My dear readers (I have always wanted to say that. Don’t I sound so author like?), I apologize. I have neglected my blog lately for a lofty endeavor. I have been writing a novel. Not just any novel, but my first. I took the write a novel in a month challenge. I’m here to inform you the fantasy is fading fast. It’s sad but true, writing a novel is hard work.
At first the idea was exciting. Who doesn’t like the idea of creating people from start to finish? You can become a svelte 20-something with a sexy body and name. You can be married to an amazing man who thinks the world revolves around you. You tell the story from your new persona and do things that you wish you had the courage to do. Unfortunately, you get to do things you would be ashamed to do, if you want any reader to believe in your character.
But you know what the hardest thing about your characters is? It is the dialogue. It never occurred to me how difficult it is to write out what people say. You know when you read through a book and it seems to flow so easily from dialogue to narration? Next time, be impressed. It takes talent to keep you from noticing.
My other struggle is fighting the desire to keep rewriting along the way. I know I’m supposed to just get the story out. Yet, each time I sit to write I tend to reread what I wrote the night before, to get the flow back. Only, I don’t just read it. I have to fix it. Who knew? There is a perfectionist hiding in this chaotic brain of mine.
I am determined to finish my novel. It won’t be by the end of November and it may not even be this year. I am enjoying letting the story unfold each night. While I started off with just the ending to get to, I’m discovering the path is as complex and mesmerizing as any novel I have read. A piece of me isn’t ready for it to end.
Don’t go looking for me at the bookstore any time soon. I’m afraid my novel is going to be best stored on the hard drive of my computer. Stored in my head, will be a new appreciation of what great authors do.
