This November, I’m finally trying my hand at fiction via the world of competitive novel writing. Below is an excerpt of what I’ve written thus far, with minimal editing. The hardcore editing comes after November, when all 50,000 words are stored in my laptop (and backed up elsewhere).
Oh, and don’t worry… there’s no need for a spoiler alert.
The narrator is Polly Borden-Thibodeaux, one of my three main characters (all female, all Central Texans).
For years I’ve kept a small notepad where, over the course of the day, I jot down things that I want to look up in the evening. Odd, I know, but I’m a big fan of lists. They keep me from getting lost in my own head. Foreign phrases, Thursday night prime time television listings circa 1987, where to purchase a Neti pot—whatever strikes my fancy. I just write it down, look it up and then cross it off. I’m not a full-fledged weirdo, mind you. I don’t hold on to the fool things. I recycle the notepads when I’m done. And, yes, I do use both sides.
Love it!