Nano Update

I do think it's entirely possible to write a first draft of a 50,000 word novel in a month. Apparently though, just not for me. Which isn't at all shocking, honestly. My weekday evenings are shot to crap. I knew that beforehand. Even taking the train this last month hasn't made for more writing time, though it has helped greatly in just some mind-stillness time. Desperately needed. Spending at least three hours a day in Chicago rush-hour traffic chisels away at your soul and sanity.

I've written a little over 14,000 words so far, and this is excellent. I'm obviously not going to 'win' this year, but this is 14K words more than what I had last month. I'm not at all disappointed in myself. Six chapters already! The story is branching out, and I'm writing through scenes I hadn't figured out previously. It's the bad, tedious first chapters, the story set-ups, the blank ones that have to bridge between the meaty ones I do have set. And it's the royal and political section, which I honestly hate. I'm doing my best to make it brief but profound enough.

I wrote for a few hours straight earlier today (before kicking the kids out of the living room and watching four episodes of Netflix's Alias Grace). It's been awhile since I've written like that, so it's a great day. It's also been awhile since I watched a TV show I didn't have to share, which was doubly great. Even though it turns the monsters into hovering vultures (what is this, how long is it, when is it my turn again, what is this about, is it true, how many are you watching, do you like it, is it good, who are the actors, can you go shopping, when are you going shopping, what are we doing tomorrow.......) Which is pretty much how it goes when I'm writing.

​Parenthood amidst adulthood while clinging to your creative individuality is an obstacle course. Blindfolded. On a tightrope. That's been set on fire. While you're juggling porcelain china.

​And hoola-hooping.

Anyway, only 35K words left to go by Thursday! Ha!