I have a book!

Not a book deal, per se… but a book.  And I mean that in the loosest way possible.

Okay, what I mean is…

it’s coming together, y’all!

I started writing a memoir in 2002.  TOTALLY sucked.  In 2005, my computer got stolen.  I wasn’t backed up.  Good.  What I had written so far, like I said, bit it.

I had to start over and this time I was determined to not only back-up in 3 different ways but also teach myself to write in the memoir genre.  In the last 6 years I’ve been devouring memoirs of authors whose tone and style I want to emulate, practicing writing, taking a writing class and reading books on…what else…good writing!

(Perhaps later I’ll do a writer’s reading rec’s post ~ I have about 20 books that have served to edumacate me).

Long story short, I’d start again, get discouraged, start again, think my writing sucks, get motivated, love my writing, think no one cares, get discouraged, give up, remember I love writing, start again, get writers block, start again, etc.

(And when all else fails, write a blog post).

(And if you want the WHOLE story, go to the “My Book”  tab.  Only, it’s not been updated for months & the first chapter I posted has now been rewritten and is not the first chapter any more).

Sooooo, for the last few months, I went on a writing frenzy.  I.E. I wrote about 60ish pages!  That’s not too shabby, y’all.

It has been really difficult to drudge up some pretty awful memories.  I didn’t know this until later but when I read a few of my stories to the hubster he told me they “seriously disturbed him,” for a few days.

Oops.

Behind these terrifically terrible nightmare memories have been a booty-load of shame, grace, freedom, hurt, joy, understanding, even forgiveness.  The advice of a wise woman in the one of the books I’m reading said that underneath the stories we avoid writing are some of the most beautiful memories.

It’s true.

Anyway, I came across this SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL WRITING PROGRAM called Scrivener (which if you are a script-writer, poetry writer, aspiring author, etc YOU MUST HAVE).

Once I imported all of my scraps of writing from here, there & everywhere it compiled into an official looking manuscript and in 15 seconds time I could see it.  I HAVE A BOOK!

I have 56 chapters written —short, short chapters. (And of course, not all will make the final cut)

I have 115 pages written.

I have 72,657 words written.

I have 360,658 characters written.

I have  A WHOLE LOT OF EDITING TO DO.

After I saw it compiled, it was magical.

On the un-magical side, I realized I need to do quite a bit of re-writing.  Now that I’ve found “my writing voice,” I need to harness it.  Sharpen it & push myself past the easy words, the lazy words, the underdeveloped thoughts and illustrations.

Back to the magical…

It’s a reality, it’s going to happen.  I’m too close to turn back now…

So I made a few goals…

• By December 31, 2011 -I will have completed a final working draft and be ready to pursue stage 2 of seeking out publishers or deciding to self-publish.
• I want to see my book hitting the shelves by late 2012 or early 2013!

I was so excited today I drummed up a cover to continue to help me to work hard…

*I’m not sure if it will be called, “Detroit’s Daughter,” I was just toying with the idea because I recently decided Detroit will be a character in the book.

**My last idea for a title was, “The Name my Father Gave Me: A Memoir of my Journey towards Grace.”

***I like both. =)

****I’m also not sure if I’ll go by this pen name (my first and middle) as opposed to my real last name.  It just sounds cooler to me. =)

I have a book! =)

Holla!