November 1, 2005

the race has begined!

Okay, so it’s November 1, and it’s, oh, 1:10 in the afternoon, and I AM NOT WORKING ON MY NOVEL. Good start, eh? And you all wonder why I never finished my dissertation . . .

Okay, seriously, I’ve written about 1,500 words (1,492, but how precise do I have to be at this point?) and I think I can mash out another 2,000 or so this afternoon. I’m sure I could write more if I had a laptop and a big bag of Reeses Peanut Butter cups, but I don’t, so I’m doing the best I can.

I’m thinking that when I get to 5,000 words I will post a link here, but don’t get your hopes up. You need to know this about me: I don’t believe in linear narrative. Despite the fact that I can quote, from memory, from every single novel Jane Austen ever published, I’m more of a post-modern kind of gal. So don’t come looking for any sort of coherent story. Then again, if you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you already knew that about me and will not be surprised at what ‘the novel’ looks like.

Speaking of post-modern narrative, Charlie had what will probably go down in Friday Playdate history as the Most Successful Playdate Ever this morning. We played with a woman I know through another friend and her two-and-a-half-year-old son, who Charlie knows only from the Starbucks. And my god! It was like one of those playdates you see in the movies. The boys shared toys! And danced! And played hide-and-seek! And painted dinosaurs! And got in a tent together and pretended to sleep and laughed and laughed and laughed. When we picked Henry up at school, Charlie could not stop talking about his playdate with Elliot. ‘Can we play with him next week, Mama?’ he asked. ‘He can come to OUR house!’ I’m so happy I can hardly stand myself.

And, completely unrelated, Henry and Wade had the following funny interchange this morning while the boys were playing with Hot Wheels cars.

Henry: Okay, Charlie, the car race has begined!

Wade: Begun The car race has begun.

Henry: The car race has be . . . be . . . (long pause) Charlie, the race has STARTED!

What, are you still here? Go away, I have a novel to write!

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10 Responses to “the race has begined!”

1. November 1st, 2005 at 1:46 pm, Nothing But Bonfires Says:

   Oh god. And I have a boring piece on stuffing to edit. Which is exactly WHY I’m here.

2. November 1st, 2005 at 4:00 pm, adria Says:

   If you were closer, I would give you all the candy we have. Micah’s mom brought over a huge bag, and we already had so much!

3. November 1st, 2005 at 5:06 pm, kyra Says:

   you’ve already got nearly FIFTEEN HUNDRED WORDS??!!!!! wow, girl. you go. i mean it! i have yet to type ONE. that’s right, not one.

   gulp.

   but on to brighter things–CHARLIE’S FRIDAY PLAYDATE SUCCESS! i am THRILLED THRILLED THRILLED!

   and yes, DO post your link! although this mom won’t have second one to read it until December 1.

4. November 1st, 2005 at 5:09 pm, Susan Says:

   Kyra, I’ll link to my novel if you link to yours. Deal?

5. November 1st, 2005 at 7:23 pm, Candace Says:

   I’m with Kyra: “FIFTEEN HUNDRED WORDS??!!!!!”

   And I’m equally thrilled about the successful playdate. Awesome.

6. November 1st, 2005 at 7:32 pm, Susan Says:

   Keep in mind that those 1,500 words may be all I write . . . especially if I don’t get me some chocolate SOON.

7. November 1st, 2005 at 8:46 pm, M&Co. Says:

   You go, girl! 1500 words is impressive.

8. November 2nd, 2005 at 10:19 am, MIM Says:

   Good Lord, Woman! You bang out 2000 words in an afternoon? But you have children . . . how, how, how?? I can barely string three words together at a time over here.

9. November 2nd, 2005 at 10:55 am, Susan Says:

   I had a very liberating revelation about this novel thing last night: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO MAKE ANY SENSE. The text, I mean (I think we can all agree that it doesn’t make any sense for me to be DOING this in the first place). It’s all about the CHALLENGE.

   So 2,000 words? No problem. 2,000 GOOD words? Don’t hold your breath.

10. November 2nd, 2005 at 9:39 pm, Mary Tsao Says:

    Right on for happy playdates where you actually think I’m doing the right thing by getting these kids together, instead of Why am I torturing myself and my child?

    I agree that NaNoWriMo is about the challenge and not about the writing. At least, that’s the theory that I’m working under.

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