NOVEL WRITING BLOG POST DAY ONE

Hi, so I am writing a novel this summer. And I kind of want to blog about the process. And I kind of want to do that here, in the non-fiction prose section of DUP. I Hope that feel appropriate and if not, if anyone feels like that is an inappropriate use of this space, please feel free to let me know (maybe in a private message).

BUT this is non-fiction prose, and this is a community of writers and this novel is pretty personal and terrifying so I don't really want to share this with anyone in my real life just yet. SO here it goes.

I have just dived in, in earnest, about three days ago, yea, on monday. Now it's wednesday. I'm in an online class on developing characters and plot so there have been exercises for that class that I've been able to do and get feedback on which has been really helpful and affirming.

For anyone who has had a big story and had someone read it or read part of it you KNOW the power of just hearing somebody else say your characters' names.... Even if it's over cyberspace-That leap from your imagination to being something out there in the world is exhilarating. And terrifying.

I'm afraid that it's crap. I'm having much more success with developing characters than I am with plot. I'm a little bit in despair about plot. I know the premise. I know the twist. But I can't quite figure out what it is that is supposed to really get the action going. My story is so character driven that I'm not sure how to even define "action" within that sometimes.

I love my characters though. They speak to me. The plot structure does NOT. It needs help.

Already I have experienced such highs and lows.

I'm proud that I'm doing this.

I'm also kind of feeling guilty that I have the luxury to take the time to do this. I know it is a blessing and I need to look at it as a blessing and not as a source of guilt. White guilt at it's finest right here, ladies and gentlemen!!

But I'm between years of grad school, professional school and this time next year I'll be ripe to enter my profession and work the rest of my life. So this summer I seem to be writing a novel.

That's it for now! Thanks to anyone who made it this far! Next time I will give more juice about what the story actually is. It's contemporary and involves lesbians. I guess it's a lesbian novel you could say. Well kind of. More later!