Mission: Accomplished

It is done. At 218 pages and 56, 596 words, with 1 day, 1 hour, and 29 minutes to spare...

My cousin, Alex, and I went to Kinko's last night to get our books printed and bound. We could scarcely suppress the giggles that threatened to burst from our lips, as we watched the printer spit out sheet after sheet of perfect white paper. I'm not a parent, but, when I held my beautiful book in my arms for the first time, I sure felt like one.

I can't believe it's already December 31st. It seems like only yesterday that Alex and I were sitting on the floor of my brother's room (why we were in my brother's room, I don't know) making our famous "gum pact" to finish a novel in a year. I don't make promises lightly and I always keep the ones I make, so I knew, once we sealed it in gum, I would have to run the race to the end. And so I have.

I feel like fireworks should be blazing in the night sky to honor the epic day Kaeli Newman finished something. Certainly, fireworks will be bursting, but to singal a New Year. Not to celebrate my book. 2011 - the year my book will be published.

I've learned so much this year from writing this book. For time's sake, I'll consolidate it into a "Top Ten" list of what I've learned. "And, so what we have learned applies to our lives today..." Forgive the random Veggie Tales moment. I teach preschool Sunday School... and I never did understand what Bob the Tomato had against the song. It's catchy!

Anyway, here is my "Top Ten":

1) I am a procrastinator. As if we didn't already know this... I think I actually enjoy the adrenaline rush as I wait until the last minute to get started. I plan to make my future deadlines MUCH shorter. Say, six months for my next book?

2) December is a horrible month for deadlines. Especially since I wait until the last minute. I will never make a deadline in December ever ever again. It's far too crazy, trying to juggle deadlines and Christmas parties.

3) Description is key. The more description, the better (and clearer!) the story.

4) Facebook is evil. Hi, my name is Kaeli and I'm a Facebook addict. (Hi, Kaeli). The first step is admitting it, right? I've learned I need to limit my Facebook time. When I get bored with my story, I find myself "checking" Facebook. And then, four hours later... You get the idea.

5) I have a huge support team. My family and friends have become my incredible fans and cheerleaders. Almost every day (at church, at the salon, at home), someone would ask, "Is your book done yet?" I even had one client stop in to the salon. She smiled and said, "You have two more days..." I'm surrounded by amazing encouragers.

6) Suspense is probably the most important element in a novel. Suspense propels readers onward, keeps them guessing, and makes them want, "MORE!" I learned that from the Hunger Games. I'm reading Mockingjay now, by the way.

7) You need someone to run the race with. It is easier to accomplish big goals if you have someone accomplishing big goals too - someone who understands the hills and valleys, someone who can give a little advice, or talk you out of giving up. My cousin, Alex, is my teammate.

8) My parents and brother are fantastic editors. And have boundless creative ideas to offer! With their knowledge and advice, they have helped make this novel what it is today. (I'm making myself laugh - #8 sounds more like a piece from an acknowledgements page).

9) Stories are discovered, not manufactured. I am simply the explorer.

10) And last, but not least, I've learned that I can do far more than I think I can, if I persevere until the end. As Josh Billings said, "Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there."


Novel Update: Oh, wait? 0 days remaining. Novel complete.

Just A Few More Hours...

60 hours, to be exact.

Life has been wild these past few weeks. I forgot December was such a crazy month. I've been running around, like a headless chicken, and, still, I haven't really paused to take a breath. I've been flying from work to Christmas parties to my laptop (to edit my book) to church to grandparents' houses. I bought my Christmas presents THE DAY before Christmas Eve. And, I guess, everyone else had the same idea too.

Needless to say, that's why I have neglected my blog.

But, despite the swirling blur of activities, I can see the finish line. I'm revising the last 19 pages - tying up all the loose ends and bringing everything together in one escalating suspenseful grand climax, followed by a fantastic resolution. I'm changing a few names, and adjusting other bits and pieces.

And, I'll admit it, I'm quite proud. Not the "I'm so much better than you!" sort of pride. More like the "My child is an Honor Student" variety.

On December the 31st (eek...Friday!), I will break through the tape at the end of the finish line with arms raised in victory, like the man in the picture (only I have more hair...so there).

Novel Update: 2 more days!

Poetic

The discovery of "words" and "sentences" and "paragraphs" must have been an incredible, awe-inspiring moment. I wish I could have been there at the "dawn of writing". Only another writer could really understand the pure magic of it.

Forgive the nerdiness...

