Wednesday, June 01, 2005

NaWriNoMo Begins

Today is June 1st everybody, the dawn of a new day because I start my new novel this afternoon. I have my notebook out, and my pencils sharpened as I mentally start preparing the 1,600 I need to write. I'm really excited about writing this book, because I think it's a little quirky, and I don't think there's anything like it on the market at the moment (apart from Kyra Davis's book, and that's a mystery). Wish me luck. The goal is to write 50,000 words by the end of the month, which is around 175 pages. I have a target of 350 by the time I leave for Reno. At the moment, the book is called 'Matzo Brei and Chitlins' reflecting my protagonist's african-american and jewish heritage. My friend wants me to call it something like 'Shalom, ya'll".

I've also given up reading the tabloids for the next two months. Why? I could give you the reasoning that reading about celebrities is waste of time, but really it's because I'm trying to save money to go to National at the end of July and ditching In Touch and it's brothers and sisters will save me around $7.00 a week, which can go into the 'Send Elizabeth to Reno' fund. I've also had to make the executive decision to ditch Starbucks as well. My $4.07 Soy Chai Latte is a thing of the past. Thank god for the net and sites like Conversations with Famous People to keep me aware of what's going on out in Celebrityland.

The only magazines I'm allowed to buy are those that having something to do with the book. Magazines I feel that my character might read. That's not to say that she might not like to read People or In Touch, but I'm going to avoid them if possible.

I get a little intense when I write a book. I like to listen to the music that my character might listen to, read the books she might read, hang out at the places that she might hang out. Eat the food she might like to eat. Anyone else out there have any really weird habits when they write?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy writing! Can't think of any strange habits at the moment...I don't know if I have any in regard to writing.

Anonymous said...

I thought NaNo was in November?? Anyway, good luck on the pages! I did over 50,000 pages on my book last month. It was a push though.

And good luck on giving up all those things you enjoy! But it's worth it to go to Reno.

Elizabeth Kerri Mahon said...

Thanks for the warm thoughts.

Kacey, NaNoWriMo is in November but I'm doing my own according to the principles in No Plot, No Problem by Chris Baty. So far, so good.

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

Good luck with the new book, Elizabeth! It's always exciting to start something fresh.

I don't really have any weird habits other than I think of my characters a lot when I write a book, especially before I got to bed. What they might do in certain situations, what they would say, how I could spice up tension. Lots of visualizing! =)

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your new book. Sounds quirky enough to be really fun. The sacrifices you make to go to Reno will be well worth it.

Gena Showalter said...

Excellent titles! Has me grinning. Can't go wrong with either, but Shalom Ya'll is classic! :)