Friday was a freaky day at my house. It all started after a trip to the supermarket. While putting away groceries, I opened a case of Diet Coke and cut my right index finger with the perforated cardboard (ouch!). Blood dripping, I went to grab a Band-Aid from the first-aid kit. Guess what? There were none! I then went to the medicine cabinet to retrieve my backup supply. Again, there were none! In true dramatic Diane fashion, I ranted, “Why are there never any freakin’ Band-Aids in this freakin’ house when I freakin’ need one!” I wrapped my finger in a paper towel and grabbed my purse, because, as any mom can tell you, it is a good idea to carry bandages in your purse at all times. Do you know how difficult it is to find a tiny pack of Band-Aids with one hand in a purse big enough to hold a small child? Well, let me tell you, it’s really difficult. After digging and ranting for what seemed like forever, I located and applied a Hello Kitty Band-Aid to my wounded finger. I made a mental note to buy a jumbo box of Band-Aids and yell at the kids for using them to cover mosquito bites.
When my little darlings came in from school, they were giddy with excitement, chanting, “We’ve got a four-day weekend.” Still woozy from blood loss, I called to them from the sofa where I lay recuperating and asked them to explain what they were talking about (honestly, I wasn’t woozy or recuperating; just really tired…again with the drama). In a rather sarcastic tone they said, “Did you FORGET we’re out of school Monday and Tuesday?” Now, I am neurotic about keeping up with important dates, so I was certain their chanting and smugness were part of an elaborate pre-Halloween trick they were playing on me. Just to be sure, I made my way over to the school calendar, which hangs on the bulletin board right above my desk (I see it every single day). I was shocked to discover my kids were right! Today and tomorrow are school holidays. Oh, blunder, how the heck did that happen?
Now, here is the really freaky part. Somewhere between the blood and blunder, I’m pretty sure I lost my ever-loving mind. While hanging out with my friend Google, I stumbled upon a website called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Curious as to what it was all about, I began reading. According to the website, “National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.” As I clicked on each link and read every FAQ, I felt a mixture of excitement and nausea and wondered aloud if I could do this. Seriously, I walked out my front door, around my house and back inside, all the while saying aloud, “I wonder if I can do this? What do I know about writing a novel? Am I on crack?” (Answers: No idea – Nothing – Not that I remember). Needing someone to talk me down, I sent an email to my friend Heidi, who is a writer. I asked Heidi what she thought about the challenge. She replied that while it sounded like fun, she wasn’t sure she could formulate 5,000 words in a month let alone 50,000.
After reading Heidi’s response, fear began to creep in through every pore in my body. This came as no surprise seeing that fear and I are intimately acquainted. Fear is my biggest oppressor. I hate fear. Fear bites. This time, however, I decided to bite back. I signed up to participate in this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge! It is highly likely I have bitten off more than I can chew, but what the hell. I bit and that has to count for something.
Yes, Friday was freaky day and Saturday wasn’t much better, as more blood was shed (this time from my left index finger). I blame the entire freaky freakin’ weekend on the blood loss (insert big dramatic sigh here).
Thanks for the morning giggle, Diane! Cutting yourself on perforated cardboard is pretty talented…couldn’t have done it better myself!
Good luck with NaNoWriMo…you’re my fifth blogging buddy to commit to it! It’s going to be a quiet November in Blogland. I’ll stick with non-fiction (with your talent for drama, you’ll do wonderfully with fiction!).
Wendy
Wendy – I had no idea cardboard could be used as a weapon…good to know, really. As for the writing challenge…help and thanks for your encouragement. Diane
Fantastic that you’ve taken the challenge, Diane! I was sorely tempted, but decided to sit it out this year. I will certainly watch with interest and probably a good dose of envy. Onya, as my Australian friend says! (good on ya!)
Sunshine xx
Thanks, Sunshine. I need all the support and encouragement I can get!!
I am so glad you explained this NaNo thing, I have been seeing it on Twitter and wondered what the heck it is, but alas, was too lazy to check it out. I am going to go check it out and maybe bite fear too!
Paige – Glad I could help (if you can call that rambling helpful…ha!). Hey, if you bite, let me know, would love to have a buddy to commiserate with and in case you need encouragement to bite think of what great cocktail conversation “I’m writing / I wrote a novel” will be. Let the good times and words flow!
Diane – I signed up! Lord help me! I have no clue what I am writing about and so far it feels more like an autobiography… all 81 words!
Yeah, Paige. Good for you!! I’m here for you. Write on, sister, write on:)
You NaNoWriMo people are maniacs. I did it last year and that push to just write like a machine for an entire month is something I tried once and can’t do again without causing some kind of permanent damage. I already write so much but cannot seem to stay focused on one topic for more than a day or three. Case in point, my last book was just a collection of short stories and bizarre rants.
That said, I am wishing you the very best of luck and hope you have a blast with all of the writing.
This morning I was frozen with fear. I found myself cleaning things that didn’t need to be cleaned, reading blogs, pacing, everything but writing. I finally sat down and made the first keyboard stroke…596 words later, I stalled. At least I now have a vague idea of where I’m headed story wise.
A book of short stories and bizarre rants sounds like a good read to me. Heading over to check out your blog.
Thanks for your well wishes and for stopping by.
Diane
If there is ANYONE that can crank out a novel in 30 days, it is you! Break a pen,or pencil, or key, or whatever one says in this occasion my friend.
Anita – Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love you lots!!!
It takes courage to click on an RSS feed that reads “Blood, Band-Aids, Blunders and Biting.” Just sayin…..
Sending you a little magic fairy dust for your finger..Waldorf Early Childhood teachers always keep a little in their apron pockets…. works like magic on mosquito bites, too!
Good luck with your writing!
♥
Katybeth – Made you look…haha! Glad you did and thanks for the fairy dust and the well wishes on the writing. Take care, Diane
Heal and write, my friend!
Thanks. Finger is almost completely healed and the writing continues. Best of luck to you on NaNoWriMo!
Keep typing to your NaNoWriMo! I love your blog and look forward to your book. Just a hint-I explained to my 6 children that the sole purpose of a band-aide is to catch blood. Therefore, no blood – no band-aide. My other option was to buy stock in band-aides to re-coop some of the losses.
Thanks, Ruth. I need all the encouragement I can get on this NaNoWriMo challenge. Good idea on the Band-Aids. I’m making that my new house rule. Let’s see if it works:)
Oh my god, so, how did you do???? Were you able to Complete the challenge? I want to try it out next November. I didn’t know about it until February this year