Mike’s Musings

So, I did it.  I took the National Novel Writing Month challenge this year.  I set out to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November, and I did it.  I’m still doing it.  The novel is not done.  Nathan, my main character, is not done speaking.  So I will keep writing until he tells me to stop.

I passed the 50,000 word mark last Monday; everything else has been icing.  

The teacher in me is asking, What did I learn from this experience?  The writer in me wants to answer.  So I shall, in a very off-the-cuff, non-polished way.  I learned that if you show up every day to do something, whatever it is you’re doing comes easily after a few days of doing it.  The writing just came easily after awhile; I could get in the zone quickly and stay there.  Another thing I learned is that being the conduit to a fictional world is eery and exhilarating at the same time.  The experiences are mine and not mine.  It’s a very present type of absence.

It’s been five years since I’ve channeled Nathan.  This summer, I got back in and finished a part of the original novel that needed completion.  This November, the “sequel” came about through NaNoWriMo, and I had no idea just how much there was left to say.  Nathan is different this time around.  Before, in the first one, he was more guarded.  Now, he’s less so.  It’s interesting to see.  I’m looking forward to seeing where he and I end up.

Namaste . . . MS