What happened to the month of November?
I’ve neglected my blog and many of those I follow. My emails are piling up and my husband has picked up many of the household chores while NaNoWriMo has been consuming much of my time. November: Writing, Thanksgiving, Writing. Well, you get the picture.
My novel, Letters of a Lifetime,
has taken many unexpected twists and turns. What started off as an idea for Anne finding secret-revealing letters in her recently deceased mother’s trunk has turned into so much more. An out-of-town hospitalization, detective work involving Ming’s Chinese restaurant and a senior center, a road trip to an as-yet unnamed city, and several shocking self-discoveries have popped up of their own accord. I believe this book has a life of its own and I’m just along for the ride!
Tomorrow is the deadline for our 30-day, 50,000 word challenge. My word count reveals a respectable 41,490 as of this morning. I’ve consistently been behind in my goal of 2,000 words per day, but I’m confident I can make up the difference today and tomorrow (8,510 to go). I’m hosting a write-in at my house for a few other local NaNo writers (WriMos) tonight. These write-ins have been a great motivator for me. I ran solo races my previous two years and never attended any write-ins or rallies of any sort. This year I decided to socialize a bit more, and it’s been marvelous! Although I don’t attend them all, there are write-ins going on every day of the week!
At our halfway point, we had an entire conference room above a quaint, historical hotel/restaurant until 10PM. About a dozen of us had dinner together, waged Word Wars, played silly word games and yes, we even got some serious writing in. I’d been avoiding group writing events partially because I was intimidated, but also because I thought the distractions would slow me down. Hmmm, this turned out to be quite the opposite! The encouragement of having other writers was invaluable. They spoke my language and understood my plot struggles and brain freezes. They weren’t afraid to say “I’m stuck! Someone help me!” I’m learning so much more about being vulnerable and accepted. These WriMos have taken me under their wing and I realize my novel is secondary to what they are teaching me.
What a great reminder of the power of camaraderie and fellowship. With risk of vulnerability comes the potential for healing and acceptance. While Anne is experiencing her own twists and turns in the novel, this was an unexpected twist NaNo has given me.
What about you? What unexpected twists have you had in life?
Dec 04, 2012 @ 05:07:09
I nominated you for One Lovely Blog award. Keep on going.
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Dec 04, 2012 @ 05:20:34
Thank you!
That’s very sweet of you! 😉
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Dec 03, 2012 @ 02:35:19
Trusting that you reached your goal…I too have neglected Blog Land because of NaNo. I’m trying to catch up with all I missed, although the thought of reading over 600 blog posts is a bit daunting!
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Dec 03, 2012 @ 05:54:53
Yes!! 😉 Isn’t it great to cross the finish line? I was limping and gimpy, but I did it! How about you?
I’m still catching up…I am giving myself permission to skim a bit instead of read in-depth while I catch my breath!
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Dec 02, 2012 @ 18:44:14
Congratulations! You are an inspiration! 🙂
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Dec 02, 2012 @ 18:50:25
Thanks! You are an inspiration to me! Thanks for your encouragement!
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Dec 01, 2012 @ 15:12:15
Last Christmas my dad gave me a gift when he left our house that morning. He had spent the night to be with the kids when they opened their gifts. We were going to his house later that afternoon for dinner and to spend time with more family. My dad handed me the gift and told me to wait to open it that night, when I was alone, and that it was a special gift, not to be shared openly (although I could tell my husband). That night when I got home from our festivities, I sat alone on the bed and opened the gift. Inside was a note from my dad and neatly wrapped stacks of letters and cards. There are 4 years worth of letters, written by my mom to my dad, throughout their college years. The letters tell the story of their love. I actually haven’t finished the last year of letters. I want to savor them, if that makes sense. I’m sure my mom saved the letters my dad wrote to her, and I wonder what happened to them. But my dad doesn’t know and there’s no one I can ask. I couldn’t have asked for a better gift, letters writing in my loving mom’s hand. Letters provide a great inspiration for a book. I’ve been thinking about using my mom’s letters to create a story, just need to find the time and the peace I need to think and write. Thanks for sharing. I wish you the best.
