Shadow Life started living as a result of nanowrimo, a challenge to write a book in the month of November. The link is here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ I used to be an Organizer of a Critique Group that I found on Meetup.com but eventually stepped down to pursue getting my fantasy novel published. The group had two venues, one night was for critiques and on alternating Saturday’s we would meet at a coffee shop, catch up and inspire each other for thirty minutes and then get writing, offering support as needed. When our original Organizer took back over, the Saturday meetings weren’t continued and it left those of us who needed it lacking. So we broke off to form our own creative group and one of the members decided to challenge us with writing a novel in the month of November. We all decided on a word count that was reasonable for us all, 25,000 words. We would be our own support group and check in each week with word counts and words of encouragement and then meet in December to talk about our experiences.
I was conflicted on what to write. I could start with my sequel to my fantasy novel, write about a young overweight girl who was challenged to ride in a two day bike ride, struggling with how impossible it would be due to her physical condition, or another story I’ve been rolling around in my head for quite some time about ghosts. Normally I create what I call a skeleton outline for my books which are very loose. I know where it begins, I know the middle and how it ends but the rest fills in by itself. It would have been easy to take the easy path, the sequel, a story I’m familiar with, but for whatever reason I chose my ghost story which I had no clue where to start. It’s a YA paranormal novel and I’ve decided to write it in first person, which I don’t like to do and have no clue how to do. The premise is simple. What if ghosts weren’t ghosts at all?
Frightened of it, not knowing the voice or where it might go, I began brainstorming with my sister who has also taken the challenge, and came up with my skeleton outline. But staring on your first blank page, the cursor blinking at you, is frustrating, but out of nowhere Jasmine was talking to me and the first nine pages came so fast that my fingers could barely keep up. So far I have 4,200 words. I hadn’t planned on turning this challenge into a project that could become a book, but the story line has just captured my attention.
Shadow Life was born of a challenge. I challenge you to do the same. Decide on a word count goal, put aside a scheduled time to write, even if you can only squeeze in fifteen minutes a day, and get started making your dream of writing come true.
I will be updating this blog with my word count and progress.