A Memoir By February

November was National Novel Month and my friend Carrie Arcos joined a writing program in which they write a novel during the month of November. The last I talked to her she had churned out 40 pages in a week. Mind you this is a windy draft. A piece of work that is intended to get the writer started, not necessarily be a finished draft.

I am more than impressed by my friend because she is a mother of three and she teaches a class at Biola University. So I'm feeling extra motivated to get to work and write my own book. Okay this sounds ridiculous to me in one sense, but in the other I feel really ready.

I've been working on short pieces for as long as I've been writing. And I'm haunted by the question, "Can I do it? Can I write a book length manuscript?"

While I was pregnant with Noelle I churned out a feature length screen play in six months. I did this because I had the same itchy question, "Can I write a hundred pages of film?" In the end I wrote 180 pages.

During that same six months (I was on bed rest, so I had alot of time to work), I wrote a book proposal and began the submission process. It's been rejected five times and while I'm not entirely sure if it's "THE" story I've been waiting all my life to write, I'm feeling like I need to begin somewhere. I can't keep waiting for the right time or the right story. I have to just write what's in front of me to write.

So I've made a decision. Inspired by Carrie and motivated by my nagging question, I've decided to take this Christmas break to write the rough draft of my book. While I'll still be plenty busy with family visits, travel, church activities, and Noelle, I won't have class, and that's a big portion off my plate.

Classes end on Dec. 18th and I don't go back to work until Jan. 26th. So wish me luck. I'm going to try and get something done. I'm going to hold my own feet to the fire and see if I can be as productive as Carrie.