One week from today my son Keith and I embark on the Great American Novel Experiment. What this means is that both he and I plan to write separate novels, at least fifty thousand words apiece, in the space called May. With thirty-one days at our disposal, that’s approximately 1613 words per day, rain or shine. Inspired or not.
I’ve told Keith that my chapters will be short, since I’m used to writing in ten-minute increments for this mini-essay column. Basically, it will be a challenge to write what amounts to a chapter instead of a verse.
At the same time, I’m looking forward to it since I’ve written one novel already. I entered in a contest and won an interview with a potential publisher. But my novel didn’t even pique his interest, must less his pocketbook. (I have written and published a collection of personal essays too, but that’s not the same.)
This experiment of writing a novel in a month originated with Chris Baty who wrote the book No Plot, No Problem. Baty’s premise is that many people have novels buried deep inside them, novels that are screaming to see the light of day. But their authors procrastinate, waiting for the perfect time, seeking the gentlest muse, arguing that they’re not quite ready to sit down and begin.
Baty’s argument is that there is no perfect time, that beginning is what it’s all about. You must sit down and write, write, write. Don’t edit. Don’t analyze or criticize. Just write. Your inspiration will come. Your characters will perform. Your plot will emerge. So Keith and I are putting Baty’s premises to the test.
We’re putting ourselves to the test too.
Leave a Reply