One Year

A year ago today, I began writing my first novel. I have to believe it’s more than coincidence that the urge to write arrived at the same time as my personal demons. It’s been the most difficult year of my life, but I’m in a much better place as I write this. Let’s call it- not a mid-life crisis, since I hope to live past my mid-sixties, maybe a third-life crisis? I don’t wish to dwell on the struggle. I simply feel grateful a year later, for the three things that kept me afloat: music, writing, and most of all the unwavering love and support of my husband. After twelve years together, he’s still my best friend and I can’t imagine ever wanting to live my life with anyone else. I know how blessed I am.

Writing has been my creative outlet for the past year. It’s provided the constant bright spot in my day and given me the opportunity to learn a new skill. It’s easy to take for granted how important it is to keep your brain challenged when your main daily tasks are as repetitive and mindless as laundry. I’ve discovered an amazing online writing community on twitter and various sites. These people inspire me daily. Not to mention my super-supportive critique partner, who is on this journey with me. I’ve devoured countless books on writing, with several more waiting their turn on my bookshelf. But mostly, I have written.

My first novel (or Work-In-Progress 1/WIP1) is halfway through draft two. I will finish this draft by the end of 2009. It will need at least one more rewrite before my beta readers can rip it to shreds sometime in 2010. It’s possible I have a touch of ADD, since I’ve also started WIP2, WIP3, and WIP4. I know, I know- focus is a good thing. WIP2 takes place a few years after WIP1 with the same characters plus a few new ones. The first draft is about 40% written. I plan to have the first draft done by the end of the year. WIPs 3 and 4 are only in outline form, with maybe a few scenes written. They are not related to the first two WIPs or each other. I’m trying to decide which to use for NaNoWriMo this year. I’ll try not to begin any other WIPs, at least until I’ve finished 1 and 2, but I can’t make any promises. WIP4 popped into my head a month or so ago, with a strong voice and story world, so I’m going with it.

This is where I stand after my first year of obsessive writing. I’m enjoying the journey and can’t wait to see where the future takes me.

~Ashlyn