Dear Novel

Posted in the NaNo forums: Writing an honest letter to your novel can help during those days in November when you're full of doubt and want to give up. Just read it and remember why you began this crazy adventure:

Dearest Novel,

I can't believe that you're so close to coming into the world. It seemed just like yesterday you were only an idea to me, an abstraction. Now you're becoming more and more real, and I want to be a part of that reality.

But I'm scared.

Long hours of labor are nigh. It will be painful and exhausting, and well, there also will be relief because the time has come and soon it will be over. I've done this before, but my fear creeps up on me each time. What if something happens? What I dread most is losing you.

Novel, never think that I won't overcome that fear. For though I know that what's ahead will be difficult, I still look forward to having you here. You're worth it. You're worth the heartache and pain ahead. And whether your existence was part of the plan or a happy accident, I want you to be a part of my life.

I want to cry with you, laugh with you, go on a journey with you. There's so much about you I have to learn. Though joy will be in our time together, the experience will be a time of trial, too. And I'll be tempted to give up on you. But you've got to know one thing: I will not give up.

One day you'll be here in my very hands--a beautiful mess covered in my blood, sweat, and tears. Oh, how I look forward to that day.

I'll be with you until that bittersweet end, after I've raised you and nurtured you, and the time comes for you to leave me. That raising will be another period of labor, filled with its own ups and downs. One thought will haunt me: what if you're not good enough? What if no one loves you? However, I promise that I won't leave you half-formed. I will prepare you to go out into that scary world full of those who might hate you and spite you and abandon you without really knowing you.

You will be ready; I know your strength despite your many flaws. They are my flaws too, and I'll see more of myself in you the more you grow. We can overcome our weaknesses--never doubt that. Yet you will be strong, too. And I'll love you for that. In you, I find my own strength. Together, we'll bring out the best in us. I might want to keep you with me forever and protect you, but I know that with hard work you will be taught to stand on your own. I'll be fighting for you every step of the way. I have so much hope for you!

So, dear novel, I promise to give you all I got, and I won't let you down. I will not stop until you're whole and complete. I'm fully committed. I'm all in.

Love,

Your Author

Planning for NaNoWriMo -End of Week 1

I'm making okay progress on my fantasy story development. Here's what I've gotten completed:

• Story background
• World/Kingdom maps
• Creation stories--scientific and theological
• Names of people groups
• Barebones timeline
• Historical villains (because, that's why)

I really want to get some fairy tales, poetry, and famous literature out of the way, but it looks like I'll need to get to know more of my world first. Right now I'm working on the historical day-to-day life of people from various centuries, and the present day-to-day life of certain classes/strata of people.

I always think this stuff will be tedious, then I get so into it that I can barely stop writing.