In a stunning turn of events, I sat down last night and plotted out the remainder of my novel.
Then I submitted the first chapter to a writing contest.
I feel somewhat as if things just started to get real. It was a shocking display of accomplishing things and an unprecedented display of plotting. Plotting. I don’t plot! I sit down with a cup of coffee and hope for the best! Seriously though, now there’s an end in sight. Research has been done. Fates have been determined.
It feels kind of like I shot Old Yeller.
And then, just when things weren’t real enough, I did the dishes. Ba-zing.
I’m still kind of horrified.
In a good way, though. I mean, yeah, I’m not convinced I’ve gone to the dark side and am a hardcore plotter. No. But I had a solid of a picture of how things had to go and it just made sense to write it down. Now there it is: right there in my notebook. Looking at me.
Of course, lest we get too pigheaded, I was brought back to reality when I sat in a puddle of milk on the couch.
Yes. You read that correctly. A puddle of milk on the couch.
So much for wearing those jeans two days in a row. Though….I will be honest, for a brief moment I pondered if I could get away with it. But no. No one wants to hang out with the kid who has a milk stained crotch-al area.
Anyway, the novel. The titled, plotted, first chapter submitted for a contest novel. I’m shooting to have the first draft finished by the end of March. It’s doable. And I’m stoked about that!
And finally, in Civil War news, this week I put a framed picture of John Pelham (one of my Top Five Brutally Hot Men of the Civil War, as you may recall) on my desk at work. Because, you know, I’m not content to be considered weird just at home. There have been a surprising amount of compliments on him. And hey, I get to look at him every time I reach for the snack drawer. Which is a lot.
A gal who likes snacks and may have a slight obsession with the Civil War? I’m not perfect. But sometimes I’m so close it’s scary.
Special shout out to The Hubs: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Another year older and another year putting up with me. No wonder you got a Dr. Who mug and an enormous cake!
Congrats on your accomplishments! It’s always so motivational to feel like you’re that much closer. Too funny about the milk pants. I get the slobber soak spots on the couch from our Great Dane that I always seem to find while in my work clothes just before I head out the door 🙂
I swear, my youngest has “clean pants radar.” I can wear the grimiest, most threadbare yoga pants and he won’t come near them. But put on a pair of clean jeans and he’s there slobbering and getting food all over them!
Hahaha! Luckily mine isn’t that bad. Just the Dane, but it’s like a little person in the family 🙂
Great idea to enter your chapter into a contest. I guess as writers we have to keep taking those leaps of faith whenever possible. 😉
Thanks! It was a scary one for me! I’m excited to see what happens.