Last updated on April 12th, 2017
Somewhat improbably, I’ve decided to devote a big chunk of my leisure time this month to writing a mystery. Yes, I am participating in the mass writing event known as National Novel Writing Month — NaNoWriMo for short. And yes, “leisure time” also happens to be the time I use to update this blog.
This is the second time I’ve participated. Back in 2007, I did it along with several university colleagues, and managed to write the required 50,000 words plus of original fiction in 30 days.
That’s 1,667 words per day. It’s a couple of good-sized blog posts, every day for a month. The only way I managed it then was by seriously stretching the meaning of “original.” This year, even that may not be enough. I may also have to stretch the meaning of “word.”
If I’d planned better (or even at all), I could have combined my novel-writing with my blogging in an almost seamless fashion. For instance, if I had made my hero a low-carb blogger, I could have devoted a couple days a week to writing blog entries as part of the novel, and then copied and pasted them into Life After Carbs. Of course, interrupting a hard-driving, emotionally charged narrative for a mini-essay on preparing low-carb pizza would be a move most seasoned novelists would reject. But luckily I am not a seasoned novelist. Also, NaNoWriMo is about writing the first draft of a novel and you can pretty much stick any junk in a first draft. You should see the first drafts of my blog posts! (Come to think of it, you have seen the first drafts of some. Sorry.)
But I did not make my hero a low-carb blogger. I wanted to stretch my imagination a bit, and first draft or not, it seemed like cheating. In the end, I may cheat, but I hate to start out cheating.
I have written 6,691 words in five days, putting me solidly behind the pace. At that rate, I won’t finish until December 14.
So far, none of the 6,691 words are “low,” “carb” or “fat.”
To improve my odds, I plan to limit my November low-carb blogging to just Sundays. However, I will continue my low-carbing eating all seven days of the week.
On the weight-loss front, I have more good results to report. This week, I lost another pound. Even better, I went clothes shopping on Friday, and found my best fit in corduroy slacks to be size 38 waist, 32 inseam. The size 40-32 cords were too big all over.
Admittedly, these cords have a stretchy waist-band. Still, it’s the first time I have fit into any sort of 38 waist-size pants in 25 years.
Actually, I did once read a book written by a “seasoned novelist” that included a several-page description on making brownies, so there is precedent for you to do the same with low-carb pizza. (said description was part of the time-travel plot; I think it was meant to show how much work it was for the heroine to bake something when she traveled back to the medieval era).
Anyway, good luck with your writing project!