Here it is. The last day of October - which means National Novel Writing Month (November) starts tomorrow. I've signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo again but have to admit my commitment isn't what it was last year.
The problem is I have no idea what I want to write about.
Seriously.
As of noon today, I have only the vaguest notion that I'd like to write a mystery novel and that my central character might be a former journalist or newly-minted Justice Minister. More than that I can't tell you. I don't have a plot, characters, or locale. I don't even have a victim, for goodness sake. Which isn't at all promising.
But here's what I learned from my NaNoWriMo experience last year: That making time to write every day and giving myself permission to put fingers to keyboard with no goal beyond producing 1667 words let all sorts of interesting stuff ooze from my deepest self-conscious. At its best, the process was exhilarating, joyous, and creative. At its worst, it was profoundly cathartic.
So plot or no plot, I'm going for it. Husband's hitting the road for a week so I'll have plenty of time to snuggle into my flannel jammies, brew endless cups of hot honey lemon (spiced up with the occasional shot of rum) and write my little heart out. With luck, I'll have figured out a story to tell in a day or two. Here's hoping anyway.
Wish me luck!
Put more than a little rum in, and the story will flow. When in doubt, add a polar bear.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely try more rum, Keith. Still not sure about the polar bear. ;-)
DeleteGood luck Janice! You have more courage than moi! I love plot twists. Maybe one where the person everyone thinks is dead turns up later alive and the person everyone thinks is alive turns up later dead! or is that too cliche?
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Janice - by now you will have decided on your course (even if it's a little thread bare and iffy) and may even have pounded out some words (hope so). Looking forward to following your progress and getting together for a write-in sometime soon :)
ReplyDeleteBTW - I really like your idea - I think you can really run with that!