NaNo is Mega!

ou've been listening to me fret about just not getting into anything I was writing, watched me take one step after another to get myself revved up.

It is Day 14 of National Novel Writing Month and I just topped 40,000 words! The goal is 50k, which I will hit early this week. The novel itself is only about half done. I have to say that the whole thing felt right from the first sentence. If NaNoWriMo is supposed to get you to put words on a screen, it's working.

Just for the record, it's the story of a woman who dons her late twin bbrother's armor and sets out to join the disastrous Crusade of 1101. Just to be different my MC is German, not English, and there is not a single Irish character anywhere. It's a lesbian love story, a very sweet one at that, but my fans can count on my usual earthy style.

Why a lesbian story? It''s more interesting, that's why. And Elisabeth gives me a female character to write about who is more active, more adventuresome, and just plain more to my liking. My husband pointed out to me with the last book that none of the main characters I wrote were women. Of course, the queen is, but to be candid, I don't much like her. I invented Leofwen to try to make a woman character more to my liking. But her book is yet to be finished. Elisabeth, traveling as Elias, fits the bill.

I am having fun ridiculing people like Odo of Burgundy and Stephen of Blois (the other one), showing the pilgrim knights, they weren't called crusaders yet, for their more likely motivations, adventure, plunder, romanticism, and wanting the "get out of Hell free" card the Pope handed out. I am enjoying contrasting the groups who befriend Our Hero(ine), three high minded but clay footed knights and a band of mercenaries who while scoundrels are the more honorable. And I plan to solve the mystery of whatever happened to Ida of Austria.

I self published my first novel, but I have my eye on finding a publisher for this novel. An ebook publisher, which suits me since that means I will be able to read the thing too.

More than anything, I am astounded at how well this has gone. I think it was just what I needed. I find myself sitting down to scribble a few paragraphs in the next scene, a technique I use to get myself started the next day, and slapping out 1,000 words. I am confident that my writer's block or whatever it was is over. I can't wait to get back to Kerrick and Alehouse Tales!

So, NanoWriMo folks, old buddies, old pals, a great big THANK YOU for the impetus and inspiration to get what I needed back. The endorphens are spilling all over the damned place.