But, when I hear Mt. Desolation hum, "Morning wears a veil of rain above the city I live in..." or Owl City sing, "Drenched in vanilla twilight..." I literally get chills at the fantastic poetry of their lyrics. It amazes me how these songwriters can paint such tangible pictures in words.

Metaphors. Similes.

My editor (my dear dad) wondered why I left out these magical elements in my own book. Certainly, I didn't do it on purpose. I'm not at all against metaphors and similes. A mere oversight on my part. But now my mission is to adorn every chapter with glorious metaphors and magnificent similes.

Novel Update: I'm scared. 15 days to conclude my novel. My dad still has 11 chapters to edit. I have to input the changes, and add several more of my own. 15 days...until victory.

Inspiration

Last December, when my cousin and I officially agreed to write a novel in a year (sealing it in gum of the Trident variety), we set out to do exactly that. But, in April, when I started this blog, I wanted to accomplish something else too.

Every time I watch Julie & Julia (a film about a woman who blogged about cooking ALL of Julia Child's famous recipes in 365 days) I get inspired. To write. It's strange because, aside from blogging, the movie is more about cooking than writing. But, despite that, I find myself on my computer working on my book every time, after watching Julie & Julia.

With this blog, I wanted to inspire others to win at something big and wild and crazy too. Every week at church, someone asks me how my book is going. The stylists at my salon frequently press me, "Are you done yet?"

The excitement is growing as the deadline approaches. People like to see other people win. Because, I think, it proves to them that they can succeed too. It's the reason we watch American Idol or cheer for our favorite sports team. Success inspires.

Another of my writing cousins recently wrote a blog post that almost brought tears to my eyes. He said, "I just feel the flame of inspiration beginning to flicker in my soul, sparking up from the coals of my creative spirit's dormant fire. I have two awesome cousins to thank for this rekindling."

Even if no one ever reads my novel (which I hope they will!), I will be content knowing that it inspired one fellow writer...

I have 18 days left. People are counting on me to finish this race.

Escalation

It's offical. I'm a nerd.

I received my copy of Writer's Digest in the mail the other day. In this age of internet social networking, I practically dance with excitement whenever I get anything in the mail. Upon seeing Harlan Coben's half-smile (or is he frowning?) and shiny bald head on the cover, I reacted as if it were some long-lost relative. Two months is practically an eternity to wait between Writer's Digest installments. Indeed, I'm addicted. And a certified nerd. But I believe I've maintained healthy levels of nerdiness. Deep down, everyone hides their inner-dweeb. I'm just admitting that I let mine roam free. Occasionally.

While pouring over these sacred writerly pages, I had an "aha!" moment. To my great dismay.

Several weeks ago, I came to the depressing realization that my novel severely and utterly lacked that essential story element, known by the general public as "suspense". Now, after reading Steven James' "3 Secrets to Great Storytelling", I decided my story was also missing escalation.

No, no, not escalators, such as you might find in the department stores while Christmas shopping. I mean, escalation, as in, to heighten the suspense you (supposedly) already possess. It pains me to say it, but this blog has more escalating suspense than my book. I have a time limit and a climax. Will I finish in time? Will I not?

Steven James said, "The story needs to progress toward more and more conflict, with more intimate struggles and deeper tension. The plot must always thicken; it must never thin." My novel's "escalating suspense" ebbs and flows like a series of random waves. But, what I need instead is just one great big wave that, page by page, rises higher and higher, until my reader (in this scenario, a terrified and slightly high surfer) stands there staring in awe and waiting (like some sort of freakish adrenaline junkie) to see if it will just keep rising or will it crash eventually? Duuuuude!


Now, how to actually accomplish that...

I have not a clue.


Novel Update: Way too much to do...why am I still blogging?

Procrastinators Anonymous

We procrastinators are a strange breed. Really, there is no complex explanation behind our thumb-twiddling-til-deadline ways. As Kesha so shrilly put it, simply 'we are who we are'.

I've had exactly 365 days to write this novel. I frittered away an embarassingly large amount of this year, thinking, "It's fine. I've got time." Too much time, apparently. I know I could have written this book in six months or less. I would have worked harder and faster, and not waited around until December 1st to stop talking about it and maybe actually put my nose to the grindstone. But, at least, now I'm motivated to work on the book every day. Right? *heavy breath* Right.

One month - just a single month left in my year-long writing journey. I have sixteen chapters to edit (fourth draft), my new plot twist to slip into the story, a possible rewrite of the entire ending (due to the new plot twist), juicy morsels of description to add, and a potential character flaw to give my main character... I foresee many late nights in these next 28 days.

But I will finish.


Novel Update: 28 days til query letter...