Wow, I can't believe it's September already! I have been writing as much as I can, but August was an exceptionally busy month for me family wise. My niece was born on the 10th. :) I've been helping my sister with her new baby, and she's helping me with my kids since I still can't walk on my broken foot yet. It's working out nicely--we make a good team. My blog went by the wayside, but part of that is because I had to wrestle the laptop from my daughter while she was still on summer break, lol. She's so addicted to Club Penguin!
I'm really happy to be a member of this group, the Insecure Writer's Support Group, because not only does it allow me to meet new people and get to know the people I've already met, but also because it gives me accountability. I don't slack off on my writing like I used to. I think to myself, damn, I can really do this! I also appreciate learning more about self-publishing. I always thought I'd go the traditional publishing route as I was growing up, but now there are more opportunities out there to follow my dream. The best and most stressed piece of advice I have read from multiple authors is edit, edit, edit. I couldn't agree more! I'm gonna edit my butt off. First, I need an entire first draft done. One day at a time, right? :)
The other day, my sister reminded me of the first "book" I had written when we were on spring break from school one year. I was eleven, and she was six. For five days straight, I wrote a book called Seven Friends which really had no plot, lol. It was basically me daydreaming about what I wanted my life to be like when I grew up and the happiness I hoped my friends to have. I wish I still had it, but shortly after I wrote it, I lost it! It was 140 pages of notebook paper. Loose leaf. Written in pencil. Really wish I still had it; my daughter would love to have read that! :D
I'd like to post the very first paragraph of my book that I have so far if y'all don't mind. :)
Lightning struck our house the day my mom died. By that time she was in a coma, lying in a hospital bed in our living room. I had long ago begun sleeping on the couch in there with her, keeping vigil over her at night. The soft swoosh swoosh of the oxygen tank breathing for her should have lulled me to sleep at night, but I was terrified to sleep. My racing pulse and overwhelmed mind would not have allowed it anyway. Most nights I just dozed off and on, awakening from troubled dreams. I just knew that I didn't want her to die alone. I had just turned fourteen.
Okay, I really really want to know what all of you think, your honest thoughts. Don't worry about me--I can take it! lol
After I write and publish my memoir, I want to write fiction. It's weird though because writing fiction scares me more than writing a memoir. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Thanks so much for stopping by! My goal is to meet ten new people and catch up with my friends on their posts. Happy IWSG day everyone! <3
Strong way to begin!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I was so nervous when I hit the "publish" button for this one! Thank you! Does it hook you? Does it make you want to read more? I appreciate you stopping by. :)
DeleteHi Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from /emotionalnovel to say you have a new follower, too! And thank you, the hand is feeling better now :) Anyway, very strong opening. I'd love to read more!!
R
Hi! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by! Thanks so much--I hope to post more for some feedback. :)
DeleteI liked the voice and style of your story. I feel kinds of sad for the 14 year old though, which means you did a great job. I hope your foot gets better soon and that you keep on writing. Thank you so much for stopping by and following my blog. I think it is nice to meet you too.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks so much for stopping by! Is it freaky that I'm the 14 year old? I hope I can start walking without crutches so soon. It's been two months now with my crutches...I won't even know what to do with myself, lol.
DeleteKeep up the good work Jennifer. I would have kept on reading where the paragraph ended. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great compliment and exactly what I was hoping to accomplish with this first paragraph, thank you! :)
DeleteGreat opening sentence. Sounds like you're on a good track. Sorry about your broken foot. I didn't know; I've been out of it recently. One day at a time! I have to keep telling myself that, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael! Yeah, the whole broken foot thing hasn't been much fun, lol, but I know how lucky I am. I fell flat on my face and could've totally broken my other foot or even my wrists, which I used to try to stop my fall. It's so crazy how just stepping off a porch onto a driveway caused an hour and a half of surgery. I'm soooo clumsy, lol. And all I wanted to do was get the pop I forgot on the top of my car! :P
ReplyDeleteYou're a busy guy--it's totally cool. I've been out of it, too, lol. I'm helping my sister with her newborn baby. :D