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Dec 01, 2012 @ 17:42:02
Kathy, what a lovely and thoughtful gift from your dad. I can only imagine how much more you got to know both your parents through those letters. And I think I do understand about wanting to keep some to savor later. Such a treasure! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I love it!
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Dec 03, 2012 @ 13:31:19
Hey Denise: I finish reading the letters last night. I wish there were more. Now I feel really bummed out. I wish I could find the letters my mom wrote to my dad. I know she would have kept them. But I have no idea where they would be. Take care.
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Dec 03, 2012 @ 16:38:15
That must be such a bittersweet ending to an amazing journey through time… I hope you eventually find the other letters and get to complete the cycle!
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Dec 01, 2012 @ 13:58:30
Well done, Denise! Kudos to you and enjoy the celebration next week! 🙂
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Dec 01, 2012 @ 17:39:58
Thanks, Dianne! Glad your renovation is coming along!
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Nov 30, 2012 @ 19:04:29
Yay, this is quite an accomplishment! I have so much admiration for fiction writers – I envision it much like you described it, being taken along for the ride! How fun ~
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Nov 30, 2012 @ 20:17:58
Hi Diane! It has been fun, but I am exhausted, too!
Anne really took me for a wild and crazy ride in that story! 😉
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Nov 30, 2012 @ 14:12:54
4:10 PM in my timezone. Thinking of you on the home stretch, the last six miles of your marathon! Supporting and respecting every last word! Bravo, Denise!
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Nov 30, 2012 @ 20:14:54
Woo Hoo!!! Made it with a few hours to spare! 😉 What a fantastic ride that was!
Thanks for checking in and supporting me in this endeavor!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 18:56:35
Wow! I’m so proud of you!! You did awesome! One more day! (Hey, you need an editor?) 🙂
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 22:12:13
Thanks, Karen! I’m pushing 45,000 as we speak (I needed a break! 😉 )
You’d have your hands full with anything I write! ha ha
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 18:41:02
You are doing great with this challenge, keep up the good work. Count me in as one of your admirers…you are an inspiration to me and others who have yet taken that first step into writing. Blessings – Patty
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 22:13:09
Your encouragement really helps, Patty! Thank you so much!!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 17:06:22
Congrats on getting as far as you have. I’m sure you will reach your mark … either way though, it’s quite an achievement. Good for you!! Sounds like a great story and experience!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 17:55:47
Thanks, Arlene! It is a ride, for sure! 😉 Thanks for your encouragement!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 16:25:02
Isn’t it fun? I will hit my 50,000 tonight – YAY! And there is so much more to write! What started out as a series of vignettes about women who could talk to animals through history has turned into so much more. It now involves magic, and shipwrecks, and invisible castles, and I’m not done yet. I look forward to November because it’s an adventure once my characters take over and run with it.
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 17:55:18
Go Ruth!! Can’t wait to hear more!!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 15:47:55
LOVE the idea for you novel. I have bunches of letters my uncle saved. There is a story in them waiting for me to string together. Good luck with the countdown to finished!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 17:54:54
That’s awesome, Robin. Part of my idea actually came from seeing my grandmother’s letters in her trunk after she passed away. She and my grandfather courted by mail after they’d met once. I always thought it was intriguing.
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 14:57:21
Yay, Denise! 2,000 words a day? My goodness, I’m impressed. Can’t wait to read more about Anne….and you. 🙂
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 17:53:35
Thanks!! 😉
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 13:16:14
I admire what you are doing! I tried giving NaNoWriMo a try but just got too behind early on. I did start though and I’m sure I’ll go back to continue what I wrote. Congratulations!
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 14:42:56
Hi Katherine,
There should be a badge for that too. Writing in general is hard work!
I’m glad you are not giving up. Thanks for your encouragement! 😉
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 09:00:36
Well done for taking this on and getting through the month. What a challenge, what an achievement. I admire you.
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Nov 29, 2012 @ 09:09:08
Thanks, Yaz! It’s been a roller coaster ride, for sure! We’re having a celebration next week and I’m really looking forward to that!
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