National Novel Writing Month: Finding Solace
Warning: since this blog mostly regards my next project, Finding Solace, I have written (although cautiously and carefully) about an unpleasant topic, terminal cancer.
November is National Novel Writing Month. The challenge to writers is to complete a 50,000-word first draft novel in one month. My personal goal is a 90,000-word manuscript. I'm going to write a book that at this time I'm calling Finding Solace: the First Year of Living with Terminal Cancer. I've already written many scenes, have a detailed outline, and have completed most of the research required. Indeed, I have an entire file cabinet of notes. Therefore, a 90,000-word first draft for me, especially since I'm writing full-time now, may not be a challenge at all. The real problem for me is to focus on just this one project for an entire month. Technically, though, the challenge is to write a novel, a term that dictionaries and, perhaps, some writers and scholars use to discuss works of fiction. My book is non-fiction. However, a book is a book is a book. And I'm still accepting the challenge. I'm sure that no one is going to argue the point with me, and I may be the only one who is so detail-oriented that I must worry about the definition of the word. For me, then, November is National Book Writing Month. And since I have a terminal disease, I'm not going to mess around. I'm going to finish the first draft of this book this month. Then, another book (collection of short stories) in January, and another one (of fiction) in February. But these three aren't the only projects. Not counting the book, As Glaciers Move, I'd just published this year, I have a total of five books I desire to write before I succumb to the disease. And, I have convinced myself I’ll reach this goal, a goal I've announced to several friends, which prompted one of them to say, “Pace yourself, take time off between projects, and don’t be in a rush to finish them!”
My terminal disease, lung cancer (although I'm a non-smoker) is the unfortunate inspiration for Finding Solace. This year, the third year since my diagnosis, we learned that I have widespread metastatic bone cancer to nearly my entire skeleton. However, because of lingering and rare, permanent side-effects of some of the chemo drugs administered the first year, I chose not to have any treatments last year. This year, I tried one treatment, and it failed. So, now, I'm only accepting palliative treatments (minor surgeries and radiation to treat some of the larger tumors) to help reduce pain and improve my quality of life. Finding Solace, however, is not about this entire journey. The story is only about the first year of living with terminal cancer, a year in which I faced tests, procedures, confusion, speculation, and all sorts of obstacles of which I had to figure out how to navigate on my own. I will discuss Finding Solace in more detail in future blogs as I progress with the story.
Last week, I began another series (10 total) of radiation treatments for my primary tumor in an attempt to keep the left lung open as long as possible. These treatments this time have not been as kind to me, so far, as the previous radiation treatments. I’m sure it has to do with the location of the tumor that we're going after this time. However, I have endured all these treatments (chemotherapy and radiation) and surgeries with a smile, because I do it all for my family (my wife, daughter, granddaughters, and other close family members). Especially for the granddaughters!
And I have a great team to help me. I have an excellent primary care physician (Samuel Applebaum, M.D.), medical oncologist (Corey Schwartz, M.D.), and palliative doctor (Elizabeth Durkin, M.D.). I have a new radiation oncologist (James Knister, M.D.) and, so far, I'm very honored to be in his care. Also, Ric, Beth, and Brittany, the radiation technicians this time around, are exceptional (professional, kind and respectful)! And, then, there are my friends, Bob, Mitch, Marcie, and Ski who frequently drive me to treatments and appointments when my wife is unable to do so. Over the past three years, there have been so many friends who have helped me in so many ways; I could generate a very, very long list. And, then, there's my family whose love and support cannot be understated. This incredible group of doctors, technicians, friends, and family must be why I’m still around with as much cancer as I have. Must be why I’ve exceeded all expectations! And why I know I'll be able to complete all my writing projects.
November is National Novel Writing Month. The challenge to writers is to complete a 50,000-word first draft novel in one month. My personal goal is a 90,000-word manuscript. I'm going to write a book that at this time I'm calling Finding Solace: the First Year of Living with Terminal Cancer. I've already written many scenes, have a detailed outline, and have completed most of the research required. Indeed, I have an entire file cabinet of notes. Therefore, a 90,000-word first draft for me, especially since I'm writing full-time now, may not be a challenge at all. The real problem for me is to focus on just this one project for an entire month. Technically, though, the challenge is to write a novel, a term that dictionaries and, perhaps, some writers and scholars use to discuss works of fiction. My book is non-fiction. However, a book is a book is a book. And I'm still accepting the challenge. I'm sure that no one is going to argue the point with me, and I may be the only one who is so detail-oriented that I must worry about the definition of the word. For me, then, November is National Book Writing Month. And since I have a terminal disease, I'm not going to mess around. I'm going to finish the first draft of this book this month. Then, another book (collection of short stories) in January, and another one (of fiction) in February. But these three aren't the only projects. Not counting the book, As Glaciers Move, I'd just published this year, I have a total of five books I desire to write before I succumb to the disease. And, I have convinced myself I’ll reach this goal, a goal I've announced to several friends, which prompted one of them to say, “Pace yourself, take time off between projects, and don’t be in a rush to finish them!”
My terminal disease, lung cancer (although I'm a non-smoker) is the unfortunate inspiration for Finding Solace. This year, the third year since my diagnosis, we learned that I have widespread metastatic bone cancer to nearly my entire skeleton. However, because of lingering and rare, permanent side-effects of some of the chemo drugs administered the first year, I chose not to have any treatments last year. This year, I tried one treatment, and it failed. So, now, I'm only accepting palliative treatments (minor surgeries and radiation to treat some of the larger tumors) to help reduce pain and improve my quality of life. Finding Solace, however, is not about this entire journey. The story is only about the first year of living with terminal cancer, a year in which I faced tests, procedures, confusion, speculation, and all sorts of obstacles of which I had to figure out how to navigate on my own. I will discuss Finding Solace in more detail in future blogs as I progress with the story.
Last week, I began another series (10 total) of radiation treatments for my primary tumor in an attempt to keep the left lung open as long as possible. These treatments this time have not been as kind to me, so far, as the previous radiation treatments. I’m sure it has to do with the location of the tumor that we're going after this time. However, I have endured all these treatments (chemotherapy and radiation) and surgeries with a smile, because I do it all for my family (my wife, daughter, granddaughters, and other close family members). Especially for the granddaughters!
And I have a great team to help me. I have an excellent primary care physician (Samuel Applebaum, M.D.), medical oncologist (Corey Schwartz, M.D.), and palliative doctor (Elizabeth Durkin, M.D.). I have a new radiation oncologist (James Knister, M.D.) and, so far, I'm very honored to be in his care. Also, Ric, Beth, and Brittany, the radiation technicians this time around, are exceptional (professional, kind and respectful)! And, then, there are my friends, Bob, Mitch, Marcie, and Ski who frequently drive me to treatments and appointments when my wife is unable to do so. Over the past three years, there have been so many friends who have helped me in so many ways; I could generate a very, very long list. And, then, there's my family whose love and support cannot be understated. This incredible group of doctors, technicians, friends, and family must be why I’m still around with as much cancer as I have. Must be why I’ve exceeded all expectations! And why I know I'll be able to complete all my writing projects.
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