Dear Reader,
This is novel writing time, so naturally Word Raccoon says she’d like to write a blog post because her brain is overflowing.
WR went to the gym and it caused that thing that happens when she’s been in the endorphin zone and all of the ideas come zooming at her from every direction. (She really wanted to run, but she knows better; besides, there were intimidating Gymbros there and I told her absolutely not for multiple reasons. There was also this adorable toddler with dark curly hair that we spoke with. He was “working out” with his dad. I know this because he hollered “Dad” approximately 100 times while WR and I were on the treadmill.)
BUT besides making her hungry again after having just eaten breakfast, the gym gave her THE BEST idea. Actually, two. She stopped to record them before she forgot.
One is an idea for a short story collection. I mean…I didn’t think we were writing them right now, but WR seems to think so. It has a novel, forgive me, not meant as a pun, premise.
The other idea would make a great novel but an even better screenplay, and oh my god Jamie Lee Curtis would slay in the lead role. Think she’s available for a chat? (Insert laugh emoji, y’all!) I want so badly to write this – maybe I should talk to my writing friends to see who’s up on how to go about this? Like, the physical formatting, where to start, whatever.
WR’s brain is buzzing. Humming. On fire!
Wait, Word Raccoon! This is still August. You started out strong this morning, broke for breakfast and the gym, and now? Where is the novel work?
She’s whipping her tail and me and saying that I know what she’s done:
– Provisionally changed the title to Reaccessioned
– Laid out the plan for the remaining days of the month, which keeps changing because we keep whipping our plan’s ass, way ahead.
– Beginning to consider reassembling the threads so the “Gospels” (forgive the unintentional sacrilege, but it kind of works here?) harmonize because though it’s not the same in that it’s not four versions of the same story (dear God, no!. There are four threads and each thread holds pieces of the story.
(Never done the novel thread thing before. It’s both fun and challenging. WR’s catnip. (Or whatever applies to raccoons.)
So the big goal for the month will be all threads interwoven semi-coherently. It’s hard to step outside of the author role and ask as a reader what I need to/want to know HERE.
In the meantime, WR gets to make lunch soon, and then she’ll watch the final episode of (this season of?) Ride or Die.
She’d also like to do some reading, but we’ll see. She has not convinced me yet that she has done nearly enough work on this novel. If she wants to do all of the September things and ever get to a treatment together for that screenplay, then she’s going to have to finish the rough draft of this novel and begin polishing.
Ah, she likes that part, when all of the decisions have been made.
She’s also craving poetry, craving submitting poetry, and, of course, something else: she wants to apply for the The Edith Wharton & Straw Dog Writers Guild Writing Residency to be held at The Mount!!
Oh, that silly raccoon. Always craving something…what is it now, WR? I know, I know…
Obviously, being accepted into the residency is a long shot, but one worth trying for. You definitely don’t get accepted if you don’t apply, but also, applying and submitting are good practice anyway if you want to be an active part of the writing community.
Which WR hopes you do, Dear Reader. She likes active writing communities, don’t you?
Drema