novel. In 30 days. In the 30 days of November to be exact. And I'm doing it with a bunch of people on the internet. And my sister. And a friend from high school who lives in LA. We're all writing novels - and finishing them in 30 days.
Why am I doing this now? I'm not sure except that I need something else to think about. I need to not spend the next 60 days cringing in anticipation of Christmas (that holy day on which I may not be able to scrape myself up off the floor). I need to torment myself with something other than my next medical test and my (in)ability to carry a life.
Mostly, like all mothers, I need something that is exclusively mine. A territory that no husbands or children or doctors or employment agency workers can enter. Even if it's just the land of crappy creative writing. it's still mine, mine, mine.
Also, like most people who want to write a novel, I keep putting it off. And off. And off. And now the ship of fools has lowered its gangplank at my door. If I don't climb aboard, I'll always regret it.
I have asked myself if I am trying to escape my grief. If I want to do this to avoid hurting about my dead baby. I don't think so. Whatever this thing is that I'm about to write, I'm pretty sure babyloss and my reflections thereon will be part of it.
Which also means this: I won't be posting much here in November. Whatever energy and creativity and time I've got in reserve will be spent on cranking out pages of gobbledy-gook for the novel. But I will drop in on all of you to say hello and follow your stories. And please feel free to comment here and ask how it's going. I won't want to be shamed. I won't want to come here and confess failure to you. So instead, I'll keep writing. And thank you for your support!
If you would like to join me in this crazy thing, you can sign up here and become one of my writing buddies. Then run out and immediately stock up on tea and chocolate--we're gonna need it.
National Novel Writing Month
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longing...
"...for the vanished girl her mother searched and visited all lands in turn. Where the girl was she knew not, but she reproached the whole wide world, and in chief the places where she had found the traces of her loss. She roamed the earth over in search of her daughter, by day and by night with torches, from sunrise until sunset, hour by hour. Bitter pain seized Demeter's heart, and she sped like a wild bird over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no one would tell her the truth, neither god nor mortal men; and of the birds of omen, none came with true news for her."
- Ovid, Homer, others, me
- Ovid, Homer, others, me
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8 comments:
Sending creative vibes your way.
xxx
What an amazing thing to do! Can't wait to hear how you get on xo
I am a Nanowrimo participant 2004, 2005, and 2007. I still have never finished a damn novel, but it sure is fun. I drank a lot of coffee my first year and got pretty close. Good luck. I've been contemplating it myself this year...like I don't have enough going on!
It sounds like an exciting project - good luck!
Ruth
Sounds like an interesting project. Wordsworth defined poetry as "a spontaneous overflow of emotion" and you have so much emotion right now that even though you are not writing poetry, the pages will just flow...Hugsssss.
Cheering you on! I would love to do that someday. I have friends who are - my friend Leigh-Anne on Quiet Laughter has done it several years and I know just posted about it.
Even if I'm not writing the novel I'll drink tea and eat chocolate in solidarity with you through November... ;-)
I'm in, jenni! I've started to write a novel about 6 months ago and not gone back to it. This is it! The gangplank lowered for me too. Im in the same boat!!
Let the writing juices flow! And put on the coffee maker! Must get your email!
I'm so excited about this. Thank you sooooooo much for doing this, telling us about it and inviting us to join!
Ok, gotta massage my neck and stock up on goodies, schedule for exercise breaks and then I'm gonna start!
You made my day, honestly, and it's only 7 am!
I better write a post about this on my blogs! It will get very quiet there, too. :-P
love
xx Ines
Yes on the chocolate, for sure. Maybe on the novel, if I finish this damn thesis in time.
Happy, productive writing days to you!
xo
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