On writing

National Novel Writing Month is set to start in a couple days and I am STOKED. Finally have the general plot of the book planned out. I need to spend some time this weekend working on developing the main character, but that shouldn't be too hard.

The character is based on a friend of mine from my days at UF and I gave her the basic rundown of the story. Her responses (via text): "omg I am so pathetic," "I'm an asshole. It's true in real life too," and ":)." It's a pretty classic storyline, but it's a classic for a reason. My focus isn't really the story, but the characters. That's what people really want - good characters.

I have some bad news though - I won't be able to blog the story. Since I hope to publish it one day, I can't publish it before then. Makes sense - why would someone publish a book in hard copy that they want people to buy when people can find the book for free? However, I don't object to sharing the story.  If you'd like to read it as I go, email your email address to doseoflyndsy@gmail.com (or leave me a note on Facebook) and I'll send it to you as often as you'd like it (daily, weekly, when it's done, whatever). I expect to be writing daily, though some days may be heavier than others. On average, to complete 50,000 words in 30 days, I have to write 1,667 words/day. I expect that my story will actually end up somewhere in the neighborhood of 75,000 words, so I'll be aiming more for 2,500 words/day.

Perhaps I should give you a little background... This book is the first in a three-book series. The three books revolve around a small group of friends - three women who met in a class their senior year of college and a male friend of one of the girls. Each book will involve all three women, but focus on only one of them. Tracie is up first (mostly because my real life friend told me that she still reads my first NaNoWriMo attempt (she was a character in that one too) so I told her I'd make her the star of this one). I mentioned to another friend that if she wasn't careful, I might turn her life into a story and she said she'd be okay with that, so Alexia is book two. Since my ego is mighty, I am the basis for the character in the last book. Raeqwanda promises to be an interesting character!

I need to backtrack for a minute here and explain what's really driving me to write. I've always wanted to make some kind of difference in the world. I used to think that it meant I had to do something HUGE. But I couldn't figure out how. I also love movies and books. They give you a chance to escape to another place for a few hours. Usually, you walk away from the story feeling better, hopeful, or maybe just thoughtful. For years I've wanted to add to the already huge list of escapes.

Every now and then, as you know, I'll stop blogging for a while. Inevitably when I do, I'll get a Facebook message from someone who says, "Miss your blog!" and I'm spurred into writing again. I've even had people tell me that I write what they're feeling and they're glad I'm brave enough to say it, since they aren't about to put it out there for the whole of the internet to read.

I'm always floored when I get these messages. 1. I am ALWAYS shocked when someone tells me they like the blog - since I don't really think people read it that much. A lot more people read than I thought. 2. I like that my utter lack of shame helps other people feel less alone. The only consistent "career" goal I've ever had in my life is to help people. And I find out I'm doing it! And I didn't know it!! 3. My ego loves being fed.

I read a lot of chick lit and I love most of it. But some of it just irritates the hell out of me. Confessions of a Shopaholic (and following novels) by Sophie Kinsella is just that type. They're really unrealistic. A shopaholic who gets responsible through deceit and out of necessity, and then meets an incredibly wealthy man who enables her to shop like a nutter. Um, really? I know there's a place for it, but I like to read something that's going to lift me up and seem possible in my life. And that's what I hope to write.

I want characters you could know in real life, who might even be us. Who you think, "That is SO *insert name here.*" Who help you sort things out in your own life by what they go through. Essentially, I want to take my blog and make characters out of it.

Will I find success? Only time will tell, but I expect it'll be an amazing adventure!