Get cracking, mister! You're a short story author with a deadline!

I haven’t been free writing the way that I know I should be as of late. I need to get cracking on my next milestone toward NaNoWriMo, which is to enter a “Write To Win” contest sponsored by Writer’s Journal. The deadline is April 20th. I need to deliver a brilliant 1,500 word or less piece of fiction.

Last week, I free wrote starting with the opening phrase “He reached for…”, as suggested by the contest. The next thing I knew, the character of Wade was grappling a letter opener with a high anticipation of its contents.

It was postmarked from Sudan, where Maria is stationed with the Peace Corps. Maria has clearly made a major impression on Wade, during a single day’s meeting during Wade’s recent journey to Africa.

I just looked it up and Sudan is presently an inactive station for the Peace Corps. Intriguing plot line, perhaps?

Get writing, Ryan…

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Who are Maria and Wade?

I tested myself with a free writing exercise. I started with the Writer's Journal contest started phrase: "He reached for..."

It landed me inside of the consciousness of a man named Larry, who minutes later, I renamed Wade.

What do we know about Wade after 10 minutes of free writing and three hundred words?

He is an author.
He is desperately in love with a woman called Maria, whom is thousands of miles away.
He has met her only once in the nation of Sudan.
His sister's name is Danielle and is in the Peace Corps.
Wade is tired of writing to Maria. It has lost its luster. He needs to see and hear Maria.

I need to make this story come to life.

Finished reading my 2nd novel of 2007

I read Brian Freeman’s “Immoral” and would say that it was a fairly interesting read. If I had to give favor to one of the two books I have read so far this year, I would have to give favor to “Human Capital” by Stephen Amidon.

From his bio on his website, I found the following quote from Freeman interesting:

“I recall James Michener saying that you should only get published after you’ve written a million words,” Freeman says. “I must be just about there.”

One of the compelling comparisons that come to mind about the two authors was their choice of imagery in their characters’ sexual escapades. Amidon was extremely delicate, forcing the reader to look for clues by sharing quizzical details on the sexual act. Freeman was more direct and descriptive; very racy and erotic. Amidon tended to focus more on the emotional impact of the act and how it was playing out in the characters’ minds.

I read an article in Writer’s Journal about Jerry B. Jenkins and his book “Writing For The Soul”. I learned that he is very much a Christian writer, which is fine, but I must say I am not overly-religious, which I am sure some of my fictional ideas would suggest. I’m thinking about getting it as many of the reviews on Amazon rate it highly as a motivational book.

See more progress on: Successfully complete my 2007 goals

Lining up plans for NaNoWriMo

www.nanowrimo.org

I have officially set the goal to partipicate in National Novel Writing Month in November 2007. I’ll be honest and say that I am a bit intimidated by attempting this feat.

This is a major goal that was not initially built into my 2007 plans, but I have decided during the last week, why not go for it in 2007?

I have some modest fear of failure on this one. 50,000 original words towards fiction in a single year seems daunting to me as it is; and now I am considering trying to accomplish this in a single month all towards a single story. All the while keeping my day job?

November seems like the perfect month to try this massive accomplishment given other demands.

I will have completed the Boston Marathon in April. The Chicago Marathon is in October, which will fulfill both of my marathon attempts this year. I will continue to run during November, but it will not be as structured.

Mon-Fri: 1,200 words per day
Sat-Sun: 3,000 words per day

This equates to 12,000 per full week and would get me to 50,000 by November 30.

I think I will take at least one more writing class (maybe two) before November to get my creative skills really honed.

I believe my commitment to keep writing will effectively prepare me for the hardest writing goal of my life.

*Just completed an online Beginning Writing course.
*The next two courses that I will take (Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers – Sessions 1 and 2 found at www.ed2go.com)
*Two Writer’s Journal short story contests

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo