I Am Going to Write a Novel!
I’m feeling nuts, scared, and a wee bit desperate. While I have had thoughts about great books to write in the past, as I look over my notes, I don’t see any potentially gripping story or situation that I want to write about. Any muse I’ve ever had has deserted me. They deserted me as soon as I started this blog actually.
Isn’t it strange how I’ve always scribbled and thought about stories and, just as I start to use media to share those ideas, they all run screaming for the woods, leaving me standing alone to face the bright light of my self-imposed blog deadline? Maybe not really, I suppose others have performance anxiety. There sure are tons of bloggers that roll those posts out, though. Surely I can overcome mine, too.
I’m currently unemployed and I have about five more months of savings left before I absolutely have to get another job. I propose that if I can’t open up and find the book inside me, with five months of more free time than I’ve ever enjoyed in the past, then I probably need to face the fact that it’s not going to happen, and look for more productive outlets for my creativity. So, that’s what I’m going to do! I’m going to write a novel!
Why do you care? I doubt you do. I’m posting this nerdy self-promise on my blog so that the other four people that subscribe to Neonjade can hold me accountable, if they like. My husband is one of them, so I know I’ll get the sharp end of a pointed stick from him if I laze, at least.
I’ll keep up the blogging with:
• Tidbits on my progress
• Reports of what’s working for me and what’s not
• Reviews and thoughts of whatever I’m reading at the time
• Wisdom I glean researching and reading advice from much more experienced writers than me.
If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll also keep posting:
• Writing contests I come across (one of them inspired my plan on writing my book… details in another post,)
• Retweeting writing and author related tweets I see,
• Banal observations I just have to share… “look, what a beautiful day!”
Alright, I’ve now got the plan, I’ve put it in writing, and you’re reading it on the internet now, so it must be true. Wish me luck and I’ll see you again tomorrow :)
I know exactly how you feel… I’ve got all these stories ideas stashed in my mind, but as soon as I sit down with a pen they suddenly seem trivial, or just disapear altogether… My advice would be to either find a great character and let him (her) lead you through the story, or find a great first sentence, and let the rest flow… I usually work from just a sentence that’s stuck in my head…
Thank you for your poem on my blog, come and see me again sometimes.. :)
All the best,
Laure
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Joani Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for stopping by to share, Laure. My hubby had initially found your customized Moleskin contest and I couldn’t resist writing a poem after seeing how you worded your comment request. I had fun with it!
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There is nothing more exciting and horrifying to me than a blank page. A blinking cursor is slightly more intimidating. Blink. Blink. Blink. I’m waiting. At least a page of white lined paper isn’t impatient.
I would love to brainstorm with you. The majority of my favorite stories have been written by friends or professors. Ben is writing an epic poem. Amy has written a little piece of noir which she shared over her blog with me. Daniel has written volumes, short stories and a novelette. I absolutely cannot wait to consume whatever you put before us here. If you would like for me to, I will poke you with a sharp stick alongside the husband should you fail to keep this promise to yourself. I mean, I wouldn’t enjoy it or anything. It would make me very sad to have to poke my sister with a sharp stick but… I’ll do what I have to do.
Don’t make me poke you, missy.
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Joani Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hah! Thanks, sis… I really appreciate that it will be harder on you… the poking, that is :) I finally came up with a concept. It will kind of tie my two sites together. It should be fun, even if not much good :)
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