Starting in the Middle

You have to start a blog. That’s what I read from other writers. It’s not like I have enough on my plate between parenting, wifeing, working, violin, and “working out.” But the truth is, I want to be a writer. The full-time one. The one that writes freely. Relying on my own brain to imagine a new world. It’s scary to think about, but it is what I want to do. 

Last November I participated in NaNoWriMo. I did it the previous year, but knew about it too late. I didn’t properly plan anything and didn’t connect with many people. And then in 2012, I remembered it a few weeks before and thought I would try again. This time, an idea I had for a novel was more thought out. The premise is about an OCD guy who finds himself in Vietnam. I went to Vietnam for the first time in September 2012 and with the trip still fresh in my mind, I went ahead and mapped the story.

It helped! I told my husband I’d give it a try and told myself that it was no pressure, just try it for a few days. I didn’t start until the 2nd and I wrote a good amount. Then I kept going. I even let two co-workers read it as I went to keep me motivated. I met very cool people and wrote with them when I could. Before I knew it, I completed the story four days early. 

And I actually like the story. It started out in the romantic genre, but as I wrote, I started to care more about why the characters acted or felt a certain way. NaNoers advise you to keep writing even if the story or POV changes. Mine did half way through. Now that I’m done, I find myself with a big revision process ahead of me. I can’t let that hold me back and I have to just keep going. My goal is to make the changes and complete the story. Send it to an editor. Then proceed with e-publsihing. 

I hope to meet other aspiring writers and established writers. I found it helpful to talk with other people while I wrote. Bouncing ideas and working out obstacles. Let’s hope spending the time on a blog is helpful!