Final Word Count: October 2, 2011- 1,300 words (4 pages); no journal entry
Yay! I’m back on track! Phew… I thought September would never pass and when it did, I wasn’t sure if I could get back into the wing of things. I don’t have much more on my plate than usual but I feel so much better now that I’m working on a new story. I have to admit though, that with the editing process for the Atlantic Writing Competition, I’m discovering that I really don’t like my writing style. My voice sounds so stilted and awkward. I know, I know, we’re our own worse critics but I really do feel sorry for anyone who reads my stories.
I was at the movie store the night before last looking for a scary movie to help get me in the mood to think scary things. While I was perusing the selection, I started thinking about the story and suddenly the pieces fell into place. It’s a wild feeling- it’s almost a physical feeling of pieces clunking into place as though they were 3-D puzzle pieces. My former dilemma of whether it’s going to be a spook-fest or slasher extravaganza? Why it’ll be both, naturally.
I outlined the plot to my Mom and at the end I think she was kind of stunned for a minute. The first thing she said? “That’s pretty complicated, Sandra.” And here I was, thinking it’s got everything I love about the horror genre- a veritable smorgasboard of scary delights. Well, you won’t be able to complain about a story that drags on this month!
I’m going to have a lot of research to do this month- setting (New Orleans- what good timing since I’ll be there this month!), Voodoo, the Civil War and probably a few other things that I haven’t even dreamed up yet. I really should’ve spent last month researching but I didn’t so oh well.
Mom’s currently ripping my Western apart and offered to help me with my research for this month. I suppose that’s cheating. I’m not above a little bit of taking creative license with the guidelines and rules I outlined for myself.
12 Novels in 12 Months 
Sounds like you’re well on your way. I admire you for taking on such a challenge . . . I couldn’t write a horror story to save my life! š
Oh it is a challenge! The biggest hurdle though, is getting back into the novel-in-a-month task. I got super lazy in September and now I know how much hard work it is! I have to remember the biggest reward- the satisfaction of writing a complete story and having a hefty manuscript at the end of the month!
Don’t assume you can’t write anything! I thought I wouldn’t be able to write a novel (apparently I can!), I never thought I’d be able to write a Western (proved myself wrong on that assumption) and thought Hard Boiled Crime would be one of the easiest for me (do I know myself at all?!). The whole point of this exercise is to learn more about myself. Have you ever tried writing a horror short story? It could be a lot of fun! Plus, October’s the perfect month- there’s almost too much out there right now for inspiration!
I bet K & K are getting ready to pull their duvets over their heads š
That’s fantastic that you got an honest reader who will shred your novel to bits! – No worry, it’s your choice what you keep and what not, but it’s a great help to see things from an external perspective.
I hope they’re shivering in their boots!
I keep reassuring my Mom that she can’t be picky enough. I always listen to my readers’ opinions; I’ve discovered there’s usually much more truth in what they say than not. I hope over time I can learn to look for the trouble spots that Mom is pointing out (mostly questions requiring research to verify or questionable situations) and to learn to read as an editor, not for pleasure.
Everything is a learning process!