When I started NaNoWriMo on November 1st, I didn't have an outline, but I knew the story I wanted to write. The first couple of days were easy, but suddenly, it took a strange twist, and by day 10, I was pretty sure I was 22,000 words into my first romance novel. It goes without saying that obviously, if the characters are flushed out well, that they have minds of their own, which is exactly how I can describe what happened here. I went with it, eagerly awaiting what they would do next, or where they would go. I wasn't in control anymore. I realize that sounds like a crazy person talking, but I swear, November was one giant, prolonged, out-of-body experience.

This character named Charlotte Bloom took over, and I barely ate or slept until she was done. I found myself copiously typing detailed emails to myself midday at work on several occasions, turning down requests for drinks with friends to sit at home and write, and pretty much ignoring my fiancé for 30 days straight (sorry, Peter). This hugely contrasted my first book, which I wrote over a period of 2.5 years. This was an all-out obsession.

I decided on the last week of NaNoWriMo that I would turn this into three books, instead of one. There was more to tell, and I wasn't nearly finished with the characters. Or... the characters weren't nearly done with me. I haven't decided which is more true. I've created detailed outlines for the each of the next two books. Though these books may not win me any Nobel Prizes (or even sell well, I have no idea), there's a story here that deserves to be told. Yes, it's romance, and yes, it gets a bit smutty at times. If I'm being honest, those are the most entertaining scenes to write. ;)

I bought a few stock photos, did some (very) light designing in Photoshop, and voila! The covers are done (for now). I'm not planning on publishing these traditionally, but rather, via Amazon Kindle. If all goes well, I'll have the first book in the series up in January. The other two, I hope to publish sometime in the Spring/Summer. That means... instead of being done with Nano, I am about to embark on two months (or more!) of solid writing. Wish me luck!

Where the magic happens. And the candy eating.

If I talked to you anytime in October, you probably heard from me, "I'm starting my second novel on November 1st! I am so excited!" I might've done a little dance. I probably brushed off your question about how hard I thought it would be, and instead I probably told you that I. Was. Prepared.

I've broken down the first fourteen days of Nano for you below.

Day 1: I've got this. Type type type. Well, that was sooooo easy. It only took an hour to write 2,333 words (my goal being 70,000, not 50,000 like a normal human being). Pssshh, this is easy.

Day 2: Hmmm... Ok, I could go this way with the story instead. Let's see. Type type type. WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST WRITE. 

Day 3: I have to write this quickly. I have 15 people coming over in a couple of hours for our engagement party. Let me just drink some more coffee. Type type type. More candy. This is good, I am doing so good. 

Day 4: I'm on a roll! 2,333 words down in 54 minutes! BOOM!

Day 5: Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck this. I can't write today. I am too creatively drained. Also, I am sick.

Day 6: NOW I HAVE TO DOUBLE MY WORD COUNT TODAY. WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF. Type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type.

Day 7: I love everyone! Life is great. My story is really coming along, I hit the 15K marker! My friends are so supportive. I am particularly emotional today. I love you guys.

Day 8: I hate myself right now. Why did I get myself into this? I will never finish. I am a failed author already. My novel sucks. What is the point of life?

Day 9: Feelin' gooooood today! Let's DO this! I am a writing champion. No one has ever written this much before.

Day 10: Fuck it. I can't write today. My brain is mush.

Day 11: OMG I HAVE TO WRITE 7,000 WORDS TODAY.

Day 12: I just wrote 7,128 words yesterday. I cannot possibly write another word. Maybe I'll just write 1,000 words today. It'll be a light day. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm developing tendonitis.

Day 13: I'm all caught up, and I hit 30,000 words today! I AM THE QUEEN OF EVERYTHING. I CAN CONQUER ANYTHING.

Day 14: My cats are the best. I couldn't do this without them.

I've never been able to explain or figure out why I am so drawn to the desert. For one, I hate the sun. No, really, I hate it. If you know me at all, I am always hiding under a hat, in the shade, or complaining about why an event "would be held midday, out in the sun, like they want us to get skin cancer, those bastards." If I'm not doused in SPF 50, I get antsy in the sun.

Yet, somehow, we make our way to the Mojave Desert at least twice a year, even in July, when these pictures were taken. 115 degrees? In Joshua Tree? Sounds fun! (Note: we went hiking. We drank a lot of water and put on a lot of sunscreen. We had fun. In the heat!)

A friend of mine, who is very into astrology, once told me that my star chart (how the stars and planets were alligned when and where I was born) described me as a desert person. Apparently my soul thrives in desert climates. My father also loves the desert (morbidly, he has asked me in the past to abandon him in the desert "when his time comes." Pretty sure that is second-degree murder, but OK, Dad.)

I was born in the desert. So, I guess it's in my blood. I can't explain it. I can only enjoy it.

Let NaNoWriMo 2014 commence! 

This is the first year that I am participating in National Novel Writing Month. I am starting my second novel in the midst of hard-editing my first novel, and to top it off, I decided to go for a 70,000 word goal instead of a 50,000 word goal. I might be crazy. Oh, and did I mention I don't have an official outline? I am probably the least prepared writer ever. I hope to go into more detail about my writing process (what works for me, what doesn't, etc.) soon, in a future post. Wish me luck!

I've been a reading fiend lately, devouring at least two books a week. I've always been an avid reader, but when faced with writer's block, my reading becomes a priority and soon enough, I have my very own story to tell, sometimes inspired by what I read, and sometimes inspired by only the mindless, ficticious dreamland I'm constantly in while reading. It doesn't always happen this way. But lately, with real, actual, adult writing assignments due, it helps to get lost in another story for awhile. Sometimes, our minds need a break from creating. Sometimes, our minds need that empty space to fill with words, sentences, and plots of others' creations, in order to move forward in our own endeavors.