Sometimes readers ask me what my process is when I write. The truth is, I don't really know. When I was a church secretary and women's ministry director, one of my responsibilities was to write an article for the church newsletter each month. It was this responsibility that caused me to push through and do the writing job.
The articles came from personal experiences and lessons I learned. I listened to sermons and read the Bible and found that many things stood out to me. I never knew how these thoughts would be used in my writing, but when the time came that I needed an article or a passage for a book I was writing, some of the inspiration flowed into the writing.
When I sit to write the story seems to be a movie playing in my head. I write what I see. It is very difficult to explain, but I feel blessed that this is what happens. I find that the computer is very helpful in finding passages of Scripture for issues the characters are facing.
November is a month that has an internet challenge attached to it. The challenge is called The National Novel Writing Month. The challenge is to write 50,000 words toward a book in the month of November.
This challenge is for anyone who wants to attempt to do it. There are no prizes except the satisfaction of doing something so difficult. Those who complete the challenge also get a badge for their website and blog. Some of my friends and family question my sanity when I decide to meet this challenge in a busy month like November.
Last year I wrote "The Eyes of a Stranger" during the challenge. This year I am writing Book I of the next series, "Some Happy Day". It is linked to the last series, but goes in a different direction.
In this challenge, the writers do not consider editing or rewrites. It is a dash to the finish. The months following November are for edits and finishing the rest of the novel. It is a blessing to be able to have an excuse to just write.
"Some Happy Day" is going very well. At this point I am at 21,000 words. The words are flowing like a river. I thank God every day for giving me these words to write and the time to write them. God is good and His mercy endures forever.
If you would like to read the first three rough chapters, click here on "Some Happy Day". You will be at my website. Click on the tab by the name "Some Happy Day."