Novel Writing

Last week I got an email from the college where I sometimes teach, asking if I could teach a 6 week Tuesday / Thursday class.  When I looked at my calendar I was amazed to find that the class time was open every Tuesday and Thursday from now until Christmas.  So... I told them I could.  In order to teach, however, I had to rush to get some around-the-house things done, and I had to make some adjustments to my schedule.  But - ta-da! - I could do it!

Then on Thursday I got another email.  They'd decided to run a different class this semester, and won't be needing me.  Okay....

I sat for awhile and talked to God.  What was THAT about?  Clearing and adjusting my schedule... for what?  My husband encouraged me to fill the time with some art classes... but for some reason, I couldn't get excited about painting or pottery.  WHAT was I supposed to do with this new-found time?

On Friday, I came across the National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo)... which is November.  The idea is that hundreds of thousands of people (literally) sign up to take the challenge to write a complete novel (50,000 words) during the month of November.  Not the great American novel.  Not something that's ready for the publisher... but a full first draft.  I've always said that "someday" I'd like to write a novel.  But now? Without weeks to formulate a plot or think about characters?  Oh... why not.

So I signed up.  And I've started.  And now I think I'm crazy.  What was I thinking???  Still... there is that extra time that God seems to have had me clear away...

Maybe I'll write a novel about a crazy pastor who tries to write a novel...